'ADHD group connects me with those who understand'

A woman with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has praised a service for giving her an opportunity to "connect with other people who understand me".

Naomi Alderton was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult in 2016 and has attended the support service, called the ADHD Cafe, in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, since it opened in February.

The cafe, which is run by the charity The Oasis Partnership, organises monthly talks to raise awareness about different aspects of the condition.

"It's brilliant that this service is up and running," said Ms Alderton.

ADHD is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder whose key symptoms include hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. One estimate is that it affects roughly 3% of adults.

Ms Alderton said it had been a "long and emotional journey" to get to the position she is now with her diagnosis.

"Until a few years ago, I always felt inadequate because I was always the person who wasn't quite managing.

"My impulsivity and concentration issues have made things difficult and caused problems in my relationships.

"Every day is a learning day and it's debilitating in many ways, but at the end of the day we're bloody fun people," she said.

Rachel Hart, who also lives with the condition, said: "ADHD can make us look disorganised, forgetful or hyper, but it also gives me a focus which means I can get things done if they mean something to me."

Colin McGregor-Paterson, the chief executive of The Oasis Partnership, said he saw a need to support people who were neurodivergent.

"There's a disproportionate number of people with ADHD or autism who are economically inactive," he said.

"We want to help them to achieve their potential and prevent any further problems down the line."

The charity received a grant from the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner to fund the ADHD cafe, which recently held discussion groups on ADHD and substance abuse and the link between neurodiversity and risk-taking.

The charity also offers training to employers to help them better understand neurodivergence in the workplace.

Mr McGregor-Paterson said the goal was to set up ADHD support groups across the country.

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