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Episode 2 with the ADHD junior ambassadors
462 Plays9 days ago
We are delighted to welcome two of our junior ambassadors to the pod, to talk about their experience as young people supporting the charity.
Go to https://adhduk.co.uk/adhd-uk-ambassadors/ to find out more about the scheme.
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Transcript
Introduction and Anticipation
00:00:07
Speaker
So welcome back to episode two of the ADHD UK podcast. ah I'm Max Davey. And I'm Lauren Jennings. ah Yes, same team, two days running or two two episodes running. This is quite something. So um we've put out our first episode.
00:00:24
Speaker
Peek behind the curtain, folks. We've not actually... um We're recording this before the first episode has... I believe the kids say dropped. Yes. um And um we don't therefore know what the response has been. But
Personal Updates and Spring Reflections
00:00:40
Speaker
we're hoping everyone is, let's just pretend we've been garlanded with awards and everyone thinks it's the best thing ever.
00:00:46
Speaker
um How are you, Lauren? You all right? I'm very well, thank you. How are you? Yes, i'm ah I've actually been a bit ill, but not in a way that is in any way but um suitable for a podcast. So let's move on. um Yeah, no, I'm all right, actually. um It's Easter, just coming out for Easter. So
Junior Ambassadors Program Introduction
00:01:07
Speaker
there's a little bit of a... there's a slight pause in the work schedule which is which is very pleasant we've got a uh got a my so youngest son is doing his gcses though so it's uh everyone's was sort of there's a bit of low-level nagging going on that we're having to kind of constantly check i see he's actually doing his work but there you go um yeah so it's going to be very lovely easter and uh very but but um
00:01:34
Speaker
and the spring is springing which is so good it's so much easier to feel good when yeah you get the occasional bit of sun i've just learned what a spring equinox is oh yeah so so i know that that's just that's just happened so yeah it's the we have the sun and oh i'm gonna say it wrong now the sun or and night the same time like that yeah that's it It's been it's so significant for pagans as a kind of re festival.
00:02:03
Speaker
They get very excited. Not that I'm not particularly pagan myself, but yes, but there's lots of stuff that goes on at Stonehenge, I think, um and various other places. Yeah, it's nice. it's sort of And then the just clocks go went forward last night, which is awful in the morning, but nice in the evening. Suddenly it's still light at 7.30, which is really great.
00:02:23
Speaker
um So what we're going to do today, Lauren, rather than just chat about the weather, um we are going to hear from the junior ambassadors. Is that what they're called? Yes, it's the junior ambassadors. They are absolutely incredible. So the junior ambassadors are anyone under 18 that still wants to become an ambassador and still wants to use their voice to create change. And the junior ambassadors that we have, we have three junior ambassadors at the moment, and they are absolutely incredible.
00:02:50
Speaker
Yeah, no, they they are. We're going to hear from two of them today. yeah um ah Summer and Hannah. Yes. um Do they all rhyme? do all do do you have to Do you have to rhyme with that to be a junior ambassador? That's the question.
00:03:03
Speaker
Summer, Hannah and Oliver. Yeah, they all rhyme. Yeah, they all rhyme. um But yeah, we'll hear from them no further ado, because I'm bit prone to ado, as you know. um We'll put on the junior ambassadors and then we'll see what they have to say.
00:03:20
Speaker
Great. My name is Chris Hercombe. I'm an ADHD UK ambassador. And on today's episode, we're going to be talking to our junior ambassadors. Now,
Motivations and Experiences of Junior Ambassadors
00:03:30
Speaker
for those of you who are unaware, the junior programme is open to anybody between the ages of 16 and 18 years of age. And as with all of our UK ambassadors, our five goals are information, support, research, advocacy and awareness and positively changing what it means to have ADHD.
00:03:49
Speaker
in the UK. Now we currently only have three young ambassadors but I'm sure after listening to this podcast you will agree that it's definitely a case of quality over quantity because these guys are incredible. um so I'd just like to introduce Summer, Hannah and now starting with you Summer if you don't mind. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you became ADHD junior ambassador and just what it means to you?
00:04:14
Speaker
Of course. So I'm Summer, I'm 18 years old and I'm ADHD UK's first ever junior ambassador. I became a junior ambassador because I wanted to turn everything I've been through of ADHD into a positive. um So I started speaking about my experiences on the radio and online and in my community and ADHD UK saw the impact it could have and honestly it's one of the most best things I've ever done. That's amazing. What about you Hannah?
00:04:43
Speaker
So my name's Hannah, I'm 17 years old and I decided to become an ADHD UK Junior Ambassador. Like really when I joined pageantry, it's something that really opened my eyes up to raising awareness for things. And before I got really badly like bullied in school, especially for my ADHD. And I think I really wanted to kind of talk about it to you know really just like encourage other people out there like you can embrace your ADHD and I also really want to raise awareness like of how misunderstood ADHD can be especially you know in schools is it is something that has really impacted me and my childhood growing up
00:05:24
Speaker
Oh, that's amazing. Thank you. Yeah. I mean, what I what i find um so incredible about all of you guys is just that within Junior Ambassador Programme, the level of maturity and resilience and the passion you have, you know, not only in the awareness you're raising about ADHD, but also the advocacy. And also, I know you've done some fundraising between the two of you as well. And I've said this before, but I think as junior ambassadors, you're in such a pivotal position, you know, to make a positive change for young people with ADHD or who are struggling potentially with having ADHD. And I think that's so empowering and you guys should be immensely proud of yourselves. um Anyway, so as your work, um being a junior ambassador, um what sort of fundraising and community work have you done? I'm someone who, like when I'm doing fundraising, I really like to push myself outside my comfort zone and To fundraise for ADHD UK I've done 5k at Edinburgh Marathon Festival which is it's like quite ah it's quite a big running event where I live and I'm someone who hates running absolutely i didn't ah not for me at all especially on a warm
00:06:26
Speaker
sunny day up a really hilly course and i really just wanted to kind of test myself because it's I'm raising money for a cause that is really close to my heart and I was able to raise about 600 pounds for the charity so that's something that you know it it was really rewarding after that even though i hated running it during the time it felt really good and I've also done other little stuff I've done little braffles giveaways and I've got loads of other plans to fundraise coming up soon amazing thank you Hannah what about you Summer I've done some school talks, um I've been doing some awareness events, radio work and just mainly community projects so far. So one of the most meaningful parts that I have been doing so far is with one of my ADHD projects, I've been taking it internationally. so I've been travelling through train stations using assistance services and seeing firsthand what like accessibility really looks like. It taught me how important is to have the right support and to be understood. um
00:07:19
Speaker
I'm also about to start filming a documentary. um I can't share the details yet, but it's not very personal and meaningful, and I hope it helps a lot of people feel seen and understood and reminded that their experiences really matter. ah that sounds incredible, and I'm sure that will, you know, empower a lot of a lot of young people and also adults as well. I
Challenges and Tips for Managing ADHD
00:07:36
Speaker
find you guys very empowering. You know I'm so blown away by...
00:07:39
Speaker
everything i've I've said already, you know, just what you're doing for ADHD and for you kids your age across the UK and across the world, you know, that see you and hear about your work. It's just fantastic.
00:07:52
Speaker
You like your your school school life, you've touched upon that already, I believe, Summer, and your daily lives, your day-to-day. How do you find that impacts you? What's something um that really resonates with you with having ADHD?
00:08:05
Speaker
So school was really tough for me. um i often felt really left out and asking for support made me feel really bad about myself at the time when it shouldn't have done at all. So when I finally got some help, so I was offered a timeout card in school in some classrooms. um It felt like it was taken away again. um So I was having other pupils laugh at me and it made me really scared to use the support I actually was given. um So eventually i learned something important and that was you have to listen to your brain. and to find a safe space that like kind of makes you feel like you belong, if that makes sense. So um that was when I became homeschooled and that's when I really started feel like myself again because back in education in 2022, didn't feel like ADHD was to understood at all.
00:08:51
Speaker
no i totally i totally understand that um i mean obviously you say being about being homeschooled um what would you say that's something you feel you know could could better schools and learning environment environments um to support children like yourself with hd obviously you mentioned there were some um things some things in place to help you like reasonable adjustments in place to help you out I definitely feel like there should be maybe a talk in schools that having an ADHD is actually a really creative thing and it's not something to judge someone at all. Because I feel like if I had like someone, if we had a classroom back in school where there was like one talk, like I don't know, maybe a week um about what ADHD actually is maybe they wouldn't have judged me so hard for using the support I was given.
00:09:36
Speaker
yeah no, exactly. it's all It's all about understanding, isn't it? And I think once people can see... from your perspective and you open their eyes a little bit. um Sometimes it's just a case of people not being ignorant intentionally. It's just a lack of understanding and awareness. And obviously that's something that you both, you as ambassadors, you know, are bringing, which is fantastic. Okay. So about you, Hannah, what about your school? have you, and your day to day, have you found it?
00:10:01
Speaker
So I think for me personally and school, I've been, i felt misunderstood like throughout my entire school years. Even though I wasn't diagnosed until I was about 14, since very early primary school, always just felt a bit different. I felt like there was something that other kids could like, kind of got and were able to do that I just couldn't.
00:10:24
Speaker
i remember i in primary school, I actually had quite a few teachers making fun of me for like, parts of my ADHD. So for example, I hate loud noises, like i absolutely hate them. and something I think quite a lot of people with ADHD, I don't know if you can relate, like do not like them that at all. And anytime like there'd be any loud noise in school that like overwhelmed me, I would always like kind of cover my ears to protect myself and stuff like that. Like loads of teachers would like literally publicly embarrass me in front of all the kids, watch with to which led to all the other children having like a kind of negative opinion on me and seeing me really seen me as a bit odd and like that I should kind of be avoided and it's something that really stuck with me all the way through high school and it it led to me getting quite badly bullied and it really had an impact on my self-esteem and I ended up having to change skills because of it so I think I'd really as a junior ambassador something that I'd really like to do is use
00:11:25
Speaker
use this opportunity and use my voice to educate everyone so that teachers and whether it's primary, secondary, even nursery know more about ADHD and neurodiversity in general, especially in girls. I think girls were often diagnosed a lot later and I think if the teachers were able to, you know, spot the signs of of it way quicker, they'd able to help so many more children, you get the support they need earlier on in life. ah that's amazing, Hannah, obviously what you said as well, Summer, but that's um that's so sad to hear that you went through all that, but it's great, that's the thing, is that, you know, unfortunately, you these negative experiences to learn from them and and turn them into something positive, and that's what you guys are doing again. obviously you probably have, i think you've touched on it already a little bit, both of you, but ADHD has impacted you in your school life, but what about your daily life, and do you have any tips for how you navigate that, you know, like your...
00:12:14
Speaker
relationships with your parents, your family and friends and your social life. If you want to go first, Hannah? Yeah, so I'd say definitely like my biggest tip would be to just really like know your boundaries and kind of be able to distinguish like what's maybe just like testing you and pushing yourself out outside your comfort zones and something that is just completely overwhelming you and is too much. I'm someone who within end my daily life i'll always like make sure to have i love having a routine it makes me feel so much more organized and productive for the day and whatever I'm whatever I'm doing that day I'll always like put in little like set break times for me just to even if I'm not feeling overwhelmed just to kind of five minutes you know sit recollect myself and regulate my emotions and I think that's this is something that really really keeps me going I think something else about relationships is think with ADHD
00:13:08
Speaker
I get, I find it really hard to, you know, especially in friendships, I find it really hard to kind of distinguish, like, between when someone's making a joke and taking it too far. i know I just touched on this, but at school, like, there would be times where I would have friends who were, who I thought were, you know, maybe just joking with me, but they were actually being nasty. And I think, even though obviously, like, it's not been a nice experience, it's really taught me to just kind of know my boundaries, say, like,
00:13:36
Speaker
it's okay to say no or stop that. I don't like it. And like really get people to know like when, when to like actually stop really. Yeah, no, like I know exactly what you're saying. Like everything you you guys are saying just resonates with me so much. And it, it shows that, you know, age doesn't have a boundary when it comes to the sort of experiences you have with age HD and like say friendships.
00:14:01
Speaker
um So but what about you, Summer? I feel like just navigating ADHD day-to-day life is really about knowing yourself um and honouring what parts your brain really needs. um I break it into three parts. so daily life, social life and home life. Each one looks very different.
00:14:19
Speaker
um I would say in daily life, I try to keep things pretty simple. um By that I mean like I do things in small bursts instead of trying to push through everything at once and I just remind myself that pauses are normal.
00:14:35
Speaker
um Socially I think the biggest thing for me is just connection, um to surround yourself with good people who understand you on your loud days and your quiet ones. And when you're with like the right group of friends, you don't have to mask at all.
00:14:48
Speaker
um so I think it's really important to find that good group of people. um And at home, I try to make my space like work for me. So I have little routines and just like comfort things. um I'm not really ashamed to like step away when I'm just overstimulated.
00:15:02
Speaker
um But listening to your brain, I think it's really, really important. um And what's really special for me is that my family will always
Future Plans in ADHD Advocacy and Encouragement
00:15:09
Speaker
love me for who I am. um They love my funny side. And honestly, I think I'm the most funniest one in my family. Oh, that's fantastic. I'm sure I'm sure you are. That's amazing. Having the support of your family in those close to is so important. And um again, the level of maturity and the ownership you've taken of your ADHD, both of you and you know all of you. has really blows me away. And so now it's great to hear that you're really turning your ADHD into a positive thing. um So also, you know, obviously looking into the future, um Summer, what what are your hopes and aspirations regarding your advocacy, ADHD UK Ambassadorship?
00:15:47
Speaker
So I want to keep taking my project, um traveling, um creating and speaking and using my voice to help others um with radio and like international level and documentary work. um But my goal mainly is just to help people truly understand ADHD and not judge it.
00:16:03
Speaker
um because adhd is not a weakness it's clarity and it's understanding how your brain works because like you are not broken and you are not behind and you'll never lessen anyone else and i never want anyone to feel like they're less of themselves just because they have it because honestly adhd is such a beautiful thing to have what sam thompson said in the global conference because he's so right it definitely is and what i hope listeners take away most of all is that you are enough and you are enough exactly as you are and your story matters and your brain matters and your struggle matters with everything and everything you do.
00:16:35
Speaker
And differences isn't less and it can be really amazing because it is. Thank you, Summer. That was so lovely um and so so well said and with such passion as well. What about you, Hannah? what's your sort of um your What are your hopes moving forward?
00:16:50
Speaker
So I've touched on this previously, but Summer and I are um also... we're both involved in pageantry, it's actually how we know each other and think combining, I think, know, combining two things, I absolutely love pageantry and advocating for ADHD, I think that it really, it really gives me a purpose to do what I do and i just really want listeners to take away that ADHD isn't something to be ashamed of. Yes, it has its struggles, yes, we have our differences, but ultimately that's what makes us, us and I think it's something that you can really embrace in many positive and creative ways.
00:17:27
Speaker
That's great. like extend again it's it's just Again, it's just another another platform for you to raise awareness, and that's fantastic. so and What would you say to a young person who's just been diagnosed? Or do you have any messages for the listeners of today's podcast to take away with them um going for summer?
00:17:44
Speaker
I would say if you've just been diagnosed, the first thing I want you to know is this doesn't change who you are, it just explains your brain. um ADHD doesn't mean you're broken or behind. It means your brain is working perfectly fine, but there's just like a little difference, but the little difference is so powerful. Thank you. What about you, Hannah? What's your message to those listeners out there?
00:18:02
Speaker
i think that if I were to like say something to someone who's just been diagnosed, I think I'd say that it isn't anything negative. it's really just It's really just closure and it kind of maybe explains some issues you've been struggling with. I really i really don't think that it's negative. I think you should really see it as an opportunity to, you know, an opportunity to learn more about yourself embrace some of your traits for about your ADHD and i think really as Summer said as well I think my biggest message I can say is honestly to just wear it with pride your full authentic self and i just really i just really want people to know that ADHD it doesn't define you one bit.
00:18:46
Speaker
My final message that I kind of wanted to say is like I'm so grateful and thankful to have the opportunity to become a junior ambassador. I feel like being able to meet and connect with other people with ADHD and kind of share their struggles, it's really helped me and it's helped me learn much more about myself as a person. And oh I used to be really insecure about my ADHD and it is what's helped me embrace it. And i think that if you're someone who's struggling with ADHD, I think it is a great thing to get involved in, to you know, raise more awareness with and just really discover more about yourself. I've literally had the most amazing time of of my role as being a junior and ambassador times because I know unfortunately the role of the junior ambassador is coming to an end soon for me because am 18.
00:19:31
Speaker
But just like looking back at it, like I wouldn't be here without my ADHD. Like, All the challenges I've had, all the times I felt left out and the moments I struggled in school, like they've all shaped me into someone who's resilient and creative and passionate about helping others. um I'm just so grateful for the chance to use my experiences to make a difference. ADHD is a part of me and that's why I am who I am today.
00:19:53
Speaker
I mean,
Hosts' Reflections and Social Challenges
00:19:54
Speaker
that was incredible. um So funny, I was not sure what to expect, what they'd actually been doing. And I suppose the first thing is the energy of these young people and what they're capable of.
00:20:09
Speaker
And it's a hackneyed phrase, but when I was 18, there's no way, there's just no way i would have done any of that stuff. Honestly, they are absolutely incredible and they share experiences about their school life as well as their personal life and how ADHD impacts their everyday. I just think that they're so open and honest about their experiences, which is going to help so many other people that are in similar situations, so many other young people be able to...
00:20:36
Speaker
understand that their ADHD is a part of their everyday life. But once you get to understand yourself and understand how ADHD does impact your life, you're then able to learn, grow and be your authentic self, as they say.
00:20:54
Speaker
Yeah, and I think that's almost a kind of, that can seem like a bit of of a superficial thing sometimes. and Certainly to people of sort of my age, as well superficial you know, authentic self, sort of, you know, kind of load of load of self-indulgent nonsense, but it's not. That's the point, because being your authentic self when it comes to something like this, in fact, generally being your authentic self is is absolutely vital for your long term mental health, whatever that self is and having and accepting your ADHD, really accepting it um is is an absolute vital part of that. It's not the whole thing. Absolutely.
00:21:32
Speaker
Absolutely. um But it is really important. I was really struck by two things. I think one, i I was really struck by how difficult school had been. And it's eternally disappointing that school is still such a struggle.
00:21:48
Speaker
Absolutely. It's one of those things that really struck me as well when I was listening to the podcast was about their school experiences. And I do think, again, by them being open about this, is I've not really heard any lived experiences about school life as honest as this. So for me, I was really taken aback. I thought, wow, they're so incredible for actually sharing that and making other people aware of their experiences so that if they're in similar situations... And they they feel less alone because i think some of the sometimes, you know, if people don't share their lived experiences, it's hard to then understand what the school process is like. And for everyone, it's completely different. But for these junior ambassadors, being able to share this is just going to help so many people.
00:22:35
Speaker
Well, hopefully, ah it depends depending on who gets who listens to it and and whether anything is done about it. And that's that's the crucial thing, isn't it? um Still, we we can but try. i think i think the other thing i I noticed was that it wasn't... It's funny, people talk about ADHD and they talk about the hyperactivity and the concentration difficulties. But actually, the thing that both ah Hannah and Summer talked about was social difficulties. yeah um And that was almost...
00:23:04
Speaker
the the main thing, it was almost the most content, the big, the biggest thing that they talk about. I always find that so interesting that because, you know, as a diagnostic, ah diagnostic kind of clinician, and I will diagnose people and and and deal with their ADHD, we don't treat social difficulties as part of the diagnostic process. And we don't we don't actually provide any sort of therapy for social difficulties, not that there is therapy for social difficulties, know, support for social difficulties. And yet it keeps coming back as one of the main problems that people actually experience in their lives.
00:23:39
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. i think i i mean I think that's a sort of huge dropped ball by on the behalf of the medical profession. um But also, think it's very interesting because it's not that people are autistic with ADHD, but there is something about ADHD people where you're not on the wavelength of neurotypicals in the same way that autistic people are not on the wavelength of neurotypicals, but in a different way to autistic people.
00:24:04
Speaker
Because you're also not on necessarily on the wavelength of autistic people either. So it's tricky. Yeah. yeah Yeah, 100%. And it's one of those things that I think about quite regularly as well is about the social aspect. Because for me, even, it's been something that's been a big part of my everyday life. And it wasn't until I actually found out about what ADHD was and how it impacted me that that started to become quite prevalent. and And once I did understand it, it's almost like when they talked about masking,
00:24:33
Speaker
when When I then found out about how I interact in social situations and that anxiety I can feel, actually, I started to notice it in the moments and was able to do things for myself. Like when on our first episode, I spoke about reasonable adjustments.
00:24:48
Speaker
I do reasonable adjustments for myself. So if I feel overwhelmed in a social situation, I'll then take myself away, just have a moment and come back to the social social situation. Yeah. And it is, yeah, sometimes you just need to be out. I even li earlier today, I just got incredibly restless because I've been cooped up in the house all day and I just had to, I just had to leave and that was okay.
00:25:11
Speaker
That's it. Sometimes you just need to for a walk. Yeah. Go for a walk, listen to your favorite music or like me, listen to the same song 500 times. Yeah, no, that's not me, but never mind.
00:25:28
Speaker
um Now I want to know what song you've listened to 500 times. Oh, okay. So today it was actually Best of Both Worlds by Hannah Monde. Hannah Montana, because Hannah Montana's back. Isn't it 20th anniversary, is that right? Yeah, I'm down with the kids. Yeah, that's it. I've seen the Spotify homepage.
00:25:46
Speaker
That's why i was listening to Hannah Montana, because ah they might be old songs, but when realised that Hannah Montana was back. They're old songs from my perspective, but fine, yeah, I know he's
00:25:59
Speaker
exactly. But often it's stuff that you in in your youth that you loved is the same stuff you come back to, isn't it? So there you go. Hannah Montana. There is one song I like, which is, i would say older and it's, um, Oh, can't remember the name of it now, but I know the tune. It's, um, died in your arms tonight. That song is from like 80s. Yeah, that one. Um,
00:26:25
Speaker
ah Gosh, yes, please. yeah That's a good song. Please don't make me sing again. Okay, that was wonderful. So um that's ah a little little little insight um into old songs. I think actually I was a bit surprised. I was alive when that song was come out came out, but it was only a few years old. So
Episode Wrap-up and Teaser
00:26:45
Speaker
but yes, and anyway.
00:26:51
Speaker
um i will probably put in a little snippet of ah music facts at this point because my brain does not allow me to leave alone what who made that song and when it was made but that's okay we'll do that that's great doesn know so yeah so it was 1986 cutting crew and um yes i was a few years old and a If you're listening to it with your kids and they ask you what the lyrics mean, just change the subject. That was a public service broadcast.
00:27:25
Speaker
Other than that, I think that's it for this week. ah Next week or next episode, we can't promise a weekly schedule, but we are making quite a lot of progress and getting quite a lot we've got quite a good system ourselves. We have um a interview with a clinical psychologist about memory. So come back if you want to um hear more about memory and,
00:27:48
Speaker
Also, hopefully, you know, this will reach a lot of people. And if you have things that we can talk about, um then um about ADHD, obviously, not necessarily music, that's fine.
00:28:02
Speaker
um And then ah we will talk about it and we will discuss it. And if you want to um ah get us a particular guest on, we can't talk to everyone who might want to talk to us. We've already got loads of people who are lining up to kind of come and have a chat. um But if you have a particular subject that you want covered, please let us know.
00:28:21
Speaker
And we'll see by then how many times Lauren has listened to Hannah Montana. We can we keep a count. Probably be another song next week or the week after. We'll find out. changes. We'll find out. All right. And that for now, that's it. Goodbye. Goodbye.