AuDHD UK Shortlisted for Prestigious Non-Profit Organisation Award
Today, AuDHD UK announces that the charity has been shortlisted for a prestigious award at the Acquisition International Non-Profit Organisation Awards in recognition of its work supporting late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD individuals.
Founded in July 2024 to address the unique challenges faced by autistic and ADHD adults, especially those late-diagnosed, AuDHD UK provides support, funding, and resources to help these individuals navigate life in a world not designed for them. They are currently supporting 12 people with ongoing therapy, with just as many on a waiting list for assessments due to funding constraints. AuDHD UK is run by a small team of volunteers, many of whom are late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD themselves.
Autistic and ADHD adults are disproportionately more likely to die by suicide, with 66% of autistic people having considered suicide and up to 36% having attempted it. Adults with ADHD are also five times more likely to attempt suicide. This can be attributed to higher rates of co-occurring mental illness, social exclusion, and burnout caused by the experience of being AuDHD in a world designed for neurotypicals.
Being shortlisted underscores the vital impact of AuDHD UK’s mission to end autism and ADHD-related suicides, and the growing recognition of the importance of tailored support for the AuDHD community. With assessment waiting lists reaching up to 18 years in some areas of the UK, the charity’s services have never been so crucial.
The Non-Profit Organisation Awards are designed to honour and celebrate the exceptional work carried out by non-profit organisations worldwide, recognising charities of all sizes for their work to improve lives and advance social good. Winners will be announced in June this year.
Georgina Banks, CEO of AuDHD UK, said: "We are honoured to be recognised for our work, especially as we are less than a year old, and we remain dedicated to bettering the mental health and lives of autistic and ADHD adults across the UK. This recognition allows us to continue supporting AuDHD adults, in a political climate where it has never been so necessary."
References
Cassidy S, Au-Yeung S, Robertson A, Cogger-Ward H, Richards G, Allison C, et al. Autism and autistic traits in those who died by suicide in England. The British Journal of Psychiatry [Internet]. 2022 Feb 15 [cited 2025 Mar 19];221(5):1–9. Available from: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/autism-and-autistic-traits-in-those-who-died-by-suicide-in-england/04367C4DD9D8B4B3375A0D25C4764A54
Gudge E. Oxfordshire: Eighteen-year wait for adult autism assessments. BBC News [Internet]. 2024 Dec 20 [cited 2025 Mar 19];. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy3dl92184o
