'ADHD Jersey founder had changed my life massively'

Charlie Herd started working for ADHD Jersey after the group helped her

A trainee facilitator at a group that helps people with ADHD said its founder "has changed my life".

Charlie Herd, 28, is one of those who has been helped by ADHD Jersey and now has begun to provide support to others, saying she was helping the organisation's "hard work".

Rachel Boss set up the organisation in 2022 after her own diagnosis and saying she found there was a lack of local support for people like herself.

Ms Boss has been nominated for the BBC Radio Jersey Make a Difference Awards (MaD) for her work. The winner of the awards will be announced in September.

ADHD Jersey runs events such as public workshops, which raise awareness about the condition

Ms Herd said she had been working with ADHD Jersey for 18 months and had seen how much of a difference its services had made to the neurodiverse community in the island.

She now helps facilitate some of the support courses ADHD Jersey runs.

She said the organisation had "been completely lifechanging" and she met Ms Boss when she was accessing support services "whether it was for employment, relationships or understanding ADHD".

She added: "We're just going to continue our hard work to evolve our current programmes so we can get them into schools, the prison, and into workplaces."

ADHD Jersey founder Rachel Boss has been nominated for the BBC Radio Jersey Make a Difference Awards

Ms Boss said: "We just started as a meet up in a pub and it's just grown bigger and bigger since then."

She has gone on to set up support programmes for a range of issues people with the neurological condition face.

Ms Boss added: "We now get daily phone calls from people who need support... Getting awareness out is really key".

She said hearing about the MaD nomination "was a shock", adding: "It's not just me, as I've got a whole team behind me; so it's a big thanks to everyone who is doing this and those with ADHD who've been brave enough to join us".