Celebrating ONE WHOLE YEAR of ADHD Peer Support Groups!
Spring has sprung (fingers crossed) and we’ve got a Spring in our step - not only because of the AMAZING attendance and feedback of our many March groups… but because we are celebrating a whole year since we launched our first Peer Support Group to connect and empower ADHD adults of marginalised genders!
We hope you’ll come along to your local group in April, where we’ll be discussing a topic we are all extremely passionate about: the impact our hormones can have on ADHD symptoms, particularly during Perimenopause and Menopause.
Alongside ADHDAF+ 1 year of groups celebration, it is also Neurodiversity Celebration Week. Though with half a million remaining on the NHS waiting list for ADHD Asessment, and with benefits and ADHD service cuts putting already vulnerable people in danger; admittedly, it doesn’t feel like a particularly celebratory time for our community!
However, we practice what we preach at ADHDAF+, so will always focus on the Glimmers as ‘micro joys are how we survive macro grief’ and due to the INCREDIBLE ADHDAF+ Team and your support, March was positively gleaming!
But before we dive into the Glimmers galore…
Hi I’m Laura, the 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.
Photo credit:@shaunevvans
The ADHD AF Podcast Community and Live Events both inspired the creation of - and continue to inform the work of this Charity.
I’m SO excited to properly announce our first totally unique ADHD Event Series in collaboration with the National Trust called ‘ADHD Easy Target’ very soon…
Our free in-person Peer Support Groups will continue to run monthly as usual, but this very special ADHD Event will be our only one of this year so as to enable us to get feedback from attendees to inform the multiple Easy Target Events of 2027.
Feedback is essential for everything we facilitate - so that the work of ADHDAF+ will always be ABOUT US, BY US, FOR US.
If you’d like to be at the Pilot of this groundbreaking Event Series in September, sign up to be the first to know the details HERE and if you have a business that would also like to partner with us on these incredible events (or you know of one that would be) we are looking for sponsorship, so please get in touch HERE
One of our core values is transparency,
so we want to be upfront with our ongoings…
Having reached the monumental milestone of one year of facilitating ADHD Support Groups; we cannot believe how far we have come in such a short space of time! BUT…
In order to continue to grow at the same rate to meet the desperate need for ADHD support, and for our groups to remain free to attend, we currently have to pause starting any news groups so that our already established groups (and those eagerly waiting in the wings) can be sustainable.
We are asking for the support of both individuals and businesses to cover the monthly costs of groups.
Not only would your company’s support enable us to meet the essential need of the ADHD community with our vetted and verified impact groups, but your contribution is tax-deductible allowing you to support local people in need while reducing your Corporation Tax liability. If you’re an individual, you can Donate HERE
“In only twelve months we have facilitated EIGHTY ADHD Peer Support Groups!
80 in one year - through sheer determination, a shared vision, hard work and grassroots fundraising alone!
Imagine the community-wide impact we could deliver with professional financial backing.
We have the passion and a proven track record. Now, we just need the resources to ensure no one in our community ever has to feel alone”
Please help us to continue to grow to help the ADHD adult Community in Scotland, England and Wales. We’d love to hear from you!
Though pausing starting new groups is frustrating, it does show how incredibly well we’ve done, and the rate at which ADHDAF+ Charity is growing; and that is all thanks to the hard work of our Team and the donations we have received from members of our Community, the monthly membership fees from ADHD AF Podcast Listeners Patreon, the Donations and Fundraisers of 2025, the funds from each purchase on ADHDAF Emporium and the INCREDIBLE Big ADHD Fundraiser.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR GETTING US HERE! We can’t wait for the next chapter; but in the meantime here’s this month alone’s success story…
March brought a truly triumphant return of our Edinburgh ADHD Support Group with new Co-facilitators Maz and Vanessa was thoroughly enjoyed by attendees as you can see from the feedback submitted!
‘Very friendly, lovely facilitators kept conversation open and relevant. Felt like a safe space. Thank you’
‘The venue is comfortable and friendly, it is heartening to hear other people working through similar challenges and experiences’
‘I love that the time of attending is flexible+ there’re figet toys + everyone is welcoming and inviting (I was very quiet at first, but others facilitators invited me to talk ) I love these a lot and I look forward to the next group!’
And so do we! Enormous congrats and thanks Vanessa and Maz, and thank you to all involved.
We hope you’ll come along to April’s Edinburgh ADHD Peer Support Group: Thursday 9th April, 7-9pm at Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2JL.
You can sign up for Edinburgh email reminders HERE
Enormous congrats and thanks to Tina, who facilitated our first Chester ADHD Support Group!
She had a fantastic group session at which attendees discussed Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) in the lovely venue!
We invite Chester ADHD locals to attend April’s Hormone focussed group on Thursday 9th April, 6.30-8.30pm at Rainbow Tearooms, 28 Bridge St, Chester HERE CH1 1NQ
You can sign up for email reminders for Tina’s Chester Group HERE
We had an INCREDIBLE turn out for this month’s Oxford ADHD Peer Support Group and a fantastic evening was had by all! Big thanks to Facilitator Kirsty and all attendees, including Big ADHD Fundraiser Founders Darren and Claire!
You are invited to join Kirsty for April’s Oxford ADHD Support Group on Wednesday 8th April, 7-9pm Jubilee Room, Headington Quarry Village Hall. (Margaret Rd entrance) Oxford, OX3 8NX
You can sign up for Oxford email reminders HERE
Another brilliant Blackpool group this month! Thank you to Facilitator Paula and all involved.
Due to an unforeseen issue with the venue, we have unfortunately had to put this group on pause. We hope it will return ASAP.
Sign up to be the first to know when our Blackpool Group returns HERE
March’s Manchester Group was much loved! Thanks so much to Gill, Toni and all attendees!
Come along to April’s Manchester ADHD Peer Support Group to discuss ADHD, Hormones and Peri/Menopause on Wednesday 8th April, 7-9pm at Friends’ Meeting House, 6 Mount St, M2 5NS.
You can sign up for Manchester Support Group Email reminders HERE.
Birmingham attendees are enjoying connecting with like-minded locals.
We are sad to see Co-facilitator Yas go to focus on her new job, but we wish her all the very best with it, and will always be so grateful for all of her hard work setting up the Birmingham ADHD Peer Support Group!
We know the group is in a brilliant hands with previously Co but now Facilitator Lizee!
Join Lizee and the Birmingham Babs for the Hormone focussed ADHD Peer Support Group on Tuesday 7th April, 7-9pm at Stryx JQ, 90 Vyse St, Birmingham B18 6JZ.
You can sign up for Birmingham group email reminders HERE
Another lovely London Group Facilitated by Ruth, who is also our Tech Support. We are all so grateful for all of your hard work Geeky Roo! Enormous thanks to Ruth and to the legendary attendees of March.
Come along to Ruth’s next London ADHD Peer Support Group on Thursday 2nd April, 6:30-8.30pm at Almorah Road Community Centre, 58 Almorah Rd, N1 3EU.
You can sign up for London Group email reminders HERE.
Meanwhile in Ayr an amazing evening had by all….
Thank you so much to Facilitator Beth, it was wonderful to see her fellow Big ADHD Fundraiser Cyclist Micky there too. Thank to all who attended.
Join Beth and the Ayr crew in April at 48 Newmarket Street, KA7 1LR on Tuesday 7th April, 6:30-8:30pm.
You can sign up for email reminders for our Ayr ADHD Group HERE
From the West Coast of Scotland to the West Country… Our Group Coordinator and Bristol ADHD Group Facilitator Kate hosted another fantastic group! Thank you for all of your hard work coordinating all of our ADHD Peer Support Groups and for hosting such a brilliant one yourself Kate! Thanks to attendees for making it such a supportive RSD session.
Join Kate for the next Bristol ADHD Peer Support Group, 7-9pm on Thursday 9th April (USUALLY first Thurs of every month) at The Loft (3rd Floor) Tobacco Factory, BS3 1TF(access via Theatre entrance)
You can sign up for Bristol email reminders HERE
One final glimmer of March is how very well recieved the first edition of ADHD Magazine has been!
I was honoured to contribute to it and I am extremely excited to be continuing my column ‘The Shame Drop’ in the next edition. All of us at ADHDAF+ are very grateful to be receiving a donation of each copy sold.
If you’ve not already, you can grab a copy of this masterpiece of a mag HERE.
Enormous thanks to all of our incredible volunteers, attendees and supporters for the many micro-joys of this monumental milestone of a month!
We are all so excited for April’s ADHD, Hormones and Peri/Menopause Support groups…
You can find out all details and get email reminders for your local ADHD Peer Support Group HERE
Though each month’s adults only ADHD groups focus on a different topic; all follow the same format for each session and run for two hours.
All of our venues are fully accessible, and although attendees are encouraged to share their experiences if they would like to - there’s no pressure!
Similarly, there’s no pressure to be on time or stay for the duration.
All are welcome to sit comfortably, take some time out or move around during - so long as they do not disrupt the session
for other attendees.
Can any adult attend ADHDAF+ Groups?
ADHD, Hormones & Peri/Menopause
For many with ADHD, perimenopause and menopause feel like a "perfect storm" because oestrogen and dopamine are closely linked.
Since oestrogen helps the brain produce and use dopamine and ADHDers have faulty dopamine receptors; dropping hormone levels can make symptoms feel significantly more intense.
Falling testosterone levels can also noticeably disrupt ADHD management. This is largely because testosterone works alongside oestrogen to help regulate dopamine, the brain's primary chemical for focus and reward.
Regardless of your gender, our hormones significantly impact our ADHD symptoms and getting the appropriate support with this is often difficult due insufficient research and training.
I’ve discussed this topic many times on ADHDAF podcast. Most notably, this episode 2 years ago, in which BBC Breakfast and ITV This Morning’s LEGENDARY Dr Nighat Arif explains Multi Hormone Sensitivity Theory.
How fluctuating estrogen levels can exaccerabate ADHD symptoms throughout various life stages, eg: periods, pregnancy, post partum, perimenopause and menopause AND even throughout the course of our monthly menstrual cycle.
You can listen to this 2024 episode on Spotify HERE, on Apple HERE or wherever you usually get your podcasts.
If your ADHD symptoms are heightened at different stages in your cycle YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Though incredibly frustrating (and often distressing) this is completely normal.
But whatever life stage and whatever your gender, sex hormones are intrinscly linked to our brain function.
I' further explore this month’s ADHD Peer Support Group topic in a brand new episode with another INCREDIBLE expert next week…
To be notified as soon as this very special episode of ADHD AF Podcast is released you can follow these quick and easy steps:
We hope you’ll be able to attend a free in-person ADHDAF+ ADHD Peer Support Group to discuss your experiences of ADHD and Hormones and to lean on and learn from literally like-minded locals for invaluable Peer Support in April.
A final enormous THANK YOU to all who have helped us get to one year of facilitating ADHD Support! I still can’t believe we’ve hosted 80 groups!
Though we cannot curently afford to begin new groups; if we haven’t started one local to you yet, you can apply to volunteer to start your own and we will get back to you as soon as we are able HERE.
We hope we will get the funding required to launch more groups very soon and really appreciate any donations you can give HERE.
Please know that if you are struggling YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Please reach out for help via our list of resources HERE.
Thanks so much for all of your support!
Laura x
