ADHD Awareness Month

October is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Awareness Month.

Surrey's Local Offer has many resources to support children and young people with ADHD and their families. You can read more about about types of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and find ADHD specific support and events throughout the year.

Below we have listed services in Surrey, events in October for parents, carers and children, and nationwide support.

Support services in Surrey

Mindworks Surrey - Support and resources available for children experiencing needs or traits which could be associated with neurodiversity.
Mindworks Surrey, Out of hours advice line - Free phone line (5pm to 11pm) providing advice to parents and carers who are struggling with behaviours or difficulties which could be related to neurodevelopmental need, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or ADHD.
Barnardo's Surrey, ADHD Schools Awareness Service - Training to raise awareness of the key characteristics of ADHD and how the school community can adapt or enhance their existing measures to enable children and young people enjoy attending school, remain in school and achieve to the best of their ability.
Barnardo's Surrey, Positive Parenting Service - Supporting parents and carers of children 6 to 18 years old who have a diagnosis of ADHD or if their young person shows ADHD behaviours with an 8 week programme online.
Time Out Support group (Farnborough and Camberley) - Local support group on the Surrey and Hampshire borders. This group has been set up by parents of children with ADHD and other additional needs and disabilities.

Surrey Family Centres

You can find support and groups for you and your children at your local Family Centre. They have SEND specific stay and play sessions and support groups, where you can meet other families and speak with professionals.

Events Directory

Find events for parents, carers and children and young people with the Family Information Service events search. Below are some examples of the groups running in October:

SENDsory play, for children from birth to age 5 with additional needs, with regular early years support professionals and physiotherapists on hand to answer questions. Mondays, 10am to 11:30am, Guildford
Can Do! Inclusive playgroup for families with children aged 0 to 11 who have additional needs. Two sessions this half term, Thursday 22 October and 29 October, 10am to 11:30am, Epsom
SEND Coffee and Play, a safe and non judgemental space for parents and carers of children with additional needs. Children welcome. Thursday 13 and 27 October, 10:30am to 12pm, Bookham
SEND Stay and Play, a welcoming, relaxed play session for children aged 2 to 5 year olds with SEND and their families. Wednesdays term-time 10am to 11:30 am, Dorking

Online workshops from Surrey Family Learning

Empowering Your Neurodiverse Child to Build Resilience, Monday 2 November, 7:30 to 9:30pm
First Steps to Understanding My Neurodivergent Child, Wednesday 4 November, 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Confident Transitions for Your Neurodiverse Child, Monday 23 November, 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Develop Skills to Support your Child's Sensory Needs, Wednesday 25 November, 7:30pm to 9:30pm

Additional Needs Service Showcases

Hosted by the Surrey Family Information Service in partnership with Family Voice Surrey, these events offer a fantastic opportunity for families and professionals who support them to explore and connect with a variety of local services, organisations, and charities.

Upcoming Showcases:

Tuesday 3 November 2026, 9:30am to 2:30pm. Oakhall Church Hall, 181 Chaldon Road, Caterham, CR3 5PL

Wednesday 18 November 2026, 10am to 2pm. Guildford Baptist Church Millmead, Guildford, GU2 4BE

How to share your experiences

Accept, Teach, Listen, Access, Support (ATLAS) - A group for young people aged 8 to 25 in Surrey who have additional needs or disabilities. ATLAS helps young people share their views with the goal to make services better for other young people.
Young Writer's group - Share your experiences, insights, and stories with other young people, as well as the professionals who support them.
If you would like to contribute your experience to create resources about your ADHD, please get in touch using the Local Offer contact form.

Nationwide Services

Surrey Local Offer

Find more on our Local Offer web pages for information on education, training and support, for children and young people with special educational, and disability needs, and their families and practitioners.