ADHD Motivation, Support and Events
Hi I’m Laura Mears-Reynolds; the founder of ADHDAF+ Charity, and I was diagnosed with severe combined type ADHD at 38 in 2022.
This month, I have had the honour and pleasure of meeting attendees of the Birmingham and London Peer Support Groups; where I gamified the learning process with ADHD Bingo Seminars.
This was taken at July’s Manchester group. We’re so pleased that so many people have signed up to our register interest system;
which has served as a helpful reminder for many of July’s Peer Support Group attendees,
If you would like to receive email reminders for our monthly ADHD Support Groups, simply type your email address into the ‘Register Interest’ link of your local group.
If we haven’t started a group in your local area yet, why not
apply to start your own?
Edinburgh’s ‘August’ Group will be happening a few days early on Tuesday 29th July, due to Edinburgh Fringe Festival. MORE DETAILS
Our OXFORD Support Group begins in August!
Volunteer Kirsty is Facilitating the NEW Oxford Support Group to connect like-minded locals, and can’t wait to get started!
If you are in or around Oxfordshire the second Wednesday evening of each month… Kirsty would love to you to come along…
Wednesday 13th Aug, 7pm at
Headington Village Hall, Oxford
All of our Peer Support Groups are FREE to attend, with no RSVP or ADHD diagnosis necessary.
We have a very relaxed approach to time; all groups last between 1.5 to 2 hours. You do not need to arrive on time, stay for the entirety of the session, and you are free to move around, take breaks and doodle, draw, whatever would make you most comfortable throughout.
If you have or think you might have ADHD, you are invited to connect with other ADHD adults of marginalised genders…
But what does the term ‘marginalised genders’ mean? Can anyone attend ADHDAF+ Peer Support Groups?
July saw the introduction of our first topic focussed groups in Edinurgh and Machester. Facilitators Gill and Nicole discussed ADHD Masking; encouraging attendees to share their experiences and any helpful insights. Alongside the camaraderie and validation through shared lived experience; attendees were signposted to resources on the topic and given prompts to help them further explore their relationship with Unmasking.
Moving on from Masking; August’s topic is Motivation…
ADHD Motivation: ‘consistently inconsistent’
Dopamine - a neurotransmitter crucial for motivation and reward - functions differently with ADHD brains, leading to challenges with initiating and sustaining tasks; especially those lacking instant gratification.
This commonly experienced lack of motivation paired with a fear of failure can cause Task Paralysis; an extreme form of procrastination.
Alongside feeling stuck and unable to take action we can sometimes avoid the task by doing something else entirely. When we are stuck in task paralysis or choice overwhelm we may outwardly appear unphased or to be ‘relaxing’ when internally we are desperately battling to
‘do the thing’.
Your productivity does NOT
dictate your worth!
We know how distressing it is to struggle with starting and/or completing tasks; especially the ones we want to do!
If you experience similar challenges and inconsistencies with motivation;
it is not your fault.
This is symptomatic of the condition.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
These topic led sessions, their takeaways and even the topics themselves are informed by the online podcast community which helped inspire ADHDAF+.
Alongside our ADHD Support Groups;
August sees TWO ADHDAF+ Fundraising Events!
THE BIG ADHD FUNDRAISER:
Ayr to Wrexham, 1st-3rd August
The third annual cycling event is the biggest one yet!
Eleven LEGENDS are cycling 288 miles in just three days through Scotland, England and Wales - in celebration of the areas we are setting up support groups. AND they’re wearing leopard print in honour of the community which inspired and continues to inform this Charity.
ENORMOUS THANKS to founder Darren, and to all of the team:
Claire, Beth, Tracy, Micky, Jill, Steph, Katie, Ronny, Rose and Emily!
Find out why they’re taking on this enormous challenge to raise funds for ADHDadultUK and ADHDAF+ HERE
GO TEAM!
If you are able, we would be so grateful
if you could
Donate to The Big ADHD Fundraiser
Please and THANK YOU
Fundraising from Ayr to Wrexham…
and then on to BLACKPOOL
for a Neurodivergent fashion extravaganza!
The Blackpool Style Assembly is an immersive fashion and arts event. It showcases sustainable and ethical fashion, alongside live music, dance, film, and art, creating a vibrant cultural celebration. Boycotting fast fashion and celebrating Neurodivergent Creatives; This two day event supports both ADHD adults of marginalised genders and youth in the arts.
Watch the documentary about last year’s Style Assembly HERE
Each Blackpool Style Assembly ticket gains you entry into one of the two fashion shows on Saturday 16th August at House of Wingz AND an ADHD Bingo Show on Sunday 17th August at Ferny House Hotel.
All tickets funds split beween ADHDAF+ and Skool of Street Charities.
Grab your ticket for The Blackpool Style Assembly HERE
ADHDAF+ rellies upon donations; we are only just starting up;
so we need all the support we can get.
We are so grateful to The Big ADHD Fundraiser and The Blackpool Style Assembly for raising funds for our Charity!
If you are local to Birmingham, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, London, Manchester or Oxford;
we hope you will come along to one of our FREE in-person Peer Support Groups for ADHD adults of marginalised genders discussing Motivation in August….
Please note the date change for EDINBURGH due to Edinburgh Fringe.
FREE ENTRY, NO RSVP OR ADHD DIAGNOSIS NECESSARY!
Some of this month’s London group attendees
If you would like reminder
emails, simply
Register Interest in your local group.
If you don’t have one nearby,
you can apply to facilitate one
You can also apply to Voluneer your time, or become an ADHDAF+ Ambassador and you can donate directly to ADHDAF+ HERE
THANK YOU SO MUCH
for all of your support in helping us
connect and empower ADHD adults
of marginalised genders.
Laura