Service Spotlight: Ayrshire Adult ADHD Peer Support Network (AAAPSN) 🔦
- Celine Dyer
- 14 minutes ago
- 5 min read
For today’s service spotlight, we’re shining a light on a group that has become a lifeline for many adults across Ayrshire - the Ayrshire Adult ADHD Peer Support Network (AAAPSN).
This volunteer‑run community offers connection, understanding and a safe space for adults with ADHD to meet others who “just get it”.
The group is friendly, inclusive and open to anyone aged 18+ - diagnosed, undiagnosed or even just exploring ADHD for the first time.
We spoke with Paul, Jay and Adele about how the group began, what it offers, and what it has meant to the people who attend.
How the Group Began ⭐
Paul, one of the coordinators, shared that the network originally grew from friendships formed during a six‑week NEST ADHD Awareness Course.
Three members met up again in July 2024, simply hoping to stay connected. That small gathering quickly evolved into something bigger - a growing community across Ayrshire.
Today, they run peer support groups in South, East and North Ayrshire, with the option to attend:
main groups, which are friendly, chatty and energetic
quiet groups, created for autistic adults or anyone who prefers calmer, low‑sensory environments (these groups are currently being ran on a trail basis)
The group continues to evolve based on what members need most.
Who the Group Is For? 🤔
AAAPSN welcomes any adult from Ayrshire aged 18+ who:
has ADHD
is waiting for an assessment
is questioning whether they might have ADHD
wants to learn from others with lived experience
There is no diagnosis required, no pressure to share, no expectations to “perform” socially.
As Paul explains:
“We introduce ourselves - that’s all we ask. After that, it’s up to you how you want to participate.”
The group is truly peer‑led. Some sessions explore themes like emotional dysregulation; other times the conversation flows naturally based on what people bring.
What Makes the Group Special ✨
A Safe, Respectful Space
Confidentiality and respect are the heart of the group. What happens in the group stays in the group.
Connection Without Pressure
You can listen quietly, join the chat, or share something personal - all at your own pace.
Strengths, Not Stereotypes
Adele describes the group as a place where neurodivergent strengths are seen and valued. Not “superpowers”, but real qualities - creativity, sensitivity, honesty, empathy, passion - that often go unnoticed in the wider world.
Life‑Changing Community
For many members, the group has provided reassurance, validation and belonging.
Adele shared:
“It’s made a massive difference. The support is phenomenal.”
And for Jay, the experience has been profound:
“Before the group, I felt alone and thought there was something wrong with me. Now I know neurodiversity is normal and valid. I’ve met people who’ll be in my life forever.”
How the Group Helps Adults With ADHD 🤗
Adults attending the peer network often share that the group helps them:
understand themselves better
feel less isolated
build confidence
recognise their strengths
navigate daily challenges
learn strategies from people with lived experience
access community and support without judgement
It’s a reminder that ADHD doesn’t disappear with age - and that adults deserve accessible, compassionate support too.
How to Get Involved 📞
You can get in touch with the group by email. They also have a public Instagram and a website where all upcoming meetings are shared.
If you prefer peer connection online, they also run a closed Facebook group that adults can join after answering three simple safety questions. Many people find the Facebook group itself becomes a really helpful source of support and community.
Contact Details
🌐Website: https://ayrshireadultadhd.com/
📧 Email: ayrshireadultadhd@protonmail.com
📘 Facebook: Ayrshire Adult ADHD Peer Support Network
(Remember this is a closed facebook group and you will need to answer security questions)
📸 Instagram: @AAAPSN_Ayrshire
🎥 Watch the Video
Watch their service spotlight video to hear about the group in their own words!
📝 Full Transcript
To read the full video transcript you can either download it below or read it below.
AAAPSN Service Spotlight – Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2026 – Full Video Transcript
Paul - I'm Paul. I'm one of the coordinators of the Ayrshire Adult ADHD and Peer Support Network.
Jay - Yes, so my name's Jay. I use they/them pronouns. I'm one of the committee members for the Ayrshire ADHD Peer Support
Adele - Hiya, I'm Adele. I've been coming to group for just over a year now. It's made a massive difference in my life. In the sense that I've got a connection.
Paul – the group came from a few of us meeting at the six-week, NEST ADHD awareness course. During that we all got quite friendly and towards the end we thought, we need to keep some kind of communication up. So three of us met in July 2024 for the first time.
Then it just kind of changed. We now run groups in South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire.
We've also started trialling some quiet groups because we understand that people with autism or any another sensory, sensory difficulties, might find the, they might find the groups are a bit loud sometimes, so we have these quieter groups as well.
So the group is for anyone that has ADHD that could be diagnosed, undiagnosed, or even if you even just have a suspicion that you might have ADHD And it's specifically for adults who are in who is 18 or older.
the group, there is no structure to the group. We start, we introduce ourselves. That's all we ask people to do, introduce yourselves. From then on, it's up to you how you want to participate. We don't have any structure.
Sometimes some of us will bring something to the group that we want to read out. I recently did a bit of stuff on emotional dysregulation. Sometimes we'll have a specific subject like that. Other times it's really just a free for all.
If somebody's got a particular problem we want to talk about, then that's fine. If somebody just wants to talk, then that's fine. There's no real structure.
It's just a friendly place, where people can come, talk, understand a bit more about other people, understand a bit more about themselves.
We have our house rules. The main house rule, I would say, is confidentiality. What happens in the groups stays in the groups. The other one, just as important, is respect. We welcome anyone from the ages of 18 up wards to come along. We welcome people with open arms.
Jay - So we've got an e-mail address, we've got a closed Facebook group which we just need you to answer three questions in a day to the group rules and we also have an Instagram too.
Adele - I think it allows us all those individuals to be come together and be celebrated as the amazing people that we are because I think neurodiversity can be seen as quite a challenge sometimes but actually in the light of that I see us all those individuals who have not superpowers but are very different strengths I suppose is what we're looking for and different attributes that can come to the and come together and help each other and support each other in different ways.
Adele - accepting the fact that I have neurodiversity. I'm neurodivergent and it doesn't stop me from doing my day-to-day life, but the support that's there at the end of any meeting or at the end of the phone is phenomenal. It's really helped me mentally, keep going, physically keep going. So I'm very grateful.
Jay - The group has been pretty much life-changing for me personally. I think before the group I felt like I was quite alone in my experience and thought there was something wrong with me. And I think coming along to the group, it's realising that neurodiversity is normal and is valid. And I've met so many amazing different people and built so many connections. They're, I think, mostly with me for the rest of my life.
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