{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Alanah Reid speaking with Niamh (Squirrels volunteer) and Maiya (Explorer)","standfirst":"October is ADHD Awareness Month. It\u2019s an opportunity to celebrate individuality, share experiences, and reflect on how we can better support those with ADHD. Niamh (Squirrels volunteer) and Maiya (Explorer) tell us about their experience at Scouts with ADHD.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/adhd-children-teenagers/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)\u003C/a\u003E is a neurodevelopmental condition that can influence the way someone thinks and behaves. People with ADHD often bring lots of energy and creativity, though they may also find it harder to focus at times, feel restless, or act on impulse.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEvery person\u2019s experience with ADHD is unique, and the right environment can make a huge difference for young people. Scouts offers a space where young people and volunteers can feel supported to be themselves.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe chatted to Maiya, an \u003Ca href=\u0022/explorers/\u0022 title=\u0022Explorers\u0022\u003EExplorer\u003C/a\u003E, and Niamh, a \u003Ca href=\u0022/squirrels/\u0022 title=\u0022Squirrels\u0022\u003ESquirrels\u003C/a\u003E volunteer, to hear their personal experiences of ADHD and why Scouts works for them.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/vvzbshrn/adhd-awareness-month.png","width":4001,"height":2251,"altText":"The image is a landscape graphic with a blue background, white fleur de lis in the top left corner next to an orange ribbon with green, purple and yellow infills. The text in the bottom right corner says \u0027ADHD Awareness Month\u0027.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EGetting their ADHD diagnoses\u00A0\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESometimes, people wait months or even years for an ADHD diagnosis. That\u2019s what happened to Squirrels volunteer, Niamh. \u2018I\u2019d been on the waiting list since I was around age 16,\u2019 Niamh tells us. \u2018I was diagnosed at university and suddenly, everything made sense. I understood how my brain works and it helped me get less frustrated with tasks I found challenging. I changed my approach and life became easier.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMaiya, an Explorer, was diagnosed aged 12 and she was able to get the support she needed for her GCSEs. \u2018Being diagnosed has positively impacted my learning,\u2019 Maiya says. \u2018I can have extra time in GCSE exams and use a computer, which really helps.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/19882/squirrels-running.jpg","width":7000,"height":4667,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EScouts as a helpful and positive environment\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor both Maiya and Niamh, Scouts is a helpful and positive environment when it comes to managing their ADHD. Maiya says, \u2018It\u2019s scary to have conversations with people I don\u2019t know, as I can\u2019t think of what to say. But at Scouts, everyone has common interests, and it makes it easier for me to have conversations.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMaiya can find it hard to focus and prefers it when her volunteers tell the instructions quickly, then she asks questions if she needs to. \u2018This helps me manage my ADHD as I\u2019m able to focus on the instructions,\u2019 she says.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFrom her experience, Niamh tells us that \u2018Scouts often naturally creates an environment that\u2019s well suited for people with ADHD. And volunteers are encouraged to be flexible and adjust sessions for neurodivergent young people, so activities can suit them individually.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENiamh told us about an ADHD experience called Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD). It\u2019s an emotional reaction to perceived rejection, which feels physically painful and deeply personal.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENiamh says, \u2018There are lots of opportunities to recognise achievements in Scouts, which is positive for young people and volunteers who might struggle with RSD. I won a prize at my first Cub camp for being the best behaved, which must\u2019ve made an impact on me if I still remember it all these years later!\u2019\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/yqeli41t/a-group-of-explorers-doing-an-outdoors-activity-1.jpg","width":2000,"height":1187,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EExperiencing ADHD at Scouts\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe asked Niamh and Maiya if they need any support with their ADHD at Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENiamh says, \u2018I take ADHD medication and a side effect I experience is my appetite being disturbed. I try to manage this myself by eating my food at the same time as the Squirrels, as they have dedicated food and snack breaks.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENot only has this helped Niamh with her ADHD, but it\u2019s given her another opportunity to bond with the Squirrels. Niamh says, \u2018It\u2019s a fun way to chat with the young people when we\u2019re not doing an activity. We\u2019ve had some great conversations about sharks and Spiderman!\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMaiya is pleased with the flexibility Scouts offers. She says, \u2018I\u2019m able to help myself and manage my own time. If I don\u2019t want to do an activity, then it\u2019s OK. And if I get hyper when there isn\u2019t an activity, then I\u2019m able to do something like keepie-uppies.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENot everyone with ADHD takes medication. Maiya doesn\u2019t, and both Maiya and Niamh know their fellow volunteers and Explorers are there to support them if they need it.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"Find out how to welcome and include everyone at Scouts","body":"\u003Cp\u003EEveryone\u2019s welcome at Scouts. We can make sure everyone feels included by making small adjustments to our environments, activities and programme.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe believe it\u2019s important for us to try and understand each other\u2019s neurodiversity. It\u2019s best to listen to the young person and their parents or carers when making reasonable adjustments, so make sure you\u2019re led by them.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019ve got plenty of guidance to help you.\u003C/p\u003E","link":{"name":"Equity, Diversity and Inclusion","id":null,"url":"/volunteers/equity-diversity-and-inclusion/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"Supporting Scouts and volunteers with ADHD","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"10 October 2025","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"ADHD in children and young people | NHS","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/adhd-children-teenagers/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"ADHD in adults | NHS","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/adhd-adults/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Scouts","url":"/volunteers/equity-diversity-and-inclusion/","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[],"id":87455,"nodeName":"How we experience Scouts with ADHD","title":"How we experience Scouts with ADHD","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/vvzbshrn/adhd-awareness-month.png?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dc3dc7c81751f0","caption":"ADHD Awareness Month","type":"png","size":819948,"width":4001,"height":2251,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"How we experience Scouts with ADHD","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"It\u2019s ADHD Awareness Month. We chat to Niamh and Maiya, who tell us about their experience at Scouts with ADHD.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC84NzQ1NSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2025/october/how-we-experience-scouts-with-adhd/"}