4 years of ADHD AF, 4 new groups, 4 award nominations + a trip to Parliament!
After an astounding April, May is set to be even more marvellous!
ADHDAF+ is picking up the pace with 4 ‘new’ groups in the same month that the podcast which inspired the creation of our charity turns 4(!) AND that our work has been nominated for 4 National Diversity Awards to boot!
We hope you’ll come along to one of our 13 free ADHD Peer Support Groups in May - where we’ll be discussing ‘Burnout, Meltdowns and Shutdowns; ADHD Nervous System Overload.’
But before we dive into all that May will bring, let’s begin on the note we end all of our groups; acknowledging recent ‘Glimmers.’
Hi I’m Laura, Founder and CEO of ADHDAF+ Charity.
I was diagnosed with severe combined type ADHD aged 38 in January 2022; which not only improved my quality of life; it saved my life… and I’ve been on a mission to help others like me ever since.
My Podcast ADHD As Females (ADHD AF) united a ‘Leopard Print Army’ of listeners, which led to an online peer support community and three UK Tours.
The ADHD AF Podcast Community and Live Events both inspired the creation of - and continue to inform the work of this Charity.
And unbelievably they let me in the House of Commons last month! :)
Our London ADHD Group Facilitator/Tech Support Ruth and I were invited to attend a parliamentary breakfast reception to raise awareness of ADHD and share lived experience stories.
The event was supported by ADHD360, part of Keys Health. Dr Zubir Ahmed opened the discussion and the Chair of the ADHD APPG -Jo Platt MP led the panel which included: Dr Samantha Hiew, Ryan Swain, Maxine Laceby, Natasha Davies, Adam Dance MP and the Matthew Lock ADHD Charity.
Lived experience is often absent from national policy conversations and as evidence proves the significant impact of delayed diagnosis and inadequate support; having these discussions in Parliament is essential. We were particularly moved by the words of the Matthew Lock Charity, and it was incredible to represent the community we serve at this crucial event.
Discussing ADHD lived experiences is how ADHDAF+ began and connecting with ADHD peers to share lived experiences is invaluable - as is evident from the feedback from our monthly group attendees.
ADHDAF+ Charity is about us, by us, for us, and we are so grateful to ADHD360 and all that support us…and to all of the many in April who joined us!
All of us here at ADHDAF+ were overjoyed with the turn out on one particular night in which 37 ADHDers From South East Scotland, to North and South West England came together to support each other. All of our ADHD, Hormones and Peri-Menopause sessions went really well, but it was particularly moving to have connected communities in such large numbers at our Edinburgh, Chester and Bristol groups on the one evening, and to see all of those smiling faces and hear how much attendees gained from this month’s sessions brought massive smiles to ours!
Come hang with the gang discussing ADHD Burnout, Meltdowns and Shutdowns in:
- Edinburgh on Thursday 14th May, 7-9pm at at Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2JL. You can sign up for Edinburgh ADHD Group reminder emails HERE
- Chester on Thursday 7th May, 6:30-8:30pm at Rainbow Tearooms, 28 Bridge St, Chester CH1 1NQ. You can sign up for Chester ADHD Group reminder emails HERE
- Bristol onThursday 7th May, 7-9pm atThe Loft (3rd Floor) Tobacco Factory, BS3 1TF. You can sign up for Bristol ADHD Group reminder emails HERE
Another April Glimmer; at our Birmingham ADHD Peer Support Group attendees were snacking on fortune cookies, when one received this particularly serendipitous premonition!
You’re invited to to make this forecasting come to fruition by growing your circle of Birmingham ADHD friends at the next group on:
Tuesday 5th May, 7-9 at Stryx JQ, 90 Vyse St, Birmingham B18 6JZ.
You can sign up for email reminders for our ADHD Birmingham group HERE
If you’re local to the capital, our London ADHD Group is thriving and would love you to join them!
Thursday 7th May, 6:30-8:30pm at Almorah Road Community Centre, 58 Almorah Rd, N1 3EU.
You can sign up for our ADHD London Support Group reminder emails HERE
And over 400 miles away, literally like-minded locals are supporting each on the late diagnosis rollercoaster at our Ayr ADHD Peer Support Group.
If you’re in or around Ayrshire, grow your circle of friends on Tuesday 5th May, 6:30-8:30pm at 48 Newmarket Street, KA7 1LR.
You can sign up for email reminders for our ADHD Ayr Support Group HERE
Gemma had a fantastic first session back in the new Runcorn venue.
You can join like-minded locals who GET IT on Wednesday 6th May, 6:30-8:30pm at Murdishaw Community Centre, Barnfield Ave, WA7 6JW.
Sign up for email reminders for our ADHD Runcorn Group HERE.
Meanwhile in Manchester…
“One new member came as a result of following Dr Helen wall and listening to this months podcast and one first time attendee drove all the way from Bridlington in the NE! She saw ADHDAF+ Charity advertised in ADHD Magazine and was desperate to find a support group after struggling with her recent diagnosis so she drove for over three hours to get here!”
- Gill, Manchester ADHD Support Group Facilitator
We are so touched that someone would travel all that way to attend one of our ADHD Support Groups. We only wish that we had a group closer to the attendee, and I hope we will soon. The real Glimmer here is that she finally got her ADHD diagnosis! Though we are sorry to hear of her struggles, we’re so happy that she finally has the answers and that she managed to get some much needed support from peers at our ADHD Manchester Support Group.
The next group is on Wednesday 13th May, 7-9pm at Friends’ Meeting House, 6 Mount St, Manchester M2 5NS. You can sign up for Manchester ADHD Peer Support HERE
Our Oxford ADHD Peer Support Group Facilitator Kirsty was in her element with April’s topic as it’s her special interest!
Like so many of us, Kirsty has been through the absolute ringer these last few years; both with fluctuating hormones and the lack of support to manage them.
The lack of research and training on women's health; in particular with perimenopausal and menopausal hormones and how they impact ADHD symptoms led Kirsty into Hormonal Hyperfocus.
Needing to find solutions and support, Kirsty burrowed all the way down the rabbit hole of research and continues to leave no stone unturned. Paired with her lived experience navigating the broken system; in her own words she's a 'sponge for hormonal knowledge'.
For some time now Kirsty has been helping ADHD AF Podcast Patreon Community members, her Oxford ADHD Support Group Attendees, and the people in her life to get the support they need. This month sees Kirsty faciltate a second online session for Podcast Community Members.
Though the online community is a separate entity to our Charity, its membership fees help fundraise for ADHDAF+ and many of our facilitators volunteer for us because their lives have been improved, some transformed and even saved by the peer support of the Patreon Community. You can find our more HERE
If you happen to be in or around Oxford on Wednesday 13th May, 7-9pm you’re invited to Jubilee Room, Headington Quarry Village Hall OX3 8NX to discuss Burnout, Meltdowns and Shutdowns. You can sign up for email reminders for our ADHD Oxford Group HERE.
If you missed our ADHD & Hormones Groups you can listen to the topic discussed on ADHD AF Podcast with NHS GP, Menopause Specialist, Womens ADHD advocate and published author, who youmight also recognise from BBC Breakfast and BBC Morning Live; the amazing Dr Helen Wall. Available on all podcast platforms or watch the video on Spotify HERE.
Enormous thanks to all of our April Facilitators: Kirsty, Gill, Toni, Beth, Ruth, Lizee, Kate, Tina, Maz, Vanessa and all of the attendees of this amazing month’s sessions!
We hope you can come along to one of our THIRTEEN ADHD Peer Support Groups in May. Full details of all groups available HERE
4 ‘New’ Groups
Well actually, it’s 2 brand new groups and 2 already established groups returning in May… and we are so excited!
First up, new Volunteer Facilitator Jen is serving Swindon.
’I was late diagnosed at 39 with combined type ADHD, and since then have become very passionate in learning about my own brain, while also helping others understand all things ADHD…
I absolutely love getting into a deep chat, no “where are you going on your holidays?” with me!’ :)
Come and have a proper chat with Jen and other Swindon ADHD adults of marginalised genders on Tuesday 5th May, 7-9pm at Little Grazey, 114 Victoria Rd, Swindon SN1 3BH. You can sign up for our ADHD Swindon Peer Support Group HERE.
New Facilitator Eve is helping Hemel Hempstead ADHD adults of marginalised genders with her brand new Peer Support Group.
“I’ve been on the podcast community for a few years now and have found it fantastic support. I’m excited to extend that to others and help the charity.”
And we are so grateful to these two Leopard Print Army legends for helping us and supporting our community!
Eve’s new ADHD Hemel Hempstead Support Group is starting on Thursday 7th May, 7-9pm at St Johns Hall, Station Road, HP1 1JY.
You can sign up for email reminders HERE.
We are so excited to have Paula’s Blackpool ADHD Peer Support group return on Thursday 14th May, 7-9 at Aunty Social, 28 Topping St, Blackpool FY1 3AQ.
Paula had such incredible feedback from her previous group attendees; we hope all enjoy May’s session!
You can sign up for email reminders HERE.
Finally, we are so happy that our Donnie is back with her Cambridge ADHD Peer Support Group!
Join her on Wednesday 6th May, 7-9 at Unity Centre, Pathfinder Way, Northstowe, CB24 1FD
“But what is the format of ADHDAF+ Groups? Who can attend?
How do we choose locations?
AND... What’s with all the leopard print?!
Your questions, answered in our brand new FAQ page”
You may have noticed that our website has had an update… alongside a new Frequently Asked Questions page, there’s more information about Our Story, an overview on our Home page, plus Testimonials and Press, and new ways you can Support Us, including Corporate Sponsorship Packages, and how you can Vote for us to be shortlised for a National Diversity Award!
4 Award Nominations
The ADHDAF+ Charity Team and I are honoured to have been nominated for two National Diversity Awards each!
ADHDAF+ Charity has been nominated for: Community Organisation Award for Disability and Community Organisation Award for Gender. I’ve been nominated for: Positive Role Model for Disability, and Positive Role Model for Gender.
In only twelve months we have facilitated EIGHTY free in-person ADHD Peer Support Groups! 80, nationwide in just one year - through sheer determination, a shared vision, VERY hard work and grassroots fundraising alone! Just imagine the community-wide impact we could deliver, the scale of support we could offer, and the lives we could help transform if we were to be shortlisted in any one of these four incredible categories.
Myself and the team would be extremely grateful for your vote which helps shine a light on the much needed work we do.
We have all worked our socks off this last year! Not only are we absolutely made up to be nominated - we also know that what we are doing is of great help to many like us... so please help us get to the National Diversity Awards 2026.
If you would be happy to vote for us in whichever category(s) you think we would most deserve to be shortlised in either or both profiles, we would all be extremely grateful.
You can place your votes HERE - please and thank you so much! :)
4 years of
ADHD AF Podcast
It feels incredibly serendipitious that the work of our charity and all that led to it has been nominated for 4 awards just as the Podcast turns 4!
The first episode aired on 2nd May 2022; it has since accumulated 2 million downloads globally. I never would have imagined 4 years later that this is where it would lead!
Thank you so much to all who have listened to my rants and rambles, believed in the mission, connected as a community and roared with me (in Leopard Print) as doing so has enabled us to support so many ADHD adults of marginalised genders in need!
An ADHD AF Podcast episode on the topic of May’s free in-person ADHD Peer Support Groups with a very special guest is coming very soon…. in the meantime I touch on the topic of Burnout in many episodes, including THIS ONE from 2025.
The final Glimmer of this blog, is that there will actually be a bonus blog coming out on 10th May. In it, alongside further exploring ADHD Burnout, Meltdowns and Shutdowns, I will be sharing an ENORMOUS and EXTREMELY EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT! (Which I’m finding incredibly hard to keep secret but alas, I have to until then!)
Alongside this we will be launching tickets for our first Live ADHD Event as a charity: ADHD Easy Target!
You can sign up to get first dibs on tickets for the pilot of this unique and trailblazing ADHD Event HERE.
Separate to our Live Events to come; our ADHD Peer Support Groups are totally free, no tickets, or RSVP needed and we hope you can make your nearest group in May!
I cannot wait to share the big news and could not be more excited to get back to doing what I love most; raising ADHD awareness in-person at ADHD adult events with a difference! Hope to meet you at one very soon!
