I’m raising money for The Donaldson Trust because neurodivergent people deserve understanding, support, and a fair chance to thrive. Yet even in today’s world, so many people remain uneducated about neurodiversity, and this lack of awareness affects every part of our lives. Neurodiversity is something everyone should understand — whether it affects them personally or not.

As a neurodivergent individual, I have experienced judgment, assumptions, and emotional invalidation from people who simply didn’t understand what neurodivergence really means. Their comments — even the ones they didn’t intend to be harmful — have left me feeling stupid, “wrong,” embarrassed, and ashamed of who I am. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve asked myself, “Why can everyone else do this so easily but I can’t?” The impact this has on my mental health is huge, and mental health itself is another area that is widely misunderstood.

I was given labels, but never explanations. The lack of awareness around neurodiversity meant I struggled to understand my own mind. All I had were labels — the same labels I hear people use as jokes, insults, or stereotypes. It’s absurd that anyone should grow up feeling this way. It’s even worse that so many still do.

This is why The Donaldson Trust’s work matters. They are creating the change the world urgently needs: education, understanding, and real support for neurodivergent people.

I’m supporting The Donaldson Trust because their mission reflects my own experience — the lack of understanding, the stereotypes, and the invisible struggles that neurodivergent people face every day, no matter where they live

My goal is to raise £1000 to support their life‑changing work. Your donation sponsors the challenge I’ve set myself:

- collecting stories from neurodivergent people so their voices are finally heard

- Building a collection of meaningful artwork created by neurodivergent individuals

- writing openly about my own experiences

- and creating educational resources that challenge stereotypes and raise awareness

All of this will come together in a book I am creating — a project built to amplify neurodivergent voices, increase understanding, and spark real change

My project will take place over the summer, once I’ve completed my GCSEs and can fully dedicate my time to it. Once finished I will make the book available to read online as a PDF.

All donations will be sent directly to The Donaldson Trust, none of the money will contribute to the book as it is free to make and only requires lots of hard work from me - your donations will keep me motivated!