A grassroots initiative created to support families struggling with lengthy NHS waiting times for autism and ADHD assessments has now gained charity status. The Roxi Foundation, based in Swindon, Wiltshire, was launched by the family of a young woman who faced years of challenges before finally receiving diagnoses for both conditions.

Founder Matt Pound, Roxi’s father, explained that their experience made him realise many other families were facing the same barriers. “If we found it that hard, I knew we couldn’t be the only ones,” he said. The charity offers grants to cover the cost of private assessments, giving families quicker access to support services.

One parent, Julian, shared how his daughter Hannah had become withdrawn and non-verbal while waiting over two years for help. The Roxi Foundation stepped in to fund a private assessment, leading to diagnoses of autism and ADHD. “She’s like a different child now – more engaged and communicative,” Julian said, who now helps raise funds for the charity.

While the cost of private assessments limits how many families can be supported, the foundation has already helped three young people and raised £7,000 in 2024, with a £20,000 fundraising goal for 2025. The NHS says it is working on earlier intervention and new neurodevelopmental care pathways to improve access.

Leading charities have written to Stephen Kinnock MP, Minister of State for Care, calling for immediate action after figures revealed that 2,025 autistic individuals and people with learning disabilities are still being detained in mental health hospitals.

Despite previous commitments to reduce these numbers, the Government has delayed changes to detention laws, stating that reforms outlined in the Mental Health Bill won’t be enacted until it is confident sufficient community-based support is in place. The National Autistic Society, Mencap, and The Challenging Behaviour Foundation are among the organisations urging ministers to publish a clear, detailed strategy without further delay.

One year has passed since the Government and NHS missed their 2024 target to halve the number of people detained since 2015. Alarmingly, rather than falling, the number of autistic people detained has risen by 4% since then. Overall, detentions have increased by 136% since 2015 - highlighting a worsening crisis.

Although a new target of a 10% reduction by March 2026 has been introduced, campaigners say this lacks direction and ambition. Mel Merritt from the National Autistic Society stressed the urgent need for a coordinated Government plan, warning that without one, people will continue to face long, harmful detentions - often lasting nearly five years - in institutions not designed to meet their needs.

Vital support services for unpaid carers are under serious threat due to increased employer National Insurance contributions, according to the Carers Trust. The charity warns that its network of over 130 local carer organisations now faces an added financial burden of £3.3 million, which, alongside higher wage costs, brings the total impact to £7.5 million. As a result, many centres may be forced to cut services, reduce staff, or help fewer carers.

The rise comes into effect during a time of growing financial pressure on unpaid carers, who are also facing cuts to benefits. Local carer services offer essential help for the UK’s six million unpaid carers and around one million young carers, including practical support, information, breaks from caring and emergency grants. Many of these families already struggle financially, with two-thirds of carers needing to reduce or leave work due to their responsibilities.

Almost all of the affected organisations (93%) say the additional costs threaten their ability to continue operating, with 30% expecting to cut core services, 40% likely to reduce staffing, and 28% anticipating a drop in the number of carers they can support.

Kirsty McHugh, Chief Executive of Carers Trust, called for urgent government action, warning that without proper funding, many carers could lose the only support they have.

Experts have raised concerns over the number of children in Scotland facing long, unreported waits for autism and ADHD assessments. Despite recent progress in mental health services – with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) meeting its 18-week treatment target for the first time – thousands remain on "hidden" waiting lists for neurodevelopmental assessments.

Figures obtained through Freedom of Information requests reveal that thousands of young people across health boards, including over 8,500 in Lanarkshire and more than 7,500 in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, are waiting for their first appointment. However, the data is not published consistently, and campaigners are urging the Scottish government to be more transparent and to ring-fence funding for neurodevelopmental support.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland warns that children with conditions like autism and ADHD often wait longer due to prioritisation of those with immediate mental health risks. Delays in assessment can have lasting impacts on education and wellbeing, with many developing mental health issues as a result of unsupported neurodivergence.

While funding for mental health services has increased, demand continues to outpace capacity. Organisations such as the Salvesen Mindroom Centre have seen referrals soar, highlighting the need for better data, clearer pathways, and more staff to meet rising needs.

A Norfolk-based charity supporting young people with mental health challenges has welcomed fresh government investment aimed at improving access to early intervention services. Youth organisation MAP runs early support hubs in King’s Lynn, Great Yarmouth, and Norwich, offering immediate help while young people await NHS treatment.

The Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has reported a significant drop - over 50% - in waiting list numbers since April 2022. However, many young people still face lengthy waits. Mel, a 15-year-old from King’s Lynn, shared how she waited four years for a referral for PTSD treatment. After her GP declined to refer her to CAMHS, MAP stepped in and helped her secure a place on the NHS waiting list, offering ongoing support throughout.

“I waited years for someone to listen,” Mel said. “Without MAP, I wouldn’t have received the help I needed. We need to address issues early - prevention is far better than cure.” She also pointed to academic pressure as a key factor behind the rise in mental health struggles among her peers.

Labour has confirmed plans to expand early support hubs, which were originally piloted by the previous Conservative government. MAP CEO Dan Mobbs welcomed the funding, highlighting the growing mental health crisis, with one in five young people now affected. Senior mental health worker Dan Klyn stressed that MAP supports anyone in need - regardless of how severe their condition may seem.

As part of Autism Acceptance Month, The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent, has been honoured with an Autism-Friendly Award from national support provider Dimensions. The accolade celebrates the sanctuary’s dedication to creating a supportive, inclusive environment for autistic visitors and staff alike.

Over 30 members of the team at the sanctuary recently completed specialist training delivered by Dimensions, which focused on understanding autism, improving communication, and making meaningful adjustments to the environment. The training has been developed over 15 years and empowers organisations to make their spaces more accessible and less overwhelming for autistic individuals.

Sarah Walters, Campaigns Manager at Dimensions, said: “We’re proud to recognise The Big Cat Sanctuary’s efforts in making their site more autism inclusive. It’s vital that public spaces become more accessible, and this award reflects a real commitment to that goal. We hope other organisations follow their lead in making their services more inclusive.”

To put their learning into practice, the sanctuary will host its first Sensory Inclusive Open Day this summer. The event will include lower noise levels, tailored talks, and hands-on activities designed with neurodiverse guests in mind. British Sign Language interpreters will also be present, ensuring deaf visitors can fully engage and enjoy the experience in a welcoming and comfortable setting.

A new report has revealed that children in Bradford who moved from primary to secondary school during the Covid lockdown have faced significant challenges, with many struggling to adjust and engage in their new school environments. The disruption of learning routines during lockdown, combined with a lack of in-person transition support, has had a lasting impact on academic performance and attendance rates.

Bradford Council’s children’s services highlighted concerns at a recent scrutiny committee meeting, pointing to a sharp rise in absences, suspensions and exclusions among secondary pupils. The report noted that while primary-level outcomes are showing improvement, secondary schools - most of which are academies - are lagging behind. Officials cited the absence of structured transition experiences during the pandemic as a key factor behind this performance gap.

The council acknowledged that attendance issues have become increasingly difficult to tackle, particularly among vulnerable families. Some parents now view school attendance as less essential, citing factors such as mental health concerns and the affordability of holidays during term time as reasons for keeping children at home.

To support pupils during this period, the council distributed the book Boy 87 by Ele Fountain to all Year 6 pupils in 2020. The novel was used as a shared point of discussion in both primary and secondary schools, with officials describing it as a valuable tool in helping children cope with the abrupt transition.

The government has pledged a £740 million investment to increase support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), creating 10,000 new school places across England. This funding will enable the expansion of specialist facilities in mainstream schools, adapt current provisions, and establish new places in dedicated special schools, helping more children access education closer to home.

Current figures reveal a significant shortfall in SEND provision, with a gap of 8,000 places in state secondary special schools and fewer than 10% of mainstream schools offering specialist SEND units. The rising demand is evident, with children holding education, health and care plans (EHCPs) in independent special schools increasing from 7,000 in 2010 to 26,000 in 2024.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson described the move as a vital part of the government’s wider Plan for Change, aiming to ensure every child has a suitable, high-quality school place nearby. She said the investment addresses longstanding gaps in SEND provision and gives families more local, inclusive options.

The new guidance allows local authorities to direct funding towards creating SEND places in mainstream schools. Amanda Allard of the Council for Disabled Children welcomed the plans, urging local areas to build on existing best practices to create inclusive environments where children with SEND can thrive, make friends, and feel part of their communities.