ADHD Embrace is a small, impactful community support charity in Southwest London for families and professionals living and working with children and teens with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We provide information, knowledge, and practical support, advocate for ADHD awareness, and empower those with ADHD. For over two decades, we have worked to ensure children with ADHD are understood, supported, and able to thrive.
A grant from the Pixel Fund supports our Schools Outreach Programme, where we visit schools to deliver valuable training for teachers and other staff on ADHD and run ADHD awareness sessions for parents.
ADHD affects around 5% of the population and is often underdiagnosed and less visible than physical disabilities. Young people with ADHD may struggle with concentration and organisation and can experience isolation or discrimination. Without support, these challenges can continue into adulthood. In the UK, 39% of young people with ADHD receive fixed-term exclusions from school and 11% are permanently excluded. Research shows excluded children are less likely to achieve key academic milestones.
Our Schools Outreach Programme was developed in response to the lack of ADHD training for teachers. Drawing on two decades of experience with families and professionals, we help teachers understand the emotional needs of pupils with ADHD as a foundation for learning. We build knowledge of ADHD and provide practical classroom strategies, enabling children to access education and succeed.
We also offer ADHD Awareness sessions as informal coffee mornings for parents where they can find practical information on ADHD in a supportive community setting and our aim is to reach all local schools regularly with this support. These sessions also enable to reach harder to reach families.
“The presentation was very well-received. The class teachers feel empowered to support their pupils with ADHD as the recommended teaching practices were so achievable. The link between neurodiversity and mental health difficulties was well made and prompted staff to reflect a little more deeply on the drivers of their pupils’ behaviour. I am hopeful that report writing within school has been changed forever.” (Senco)
Through our work, we create a ripple effect: benefiting not only children with ADHD, but entire classrooms and families. Funding from the Pixel Fund will help us to continue to provide our highly valued school visits where we help both teaching staff and families to be better equipped and empowered to support young people with ADHD and enable them to thrive both at home and at school.