North East Ambulance Service secures £46,250 from NHS Charities Together to support neurodivergent staff through new wellbeing project

North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) has received £46,250 from NHS Charities Together to launch a ground-breaking Neurodiversity Wellbeing Project, providing targeted support for neurodivergent colleagues, including those who are autistic, have ADHD or dyslexia.

In the 2024 staff survey, 10% of staff reported having a disability or long-term health condition, but the true figure is thought to be significantly higher due to underreporting or lack of diagnosis.  Annual staff surveys also consistently show that employees with long-term conditions face disproportionate wellbeing challenges.

The grant has been awarded as part of an £11 million programme – which includes a £5 million contribution from NHS England – and is one of 29 ambitious projects across England to receive funding from the programme this Autumn.

NHS staff are the driving force behind our healthcare system, but they are currently working in some of the toughest conditions in history, with growing pressure from increased demand for health services and rising NHS vacancies. Research from NHS Charities Together has highlighted that almost half (47%) of NHS staff surveyed said their job was affecting their mental health and 41% their physical health. That’s why projects such as this are more important now than ever.

The Able@NEAS staff disability network reports that the majority of support requests they receive are related to neurodivergent conditions, highlighting the scale of unmet need.

The new confidential and voluntary project will:

• Provide staff with access to the “Genius Finder” screening tool, helping them identify their unique strengths and challenges.
• Offer one-to-one coaching sessions to support staff in applying these insights to improve wellbeing, performance, and inclusion at work.
• Train internal colleagues as accredited neurodiversity coaches, creating long-term in-house support capacity.
• Establish evaluation measures to monitor impact and ensure the project continues to evolve with staff needs with a report due to release at the end of the project in March 2027

Pauline Hogarth, chair of our nationally recognised and award winning staff disability network Able@NEAS and deputy chair of the National Ambulance Disability Network said: "All our staff work so hard to deliver excellent patient care and do so despite the difficulties they face themselves. This project recognises that under the banner of neurodiversity, we have a portion of staff who may have neurodivergent conditions.

“As a Disability Confident Employer, we take the care and support of our staff with disabilities seriously and are excited to be leading this way with this work that will see staff get quick access to targeted support and coaching to help remove the barriers they face and harness their talent in a real way.”  

This initiative builds on a successful pilot in the Trust’s emergency operations centre (EOC), where tailored training significantly increased staff confidence in supporting neurodivergent colleagues increase, through awareness and skills training.

The project also directly supports the Trust’s strategic priorities, including its People Promise commitments and 2024/25 Quality Account priorities around staff experience, inclusion, and psychological safety.

Chief executive, Kevin Scollay, said: "This funding will make a real difference to our colleagues. By investing in tailored support for neurodiverse staff, we are not only improving individual wellbeing but also strengthening our teams and the care we deliver to patients. This project reflects our commitment to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive."

Ellie Orton, CEO, NHS Charities Together, comments: “Many NHS staff feel that theirs is the best job in the world, but these roles come with a tremendous responsibility for the lives they care for, and at a time of incredible pressure on health services, this takes a toll on their mental and physical wellbeing.

“In the face of so many wider healthcare challenges it can be easy to forget about healthcare staff, but it goes without saying that we need a healthy workforce if we want a thriving NHS that can give patients the care they need.

“This funding means NHS charities like the North East Ambulance Service can help ensure NHS staff prioritise their own health and wellness with the same care they give to patients, and we are delighted we can support this important work. We’ve spent a lot of time talking to frontline staff and analysing evidence from previous projects to arrive at solutions that will give healthcare staff the right tools to look after their own wellbeing.

“Applications are now open for a second round of grant funding as part of this programme, in partnership with NHS England, and we’re excited to continue our work with NHS charities and other organisations to help the NHS go further for everyone.”

The Neurodiversity Wellbeing Project will launch early in 2026, with staff able to access the Genius Finder tool and initial coaching sessions from February 2026.