‘Comparing Experiences’

BY: THE LIGHTHOUSE ADHD SUPPORT GROUP – Southern Staffordshire

Our ‘Comparing Experiences’ meeting on the 28^th January was very well attended. We were joined by members of the WHITS-END ADHD Support Group from Lichfield and a party from the Wolverhampton ADHD Group which included their ADHD nurse.

Our thanks to the two members of staff who attended from Staffordshire Parent Partnership. They were very helpful. Hilary Mcfadyen, Skillshare Project Co-ordinator, took ideas from those present with a view to setting up a series of workshops deemed to be most helpful to Parents/Carers. We decided that a Saturday would be the most suitable day and the focus would be mainly on teens and transition after school. Another workshop focussing on relaxation and skills for parents to help youngsters relax was also discussed. Excitingly in addition, we considered these workshops to be a potential launch pad for our parents to go out as emissaries to schools, for example, to educate staff, dinner ladies, governors and teaching assistants about ADHD.

The Wolverhampton Group proposed that we meet up in the summer for a social event and it was felt that a therapy and relaxation day for parents could be organised. The Cannock Chase Rangers may perhaps be used as child minders – they could take the youngsters for a walk while parents were using a hut for therapy on Cannock Chase premises. The possibility of using mature students for the therapy/ aromatherapy is being followed up.

We were also delighted to have Sara Heath from fellow ‘Pitch Your Project’ winners Autonomy with us. She gave us a lot of good ideas to follow up. We talked about The Lighthouse Group and Autonomy joining forces in the future to urge The Chief Executive from the local Trust to address the absence of support for those with ADHD and ASD passing into Adult Services. Concerns about this issue are already being voiced over in Shropshire.

It was thought that The Lighthouse Group could consider putting in a bid for an ADHD Nurse, as the Wolverhampton Group found theirs to be so helpful but the need to be strongly promoting specialist ADHD clinics across the patch as other areas do was of the essence.

The meeting also included a raffle and every one who came went away with at least one prize – so it was a win-win for all.