“What if the staff member struggling most in your organisation is the one working hardest to appear as though they’re coping?”
A Safe Space to be Me, the award-winning Northern Ireland charity recognised for its work in mental health and neurodivergent support, has been commissioned by the Department of Health to pilot the only adult ADHD support service of its kind in Northern Ireland.
The commissioning reflects growing recognition of both the scale of unmet need and the organisation’s proven impact across healthcare, statutory, community, and educational settings.
Over the past decade, A Safe Space to be Me has delivered more than 10,000 counselling sessions and provided direct ADHD psychoeducation and support to hundreds of adults navigating a system where commissioned adult ADHD provision has historically been almost non-existent.
But the impact of ADHD and neurodivergence does not stop at healthcare.
Increasingly, organisations across Northern Ireland are facing rising levels of burnout, absenteeism, retention difficulties, grievances, and workplace stress linked to neurodivergent needs that often go unrecognised or unsupported.
Research suggests that around 1 in 20 employees may have ADHD, many of whom remain undiagnosed or unsupported in the workplace.
In response, the charity has expanded its ADHD-Informed Workplace Series — a practical, evidence-informed training programme helping organisations move beyond awareness toward meaningful inclusion. The training supports employers to better understand how ADHD presents in workplace settings, implement realistic adjustments, reduce burnout, improve retention, and build psychologically safe teams.
Unlike generic diversity training, the organisation’s work combines:
- Clinical and therapeutic expertise
- Lived neurodivergent experience
- Trauma-informed practice
- Real-world workplace application
The organisation has already delivered ADHD and neurodiversity-informed programmes in partnership with healthcare providers, statutory agencies, businesses, schools, GP Federations, and community organisations across Northern Ireland.
Evaluation data from over 400 participants across sectors showed:
- 100% positive feedback across evaluations
- 94% strongly agreed the training was valuable
- 98% strongly agreed the training was highly applicable to their role
The charity says employers are increasingly recognising that neurodiversity is already present in every workforce — the real question is whether organisations understand how to support it effectively.
Its workplace programmes are tailored for:
- HR professionals
- Learning & Development teams
- Leadership and management teams
- Public sector organisations
- Community and voluntary sector employers
- Businesses seeking more inclusive workplace cultures
- Employee’s own understanding & awareness
Flexible delivery options include half-day workshops, full-day training, leadership briefings, and tailored organisational programmes.
A Safe Space to be Me is now inviting organisations across Northern Ireland to start the conversation around ADHD-informed workplaces and neurodivergent inclusion.
Because sometimes when good staff leave, it isn’t about performance, it’s about understanding ADHD.
For partnership opportunities or workplace training enquiries, visit
A Safe Space to be Me or contact info@asafespacetobeme.co.uk.
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