HEALTH MINISTER JOINS A SAFE SPACE TO BE ME AS CHARITY MARKS 10 YEARS OF SUPPORT FOR NEURODIVERGENT PEOPLE AND FAMILIES
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt joined politicians, healthcare professionals, sector leaders and people with lived experience at Parliament Buildings as A Safe Space to Be Me marked ten years of supporting neurodivergent individuals and families across Northern Ireland.
Hosted by Carolyn Tailford BEM, Founder and CEO of A Safe Space to Be Me, and John Blair MLA, the reception celebrated a decade of impact while highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by thousands of people seeking ADHD assessment, treatment and support.
Throughout the event, guests were invited to reflect on the reality of waiting for services through The Wait List Wall, an installation sharing the experiences of individuals and families navigating lengthy delays and limited access to support. Attendees also received symbolic "Still Waiting" name badges, recognising the experiences of those who continue to wait for answers, assessment and treatment.
Addressing attendees, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt acknowledged the challenges facing those seeking ADHD support and recognised the important role charities continue to play in supporting individuals and families.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt stated:
"I was delighted to join A Safe Space to be Me at its 10 year anniversary event to recognise the impact the organisation has had over the past decade in providing support to individuals and families across Northern Ireland. This event marks 10 years of responding to unmet need, supporting neurodivergent individuals, and advocating for change.
"I fully recognise the challenges that exist in relation to access to ADHD support in the absence of commissioned ADHD services, and my Department is progressing work to address this unmet need, albeit in the context of severe funding pressures. The work of organisations such as A Safe Space to be Me has supported individuals who might otherwise remain unseen, provided early intervention and practical help, and brought forward the voices of those with lived experience."
The reception featured contributions from clinicians, volunteers, trustees and people with lived experience, who shared personal stories about the impact of delayed diagnosis, lack of access to treatment, and the challenges faced by neurodivergent people and their families across Northern Ireland.
Speaking at the event, Carolyn Tailford BEM reflected on the charity's journey from a small grassroots initiative supporting local families to a regional organisation delivering counselling, mental health support, ADHD education, family support, training and advocacy.
Carolyn Tailford BEM, CEO and Founder of A Safe Space To Be Me, told the room:
"We are not here to ask for sympathy, and we are certainly not here to ask neurodivergent people to continue adapting themselves to systems that continue to fail them. For too long, people with ADHD have been told that they are the problem: that they need to be more organised, more disciplined, more resilient.
"The barriers faced by people with ADHD are not created by their neurotype, but by environments that insist there is only one acceptable way to think, learn, work, and exist. The challenge before us is not to fix neurodivergent people. The challenge before us is to build systems that stop disabling them. Neurodivergent people do not need to be fixed, but our systems do - and the time to start fixing them is now."
Supported by key funding from The National Lottery, A Safe Space to Be Me has delivered almost 13,000 counselling sessions and developed a range of services supporting children, young people, adults and families experiencing mental health challenges and neurodivergence.
As the charity enters its second decade, it plans to expand its work with employers, schools and professionals through specialist training, consultancy and neuro-affirming workplace initiatives, helping to create environments where neurodivergent people can thrive.
Speaking after the event, attendees reflected on a simple but powerful message that resonated throughout the day: whilst people wait, life does not stop.