neurodiversity

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“I’ve just listened to the Raising Teens Neurodiversity podcast and it’s absolutely fantastic. I’m really enjoying listening to the advice from the panel as well as other young people’s own thoughts and feelings that are similar to my own. I also listened to the Trauma podcast and I’m in tears hearing what the panel had to say about my own story and just hearing it back. I can’t put into words how brilliant this show is and I hope more people can hear it because it could be life-saving for someone going through something similar!” 

This lovely quote is from one of the young people who shared their story with us for our BBC podcast, Raising Teens, which was broadcast in January and February. We hope you’ve enjoyed the series. In our last newsletter, we promised to send you links to our final two episodes, and here they are:

Raising Teens: Neurodiversity
Whilst neurodiversity isn’t a mental health condition, many children and young people experience challenges with their mental health. This episode of Raising Teens brings experts together to look at the experiences of neurodivergent young people and how families can support their children so they can develop and thrive. We also look at what role getting a diagnosis plays in that. We hear from young people about the social pressures they face to behave ‘appropriately’ – or like their neurotypical peers – at school, in friendship groups, and communities and how coping strategies can take a huge toll on their emotional wellbeing.

🎧 Listen to Raising Teens: Neurodiversity on BBC Sounds 
👋 More information about this episode and links to support
 
Raising Teens: Support in Schools
In our final episode of series five, we look at what mental health support is available in schools. Long-term, children and young people who struggle with their mental health are more likely to have poorer physical health and economic outcomes than their peers. So we discuss how schools can help to improve the outlook for our young people, what help they’re entitled to, and whether schools are equipped to provide that support and help prevent the need for clinical treatment. It’s not known how many children are educated at home, but in a recent report from Schools Week, they estimate that there has been a rise of 60% since the pandemic. What support can home-schooled young people expect?

🎧 Listen to Raising Teens: Support in Schools on BBC Sounds 
👋 More information about this episode and links to support
 
🎧 Catch up on all episodes from Series 5.
🎧 Plus you can catch up with previous series of Raising Teens – covering everything from social media and loneliness to county lines and the teenage brain… 
 
Make (Good) Training!
We’re rolling out new training sessions for young people to help with their self-confidence and communication skills. Interview Skills and Techniques will help young people to walk into a room and feel empowered to have a meaningful conversation with anyone. These workshops are driven by a desire to help build social skills in young people after a marked decline in recent years. 42% of parents of 12-15 year-olds reported a decline in their child’s social and emotional development, with 4-7 year-olds faring even worse at 52%, according to a report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Social skills are seen as increasingly important in a future driven by automation in the workplace. We want to help young people get ahead of the curve.  
If your organisation is interested in finding out more about our Interview Skills Training workshops, get in touch!
 
Drama workshops this Easter
We’re running drama workshops this Easter in collaboration with the brilliant team at Dragon Drama. It’s all part of East Sussex’s Holiday Activities and Food programme and places are free to children in receipt of free school meals. Registration opens on Monday 11 March, and you’ll be able to sign up for the club via this link next Monday.
 
Work with us!
If you’re interested in working with us – collaborate on new or current initiatives, partner with us, fund or donate to our programmes, we have a band new webpage with all the details: Work With Us!

👋 Do share this blog with anyone you think might find it useful. Thanks! 
 
We hope you enjoy Make (Good) News. If you have any suggestions or news you think we should cover next month, send us a line! 

The Make (Good) Trouble team x

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It’s estimated that 15-20% of children and young people in the UK are neurodivergent (National Statistics, 2023). That means they have differences in how their brain functions to what is considered ‘typical’. Neurodivergent conditions include ADHD and Autism. This episode of Raising Teens looks at the experiences of neurodivergent young people and how families can support their children so they can develop and thrive. We also look at what role getting a diagnosis plays in that. 

Whilst neurodiversity isn’t a mental health condition, many children and young people experience challenges with their mental health. They face social pressures to behave ‘appropriately’ – or like their neurotypical peers – at school, in friendship groups, and communities. Coping strategies can take a huge toll on their emotional wellbeing. 

🎧 Listen to Raising Teens: Neurodiversity BBC Sounds.

Our expert guests for episode 5 are:

  • Hamish Gale – Senior Manager of Specialist Teaching Services ESCC
  • Dr Tracey Atkins – Specialist Educational Psychologist for East Sussex County Council.
  • Sav Kanagasundaram – NDP Family Training & Navigation Service Manager at Amaze Sussex.

If you’re wondering how parents can support their teens, and how we can make sure that support is accessible to every young person that needs it, tune in to BBC Radio Sussex and Surrey, and BBC Sounds on Fridays at 7pm or catch up any time on BBC Sounds.

👉 Find out more about Raising Teens and listen to past episodes: Raising Teens.

👏 Raising Teens series 5 is supported by NHS Sussex.

Help and support:

Young Minds – information about autism and mental health, and ADHD and mental health – including advice on looking after your mental health, supporting a friend and stories from other young people with autism and Attention Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Amaze Sussex – SEN and disability support and services in Sussex. Amaze works with families that include a child or young person with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) across Sussex. They work with parent carers and with children and young people with SEND.

Ambitious About Autism – an online platform for autistic young people aged 16-25 with plenty of great information and support – including advice on support in school, work experience opportunities, education, training and personal stories.

National Autistic Society – the UK’s leading charity for people on the autism spectrum and their families. Includes an online forum where you can discuss your issues and queries. 

The Autism Education Trust has some great Resources for young people.

ADHD Foundation: Worth a look at their tips to help your teen with ADHD

NHS information about treatment for Attention Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

The Sunflower scheme supports people living with non-visible disabilities in their communities. The sunflower is an international symbol of hidden disability which you can use, for example, when travelling. If an official sees someone wearing the sunflower lanyard, they will know that they might need to differentiate their approach or communications with someone.