ADHD Xmas SOS!
‘Tis the season to gift, eat, drink and be merry, but all of the above can be triggering and tricky to navigate and can leave people with ADHD feeling dysregulated, overwhelmed, and isolated.
ADHDAF+ are on a mission to let ADHDers know that they’re not alone and to help find ways to avoid starting 2026 in burnout.
‘ADHD Xmas SOS’ is the focus of our free ADHD Support Groups for December.
But first let’s look back on an eventful November…
Hi I’m Laura, the founder of ADHDAF+ Charity, and I was diagnosed with severe combined type ADHD almost four years ago, aged 38.
November has been a busy month! Alongside our eight ADHD Peer Support Groups in Scotland and England…
Some of the team and I were honoured to be invited to Sistaland Festival in Bristol, and this month has brought BIG media coverge for our small Charity.
I delivered a keynote speech entitled ‘ADHD: Let’s Get Real’ at Sistaland and I’m so grateful to have been a tiny part of this two day festival bursting with speakers, panels and workshops from inspirational women and non binary folk.
I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to raise ADHD awareness at: ’The first festival of its kind - designed by and for women and underrepresented filmmakers and creatives.’
Alongside championing the creations of neurodivergent makers with our ADHDAF Emporium stall - where 10% of all profits go towards funding ADHDAF+ Peer Support Groups; it was a fantastic opportunity for our Bristol and London Group Facilitators Kate and Ruth to give attendees a taste of their monthly ADHD Support Groups.
‘Real change happens when we get loud, get real and get brave enough to imagine something better.’ - Nikita Dare, Sistaland
In the same week as Sistland’s BBC article, ADHDAF+ was also featured in the Independent.
I’m grateful to contribute to this Independent article by Author of the INCREDIBLE ‘ADHD is Not a Bloody Trend’, Kat Brown on the findings of the BBC that the NHS have closed ADHD assessment waiting lists in 15 areas, whilst another 31 have introduced tighter criteria making it even harder to access support.
I’m pleased to be able to shine some light in the form of our groups in these very dark times for the ADHD Community, and I’m hopeful for brighter days after the release of part 2 of the ADHD Taskforce report which acknowledges that:
Assessment waiting lists are unacceptable
GPs & front-line NHS staff need ADHD training
Services need to be joined up and regulated
Support shouldn’t depend on diagnosis
If you are diagnosed ADHD, self diagnosed,
on a waiting list, or just suspect you might have ADHD; as long as you are over 18 you are welcome at our ADHD Peer Support Groups
to connect and empower
ADHD adults of marginalised genders.
Team work makes the dream work!
Nicole hosted her penultimate Edinburgh ADHD Support Group in November.
Join Nicole and other like-minded locals for the last group she will be facilitating at 7pm, Tuesday 2nd December, at The Newsroom, 5-11 Leith St, Edinburgh EH1 3AT.
GET EDINBURGH GROUP EMAIL REMINDERS HERE
Our Edinburgh group will return in the New Year with a new facilitator and a new venue!
If you’re a local ADHDer that would like to volunteer to be our Edinburgh Facilitator in 2026, you can APPLY HERE
Oxford ADHDers; join Co-facilitating team Kirsty and Claire at the Jubilee Room, Headington Quarry Village Hall. (Margaret Rd entrance) Oxford, OX3 8NX at 7pm Wednesday 10th December.
GET OXFORD GROUP EMAIL REMINDERS HERE
Taken at November’s Bristol ADHD Support Group. Join Facilitator Kate at Tobacco Factory, BS3 1TF, at 7pm on Thursday 4th December in The Loft.
GET BRISTOL GROUP EMAIL REMINDERS HERE
Ruth invites London locals on the same night to Almorah Road Community Centre, 58 Almorah Rd, N1 3EU at 6:30pm.
GET LONDON GROUP EMAIL REMINDERS HERE
The Manchester Group love their new venue!
Join Gill and co-facilitator Toni at 7pm on Wednesday 10th December at Friends’ Meeting House, 6 Mount St, Manchester M2 5NS.
GET MANCHESTER GROUP EMAIL REMINDERS HERE
The Birmingham group are also very happy with their new venue and hope Birmingham locals will join them for December’s session…
Join Co-Facilitators Yas and Lizee on:
Tuesday 2nd December at 7pm at Stryx JQ, 90 Vyse St, Birmingham B18 6JZ (access via secret garden - not cafe entrance)
GET BIRMINGHAM GROUP EMAIL REMINDERS HERE
At 6:30pm on the same night Beth invites Ayr locals 48 Newmarket Street
GET AYR GROUP EMAIL REMINDERS HERE
Cambridge Facilitator Donnie had some wonderful feedback from her second monthly session, and was gifted a gorgeous crochet creation from a crafty attendee…
'A study has shown that physical activity can boost the neurotransmitter levels of the brain’s focus and attention.’
Which means that many people with ADHD find it easier to concentrate whilst doing something else.
During November’s Cambridge session, one attendee handmade the above hair tie, which she gifted to Donnie at the end.
Though all groups do have a structured format, the main body of each session is an informal chat in an relaxed atmosphere. Nobody has to sit still, you are free to move about, take breaks, draw, knit, whatever you like - as long as you are not distracting others - we invite you to do whatever makes you most comfortable. All of the team LOVE the crocheted scrunchie and Donnie was really touched!
If you’re local, come along to our next Cambridge ADHD Support Group: 7pm Thursday 11th December at Western Pavilion, Peppercorn Drive, Northstowe, Cambridge. CB24 1BF
GET CAMBRIDGE GROUP EMAIL REMINDERS HERE
“Thank you for such a lovely welcome. The group was really illuminating for me”
We are hosting eight groups in December - ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ - or is it?….
ADHD Xmas SOS!
Back in December 2023 I did a Christmas Tour in which I raised ADHD awareness with a Bingo-esque seminar highlighting the ways in which it can be a particularly difficult time if you have ADHD:
To eradicate the shame of any struggles faced by explaining why the condition can make Xmas particularly difficult
To validate the experiences other ADHD adults might face at this time of year by sharing my own lived experiences and those of guest speakers
To give some suggestions for how to prevent burnout by best supporting themselves at this very intense time.
To end isolation by connecting local ADHDers at what might be the only Christmas party they can fully unmask at
These were the main topics covered in each show, and as ever - they were informed by the lived experiences of community members and my own.
Similarly, these are some of the topics we will be touching on for our December ‘ADHD Xmas SOS’ Peer Support Group sessions.
This heartwarming video was taken during the Salford Lads Club Christmas Show in Dec ‘23.
It truly means the world to know that these shows achieved all that I intended.
If you would like to watch the Live Recording of the London show of the Christmas Tour, you can purchase a digital download copy HERE
ADHDAF Emporium is donating 50% (£5) of every copy sold to ADHDAF+ to help fund our free in-person ADHD Peer Support Groups to connect and emower ADHD adults of marginalised genders. -They would also make a brilliant last minute gift for anyone you might’ve forgotten to get one for :)
If you would like to make a donation to ADHDAF+ Charity you can do so HERE and we would be extremely grateful.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
for all of your support in helping us connect and empower ADHD adults of marginalised genders! We hope you can attend one of December’s ADHD Peer Support Groups.
If this is a challenging time of year for you
please know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Laura
