Who is Neurodiversity UK?
Neurodiversity UK (https://www.neurodiversityuk.com) is a not-for-profit organisation, established in 2013 to serve and support those living with neurological conditions. The charity is based in Northern Ireland.
The charity was founded in 2013 by Ruth Magee and initially was named the Comber Autism Support Group.
North Down & Ards was identified as an area lacking in support to parents and carers, and Comber was the ideal choice for both a headquarters and shop-front.
The charity was renamed during 2014, and the team has gradually expanded to 6 Head Office Staff and 6 integral volunteers, three of our staff are qualified to deliver Autism Movement Therapy and training.
Why am I raising money and what am I doing?
As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD this year, I understand the struggles that people with ADHD, as well as many other neurological conditions, face. Whether it’s in education, job prospects, managing relationships, coping with emotions, or dealing with the unfortunate bullying that neurodivergent people are often subjected to, especially earlier in life, such as in school, I wanted to raise money for a charity that I believe needs support.
This isn’t just about the charity; it’s about the people your donations will impact. The support this charity offers also extends to parents of children with neurological conditions, and to adults, like myself, who may have been diagnosed later in life.
Living with a neurological condition—whether it’s ADHD, Autism, Asperger’s, or anything in between—the struggles of daily life are often amplified, making day-to-day life much harder. Unfortunately, the support available is minimal, even on the mainland UK, let alone in Northern Ireland, where, after speaking with NeurodiversityUK, I have learnt that the support there is even more limited. This isn’t fair. Everyone should be treated equally and given the opportunity to thrive. ADHD, Autism, and other conditions should never be part of the reason people can’t succeed. Those living with these conditions should feel as though they make a positive impact on the world and that their needs are met, allowing them to live a fulfilling and happy life.
So, in December, I ran a 10km race, which was quite a challenge for me. Running isn’t one of my strong points, but I was committed to it. It was the cause that mattered!
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How NeurodiversityUK will spend the money raised
Your donations may be used in various ways to support the charity, and all funds raised will go towards one of their projects, which in turn will help people living with neurological conditions.
After discussions with Neurodiversity UK, here are some fantastic projects they are currently working on:
1. Supporting Vulnerable Adults: They are developing programmes aimed at vulnerable adults, providing the support needed to navigate daily life, employment, and social challenges. This may involve mentoring, employability training, and social support structures.
2. Expanding the Wellbeing Hub: They run a wellbeing hub three times a month, which is crucial for offering localised support to individuals and families. This hub is funded by the charity’s own revenue sources, such as their charity shop, but additional funds would allow for its expansion and sustainability.
3. Community Events for Children and Families: The charity organises events for children (at a nominal cost), offering parents the opportunity to access educational and social support. Your donations would enable these events to reach more families who are currently underserved.
4. Private Sector and Mentoring Programmes: They are establishing a private sector initiative and continuing to provide mentoring programmes for adults. These efforts focus on improving life outcomes for neurodiverse individuals by connecting them with mentors and resources tailored to their specific needs.
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this fundraiser a reality.
1. Make a donation, please 🙏. Any donations will massively help the charity.
2. Spread the word. Share this run and the fantastic work that NeurodiversityUK do.
3. Follow and Share NeurodiversityUK Socials. Sometimes it can be as simple as following and sharing social media platforms.
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/neurodiversityuk/