Service Spotlight: What NEST Does and How We Support Ayrshire 🔦
- Celine Dyer
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
At NEST, we believe everyone deserves accessible, compassionate support when they are exploring neurodivergence - whether for themselves, a child, a loved one or the people they work with.
This Service Spotlight features a short video introduction from David Campbell, Neurodevelopmental Programme Lead for Ayrshire & Arran, who explains what NEST is, what we offer and how people across Ayrshire can connect with us.
💚 Who We Are
NEST is a pan‑Ayrshire NHS service funded by the three Health and Social Care Partnerships. We support people of all ages - from early childhood through adulthood and older age - and no diagnosis is required to reach out.
Our team works across Ayrshire’s communities to:
provide accessible, strengths‑based information
host workshops that build understanding
support families and individuals through self‑referral
connect people with local services, groups and resources
offer guidance that helps from day one, not months later
empower people to recognise their own strengths and self‑advocacy skills
Everything we do is grounded in the belief that neurodivergent people deserve to feel understood, supported and valued.
🌈 What We Do
NEST works across several core areas:
1. Public Workshops
We run a wide range of introductory and specialist workshops on topics such as:
neurodiversity, autism and ADHD
sensory differences
emotional regulation
eating and sleep challenges
understanding behaviours
These sessions are shaped directly by what our community tells us they want to learn.
We also partner closely with health professionals across Ayrshire - including occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, psychologists and specialist doctors - to offer a broad programme of learning.
2. One‑to‑One Advice Through Referrals
People can self‑refer or be referred by a professional. A referral leads to a supportive conversation - usually around an hour - where individuals can share what they’re going through.
Our coordinators then offer:
advice and practical strategies
signposting
connection to community supports
reassurance and understanding
For many people, simply speaking to someone who “gets it” makes a huge difference.
3. nest.scot – A Central Hub for Reliable Information
Our website brings together accessible, trustworthy information so people don’t have to rely on confusing internet searches.
The site includes:
The Learn Zone - a collection of clear, practical resources
A Service Directory — local supports, peer groups and services across Ayrshire
Blogs and articles — short, helpful reads designed for everyday life
Video workshops — available anytime, anywhere
Contact options - for questions, referrals or professional enquiries
Our aim is to make learning about neurodivergence easier, calmer and more empowering.
Why Empowerment Matters 💙
At the heart of NEST is the belief that neurodivergent people have strengths, skills and perspectives that enrich our communities.
Sometimes those strengths can be overshadowed by challenges or misunderstandings. But with the right information and support, those strengths shine - shaping identity, confidence and connection.
We celebrate neurodiversity not just during campaigns, but every day through the work we do in schools, communities, families and workplaces.
You’re Not Alone 💜
Many people come to NEST feeling isolated or unsure.
One of the strongest messages from our team is this: you are not alone.
There is always a next step.
There is always someone to talk to.
And there is always hope.
Whether you are exploring neurodivergence for the first time or looking for ongoing support, NEST is here to walk alongside you.
Connect With Us 📞
You can reach out anytime via nest.scot.
Visit the Contact Us page to:
ask a question
request a referral
connect as a professional
We’ll do our best to respond as quickly as we can.
🎥 Watch the Video
📝 Full Transcript
To read the full video transcript you can either download it below or read it below.
NEST Service Spotlight – Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2026 – Full Video Transcript
I’m David Campbell, the Neurodevelopmental Programme Lead for Ayrshire and Arran, and I manage the NEST service.
NEST stands for Neurodevelopmental Empowerment Strategy Team. Our aim is to be as open and accessible as possible for anyone wanting to learn about neurodevelopmental differences - whether someone is just starting to wonder if they or a family member might be neurodivergent, or they’ve had an assessment and are looking for information, guidance or next steps.
We also work closely with a wide range of services across Ayrshire - health teams, social care, third‑sector organisations, community partners and local businesses. Anyone who needs information about neurodivergence can come to us.
The word ‘Empowerment’ is at the heart of what we do. NEST was created to help people understand that they’re not on their own. You don’t need to wait for a clinical service to learn about neurodivergence or to get support. You can come to us to explore strategies, information and tools that can help from day one.
A big part of our work is helping people recognise their own strengths and understand how different strategies can support them in everyday life. We want people to know they don’t need to feel isolated or unsure about where to turn.
Connection is also important. We deliver public workshops and support peer groups across Ayrshire - places where people can learn, share experiences and see that they’re not alone.
NEST has been running for just over three years. We started with two members of staff and now have a growing team, with more roles being added soon. The demand is huge, and we’re working every day to meet that need.
Our work happens across three main areas.
The first is our programme of public workshops. We run introductory sessions on neurodiversity, autism and ADHD. We also work with occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, psychologists and specialist doctors who help us deliver workshops based on what people tell us they need - topics like sensory processing, emotional regulation, sleep, eating differences and more.
The second area is our referral service. People can self‑refer or be referred by a professional. Referrals begin with a conversation - usually around an hour - where people can share what’s going on for them and what they need. Our coordinators offer advice, strategies, signposting and connection to other services or community supports.
The third area is our website, nest.scot. It brings together as much reliable information as possible in one place. Our Learn Zone includes resources on a huge range of topics, with links to charities, organisations and specialist information. We also have a Service Directory to help people find support across Ayrshire, from formal services to local peer groups.
Our blog section is full of practical, accessible posts - including topics like neurodivergent love languages - with short pieces designed to help people make small, meaningful changes in their daily lives. We also host video workshops covering subjects like complex behaviour, sensory differences, eating challenges, emotional regulation and much more.
Another part of our work is supporting professionals. We offer training for staff, volunteers, schools, services and businesses - helping teams build awareness and confidence so their environments are more accessible and supportive.
Anyone in Ayrshire can access NEST. There’s no diagnosis required, no age limit and no cost. We support children, young people, adults and families across the region. Our service is funded by the three Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnerships.
Although many people come to us because they’re facing challenges, we believe strongly in the strengths, creativity and talents within the neurodivergent community. These strengths can sometimes get lost beneath the pressures and barriers people face - but they are always there.
Through our social media, workshops and community work, we want to celebrate these strengths and shine a light on positive stories, achievements and experiences.
The most important message is this: you are not alone.
Many people come to us feeling isolated or unsure where to turn. Connecting with others who understand can make a huge difference - and that’s what we’re here for.
There is hope. There are strengths. And there are always ways forward.
We will continue to do everything we can - listening, supporting, empowering and walking alongside anyone who reaches out.
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