Rise As We Are

Aim

We're launching Rise As We Are to create inclusive, neuroaffirming support for autistic and ADHD children, adults and families.

What is Rise As We Are?

Rise As We Are is a new community-led organisation supporting autistic, ADHD and otherwise neurodivergent children, adults and families.

We provide mentoring, coaching, workshops and resources that are neuroaffirming, practical and rooted in real life understanding and experience. Led by neurodivergent people, for neurodivergent people.

Our aim is to create spaces where you don’t have to mask, explain yourself, or prove you’re struggling enough to deserve help. We want you to feel that you’re somewhere safe to be, just as you are.

Why I Started This

I'm Carly - an autistic and ADHD mentor, trainer and parent. I’ve spent over 15 years supporting neurodivergent people in education, care, charities and private practice.

In my 1:1 work, I meet children who feel broken by school, parents who are overwhelmed and isolated, and adults who’ve spent years masking and pretending to be ‘normal’ in order to ‘fit in’ but then burning out as a result. 

The system isn’t built for us and support often comes far too late.

Rise As We Are was created to change that. I want to reach more people, earlier, in ways that feel safe, empowering and doable.

This is support I wish I had growing up.

What the Money Will Fund

Your donation will help us launch Rise As We Are and fund our first phase, including:

• Targeted support for those most at risk, including a small number of subsidised 1:1 mentoring places (avg. £65–£95 per session) for children and adults in greatest need
• Online workshops for parents and carers (£20-£40 per ticket, offered free for hardship cases)
• Community platform software and hosting (£500–£1,000 per year)
• CPD accreditation for our training (approx. £1,500–£3,000), enabling us to deliver certified courses to schools and organisations and generate ongoing income
• Core infrastructure including CRM, website, safeguarding and course hosting (£960 per year)

How We Will Become Self-Sufficient

We know we need to stay sustainable long-term while keeping support accessible and neuroaffirming. Here's how we will do that:

• CPD-accredited training for schools & workplaces (£450–£2500 per course)
• Community membership tiers (e.g. £60 - £480 per year per subscriber)
• Low-cost digital resources and courses
• Paid group mentoring blocks (4 - 6 weeks) that create a sustainable income while keeping sessions accessible for individuals.  

Rise As We Are was created to tackle the gaps that leave autistic and ADHD people (and their families) unsupported at every stage of life.

In schools, pupils with autism and ADHD are far more likely to be excluded. Nearly 4,500 autistic children were excluded in England in 2022–23. They are up to three times more likely to be suspended or excluded than their peers, often unlawfully. This can be attributed to a lack of teacher training and facilities aimed at awareness and resolution of neurodivergent traits and behaviours.

Persistent absence affects 31% of autistic pupils, compared with 21% of others. These missed school days disrupt learning, increase anxiety and isolation, and add huge pressure at home, further reducing the income of families who are in need of the most support!

On top of that, waiting times for autism assessments now regularly exceed two years, and for ADHD this can be as high as 7-10 years! Referrals have increased by 350% since the COVID pandemic. Families are left in limbo with no clear answers, no support, and no direction when their children are at their most vulnerable.

For neurodivergent adults, things don’t get much easier. Only 22–31% are in employment, despite many wanting to work and capable of working. Burnout is widespread, and around 80% experience it at some point. Co-occurring mental health conditions like depression and anxiety are common, but support is often hard to access, and often fails to identify the underlying issue that an unmanaged or undiagnosed neuro-difference is the catalyst for their mental health.

All of this leads to crisis, which is traumatic for the individual and costly for families, schools, services and society.

It's not good enough! I've seen it countless times when supporting others. I've lived it myself.
Instead of waiting for things to fall apart, Rise As We Are offer support that is early, empathetic, and identity-affirming.

Rise As We Are creates spaces where neurodivergent people can explore who they are, connect with others, and feel safe being themselves, long before things reach crisis point.

That’s what your donation makes possible.

How You Can Help

• Donate if you can
• Share this page with friends, family and anyone who might care
• Follow our journey on Instagram @rise.as.we.are
• Join our mailing list to hear what we do next - just email [email protected]

Thank you for believing in this work and being part of something that really matters. 

Let's do this! 

Let's Rise As We Are.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made