The reality for children and young people with ADHD is that normal life is extremely challenging.  Early diagnosis and intervention can make a huge difference but they also need to be supported by the communities in which they live – especially by parents and teachers.  ADHD as a condition is still not getting the support and recognition it needs and as a charity, we still see the following affecting our young ADHD communities:   

  • High numbers of pupils with ADHD are excluded from school either as a short term or fixed term exclusion and this goes unnoticed as the education department does not capture statistics specific to pupils with ADHD 
  • High number of teens with ADHD suffering from mental health issues, effecting their learning and these conditions continue into adulthood 
  • Many suffer from social isolation 
  • Many do not reach their potential due to the challenges they face, which can lead to economic hardship and also mental health issues   
  • High prevalence of ADHD amongst the prison populations, where 25% of the UK prison population meet the diagnostic criteria, yet in the general population only 5% are ADHD 
  • Teenage pregnancies amongst young people with ADHD is higher than in their peers without ADHD   

These are serious societal issues that need to be addressed.  As a result, one of our core activities is to be proactive in raising of awareness of ADHD amongst the general public, local schools, the local education and local healthcare services as well and at national government level. Ultimately, we aim to connect with all the stakeholders that can positively influence the lives of children and teens with ADHD.  

  • We actively work with the NHS, AfC, Parent Panel, local SEND strategy groups and supporters of the ADHD Act  
  • We work closely with local voluntary groups covering SEN and social issues in a collaborative way in order to ensure families and professionals get the support needed  
  • We work with statutory services providers to facilitate that families are supported as they should be  
  • At national level we work closely with other ADHD charities to support our communities.