A Wigan borough neurodivergence community hub needs help with funding for special project
A Wigan borough community hub has undergone a rebrand and is looking to gain more funding for a special project.
Ruth, 44, founded Reet Good Wood CIC 18 months ago after being diagnosed with autism and ADHD herself later on in life. Now it has a new name: My ND Space CIC.
Ruth said: “I was diagnosed with autism five years ago at the age of 39.
"I very quickly learned that support for people like me, pre and post-diagnosis, was virtually non-existent.
"I didn’t want CBT or antidepressants, which is the standard medical response to neurodiversity from most healthcare providers.
"Medical professionals tend to work from a deficit model, which is really detrimental to our wellbeing.
"What I did want and need was an opportunity to learn about myself, meet other people like me and have someone to talk to who genuinely understood the way my brain works.”
Located in Leigh, My:ND Space stands for My Neurodivergent Space and they are a not-for-profit community organisation. They aim to fill the gap in provision for late diagnosed neurodivergent adults and teenagers who are often overlooked due to being deemed as having low support needs.
Neurodivergence also includes conditions like bipolar, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and Tourette’s Syndrome as well as many more.
Ruth said: “After my diagnosis I found that being creative really helped me cope when I felt overwhelmed.”
The whole organisation is led by and for neurodivergent people who host a variety of creative workshops, social evenings and peer support groups from their community space in Leigh.
One group member said: “I finally found a place where I can be myself around other people like me.”
Now, they’re hoping to raise money to start a podcast to open up the conversation on neurodivergence further.
Ruth said: “We have a crowdfunder on so that we can buy some equipment for it. It will be conversational and feature real people’s experiences.”
The group already have people travelling from areas like Leeds, Oldham and Stockport to the hub. In the future, they are hoping to expand further afield and offer support to more people around the North West.