In 1970, a group of education and social work volunteers, supported by local business people, established a very successful annual ‘summer camp’ using the Alnmouth village hall as its base. Here, during the school holiday period, underprivileged and at-risk young people, from the Tyneside area could attend weeklong residential activities and mentoring courses. Their aim was to help the disadvantaged children in North East.

The Alnmouth project became an important and much acclaimed crime-reducing strategic intervention for the region, so much so there was considerable support for the project to become an all year-round facility. In 1974, a permanent site was found, the Alnmouth Camp Trustees purchased a row of four derelict colliery cottages in Seghill, Northumberland. These buildings became Talbot House School. The school was duly registered as a charity and approved by the DfE as a Non-Maintained residential special school for 35 children aged 11 to 16 years with emotional and behavioural difficulties where they provided an atmosphere where the children could begin to trust authority. Staff provided a nurturing environment, a home away from home which allowed them to achieve success in school with the adults they knew and trusted.

The school was relocated to Walbottle, over 20 years ago, where we remain to this day. We are now a Non-Maintained Specialist School, and no longer offering residential placements.