Flexible, neurodiversity-affirming, lived-experience-led peer mentoring from our team.
Developed by and for Neurodivergent people to provide support that is affirming, non-clinical, and rooted in lived experience. Available one-to-one or for groups, with a choice of two pathways: personal and professional.
Peer mentoring
Developed by and for Neurodivergent people.
In our own journeys through mental health services, education, and the workforce, many of us lacked safe, validating spaces to explore identity, needs, and aspirations, especially during life transitions or when entering professional lived experience roles. To fill this gap, our Peer Mentoring offers relational, flexible, and identity-affirming support to navigate and explore life as a Neurodivergent person.
We developed this mentoring to be the support we lacked in our own journeys, but that we can now offer to others.
What makes our approach different?
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Fully Neurodivergent-led team
All mentors are Neurodivergent. Our Peer Mentoring is grounded in a neurodiversity-affirming approach. We centre lived experience and promote inclusive, person-centred practices.
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Dual-pathway model
Tailored support for both personal identity development and professional/lived experience roles. Learn more about the pathways below.
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Centring lived experience
Our mentoring balances research with lived experience, with a focus on real-world relevance and Neurodivergent voices. We offer practical insights rooted in real-world experiences.
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Academic and facilitation expertise
High-quality, engaging mentoring grounded in both research and real-world insight.
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Mental health-informed
Our mentors bring lived experience from diverse mental health settings.
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Neurodiversity-affirming, non-clinical
A safe, inclusive environment where Neurodivergent identity is validated and celebrated. We aim to challenge stereotypes and amplify Neurodivergent voices.
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Flexible online mentoring
Online mentoring sessions allow us to offer better value for money and greater availability. We may also be able to accommodate initial in-person sessions within the UK (depending on location and team availability). We use secure, accessible platforms for online sessions.
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Flexible formats
Most of our mentoring is one-to-one, but we are open to group options. Get in touch to explore how we can accommodate your requirements.
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Flexible pricing
We offer flexible pricing, dependent upon on session length, format, and requirements. Please contact us for a tailored quote—we are happy to work with a range of budgets and needs.
PERSONAL PATHWAY
Understanding Neurodivergent identity and need
This offer focuses on personal identity development, wellbeing, and self-advocacy. It is especially supportive during times of transition, whether in community or inpatient mental health settings.
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Promote connection beyond immediate services
Building longer-term, meaningful relationships that go beyond clinical or crisis support.
Support the development of Neurodivergent identity
Fostering a strong, positive sense of self.
Promote understanding of individual needs
Sharing lived experience and providing education grounded in neurodiversity-affirming approaches.
Provide stability during change
Offering a consistent, trusted relationship amidst life transitions or instability.
Support wellbeing
Particularly within inpatient and community services, recognising the complexity of these environments.
Encourage self-knowledge
Helping individuals explore their preferences, communication styles, sensory needs, and values.
Empower self-advocacy
Working alongside individuals to identify, express, and (where agreed) communicate their views, needs, and wishes.
Professional PATHWAY
Neurodivergence in the workforce (professional and lived experience roles)
This offer supports Neurodivergent individuals to navigate, enter, thrive and progress in the professional workforce and leadership roles, whether in general roles or specifically lived experience positions. It also recognises that identity, wellbeing, and advocacy remain just as important in professional contexts.
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Support the development of Neurodivergent identity
Fostering a strong, positive sense of self in professional spaces.
Promote understanding of individual needs
Through shared lived experience and neurodiversity-affirming education.
Support wellbeing
As they relate to working life or vocational transitions.
Encourage self-knowledge and reflection
Exploring work-related preferences, communication and processing needs, sensory environments, and values.
Understanding needs and asking for possible accommodations
Empower self-advocacy
Particularly around disclosure, boundaries, accommodations, and navigating systemic challenges.
Explore Neurodivergent identity in the workplace
Supporting safety, authenticity and self-expression at work.
Mentor around lived experience and peer roles
With guidance from team members who have walked similar paths.
Support workforce access and re-entry
Through confidence-building, reflection, and practical guidance.
Share sustainable strategies
For working in ways that protect wellbeing and affirm Neurodivergent identity.
Growing in leadership roles.
Managing Neurodivergent team members
and supporting access and reasonable adjustments for others.
“ What I value most is that ND Connection fills a gap that statutory services simply can’t. They provide the kind of relational, neurodiversity‑affirming support that prevents escalation, reduces isolation, and helps young people stay connected... I recommend the ND Connection team because I trust them. I trust their approach, their values, and their ability to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people who deserve to be understood and supported—not just assessed or managed.”
FAQs
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Our mentoring is for Neurodivergent people, including those who identify as autistic, ADHD, or who experience the world in ways that don’t always fit conventional expectations.
You might be exploring your identity, making sense of your experiences, or navigating your relationship with mental health services, whether that means accessing support, feeling unsure about it, or moving away from it.
Many of the people we work with have had periods of feeling disconnected or alone, sometimes shaped by their circumstances (for example, time spent in inpatient settings). You might not have had many opportunities to meet or connect with other Neurodivergent people, or to feel understood on your own terms. You may also be used to having lots of professionals involved in your life, with limited opportunity to connect with peers.
Our mentoring offers a space that is neurodiversity-affirming, relational, and grounded in mutual understanding and shared experience.
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Pathway 1
Understanding Neurodivergent identity and need
Focuses on personal development, self-understanding, identity, wellbeing, and advocacy, particularly useful during times of change or within services.
Pathway 2
Neurodivergence in the workforce
Supports individuals in navigating work, whether entering employment, taking on lived experience roles, or finding sustainable ways to work and professionally progress as a Neurodivergent person.
You can move between pathways based on your needs and goals.
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We are a fully Neurodivergent-led team, with all mentors bringing lived experience of Neurodivergence. Many also bring insights from mental health care, peer support, academia, and lived experience roles. Our approach is relational, identity-affirming, and grounded in both lived and research-informed practice.
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No. We recognise and respect self-identification. You do not need a formal diagnosis to access mentoring.
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The length of mentoring varies depending on individual needs and the context of the referral or program. We offer flexible, person-led mentoring that can adapt over time. Please contact us for current availability and options.
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No. This is peer mentoring, not therapy or clinical treatment. Our mentors share lived experience and offer support through relational, non-clinical approaches. We can work alongside other supports, including mental health teams, if desired.
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Yes. We are experienced in working within both inpatient and community mental health settings, and our mentors can offer valuable, stabilising support during these times.
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Most mentoring is done online. This offers better value for money and means that we can work nationally. However, for some people it’s important for initial meetings to happen face-to-face. We work flexibly, so let us know what you need and we’ll accommodate it if we can.
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Mentoring is primarily offered 1:1, but group options may be available depending on interest and availability. All sessions are adapted to suit Neurodivergent communication styles and access needs.
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Get in touch with us for a conversation about what support is needed. If we have capacity in the team, have an appropriate mentor available and funding is in place, we will arrange initial introductions with you. All mentoring is individually funded.
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It means we view Neurodivergence as a natural and valuable part of human diversity. We don’t aim to ‘fix’ or ‘normalise’ people: we support individuals to better understand themselves, reduce harm, and thrive in ways that work for them.