I'm 18 and I was diagnosed autistic in 2019 and ADHD in 2021. I dropped out of school at 13 because the education system didn't understand my neurodivergent needs which made school really challenging for me, and I could no longer cope.

In 2021, when I was 14, I set up Diversifeid because I wanted to tackle the isolation that often comes with being autistic. Whether I had been in school or at home, I felt really alone and I didn't want anyone else to feel how I felt. Thanks to initial funding from UnLtd. and £15,000 I had raised myself through my website selling fidget toys, I was able to set up youth clubs supporting other autistic young people. In that same year I went on to win the Leaders List 2021.

In 2022, Diversified was granted charitable status and I became one of the youngest autistic CEO's of a charity in the UK, at only 15 years old. I worked really hard to support, advocate and create change for my neurodivergent youth community and I won the Bright Future Prize 2022. Alongside the prize money, I secured funding through the National Lottery and further funding from UnLtd. allowing me to set up the very first autistic led and designed specialised youth facilities in Scotland.

Affectionately named 'the hub', our facilities provide a dedicated safe space for autistic and neurodivergent young people where they can be authentically themselves, feel understood and supported in ways that work for them. Using our teams lived experience of neurodivergence, we have been able to provide a youth led, neurodivergent friendly environment that provides individualised support, giving young people the opportunity to thrive, rather than just "survive".

Throughout my time running Diversified and using my own negative experiences of the education system, I developed Aspire, an innovative autistic youth led service for young people who are struggling to attend school. Opened in January 2023, Aspire focuses on mental health, wellbeing, alternative learning and life skills to support those who are unable to engage with the education system due to their neurodivergent needs. Aspire is an unique service that enables autistic young people to re-engage with services, their community and likeminded peers, creating a path forward with the tools they need to achieve their goals.

In 2023, I celebrated winning the Cash for Kids Award at the Forth Awards and the Young Person of the Year Award at the Autism Hero Awards in London. In June 2023, Diversified went on to win the prestigious Charity of the Year award at the Scottish Charity Awards, firmly putting our charity on the map for providing successful and innovative services supporting our autistic and neurodivergent youth community.

Being an autistic youth led organisation, it is vital that we give neurodivergent young people a voice in what support they want and need: "Nothing about us, without us". We are also incredibly proud that 85% of our team are autistic young people under 25. This is a testament that young people are capable of incredible things if given the opportunity.

I hope my story inspires others to create positive change in their communities too. Thank you for following my journey and supporting the work we do!