The service is delivered by charity Daisy Chain and commissioned through the Connecting Our City project. It is designed to support adults with or without a formal diagnosis, including those currently waiting for an assessment, as part of wider efforts to expand community-based mental health support.
Daisy Chain Service Opens Access to Peer Support
The programme is available to adults aged 18 and over who identify as autistic or as having ADHD. It includes peer support drop-in sessions, bookable one-to-one appointments, advice and information, as well as “understanding myself” workshops.
According to the York Press, the initiative aims to provide support for neurodivergent people independently of whether they have received a diagnosis. The service forms part of the commitments set out in York’s All-age Autism and ADHD Strategy 2025-2030, which focuses on improving support options for autistic people and those with ADHD.
The Connecting Our City project brings together local partners, people with lived experience and carers to develop a community network of mental health support. The new service is intended to provide another route for residents seeking help outside traditional assessment pathways.
Professor Lynne Gabriel OBE and Dr Steve Wright, co-chairs of the York Mental Health Partnership, said neurodivergent people and those with ADHD are more likely to experience difficulties managing their mental health. They added that support delivered by peers from Daisy Chain could provide practical and compassionate assistance when needed.
The service is being delivered by Daisy Chain, a charity that works with autistic people and their families. Residents can access the programme by contacting the organisation directly through its York support service.
Partnership Approach Aims to Improve Local Support Options
City of York Council said the service supports the objectives of its All-age Autism and ADHD Strategy and reflects efforts to create more accessible community support for neurodivergent residents.
Cllr Lucy Steels-Walshaw, Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing at City of York Council, said the Connecting Our City partnership was continuing to develop practical ways of supporting neurodiverse people. She said residents and their families now had more choice and easier access to peer support sessions through Daisy Chain.
According to City of York Council, the programme was created through collaboration between health, care and community organisations, alongside people with lived experience and their carers. The council said this approach was intended to help ensure support was available in a way that works for individual residents.
Lisa Pope, Director of Commissioning for York and North Yorkshire at NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB, described the service as an example of cooperation between local organisations. She said building a network of community-based support alongside people with lived experience could help neurodivergent residents access appropriate support.
Residents interested in using the service can contact Daisy Chain by telephone on 01642 531248, selecting option two, or by email at [email protected]. A referral form is also available through the Daisy Chain website. The launch adds a new community-based resource for autistic adults and people with ADHD in York, offering support through peer contact, information and practical sessions.
