Neurodiversity Celebration Week: volunteers on hand to support peers

22 March 2024

This Neurodiversity Celebration Week, members are being reminded that there are now voluntary Neurodiversity Champions available to speak if they need support.

To help mark this year’s campaign - which is taking place this week up until 24 March - we caught up with Nicola Ponikiewski who launched the Neurodiversity Champions scheme at Hertfordshire Police after recognising an increasing need for peer-to-peer neurodiverse support in the Force.

There are already 30 volunteer Neurodiversity Champions, each of whom is available to provide a listening ear to their colleagues when they need it most.

“The more awareness raised around neurodiverse conditions, the more people started to speak up about their own experiences, or loved ones - which of course is brilliant - but we quickly realised, additional support was required,” said Nicola.

“And that support model needed to be structured, for the sake of both the volunteer and the person they are speaking to.”

“Our Neuroversity Champions are similar to our Wellbeing Champions. They volunteer, they listen and they signpost people in the right direction should they need further support. They never diagnose.”

If somebody feels they need support, advice or guidance from a Neurodiversity Champion, they should send an email to neurodiversitychampionsherts@herts.police.uk.

At the earliest opportunity, a closeby Neuroversity Champion will then be located and put in touch with the person who has made contact.

“It’s unbelievable how many people have some sort of connection with neurodiversity,” continued Nicola.

“And sometimes, just from that one email being sent, long-lasting relationships are formed. In other cases, it’s just a one-off conversation.”

Nicola said that introducing the Neurodiversity Champions has helped raise awareness of neurodiversity across the Force.

She said: “People are starting to talk openly about neurodiversity, which is helping to educate officers too. This might mean making them more aware of how neurodiversity can impact their colleagues or raising awareness of the rights people living with a neurodiverse condition are entitled to.

“Personally I think policing is a fantastic career for those with neurodiverse conditions. No two days are the same, and with so many roles available, officers can really focus on their strengths to help them get the most out of their job - which benefits them, their colleagues and the public we serve.”

Nicola’s interest in supporting others experiencing neurodiversity after her son was diagnosed with autism.

“My son is 16 now and he was diagnosed with autism at seven,” Nicola explained, adding: “I appreciate how much of a worrying time that situation can be for parents or loved ones living with someone who has had a recent autism diagnosis.

“And I think it’s important for people to appreciate that just because a person has received a diagnosis that doesn’t give them a one-way ticket to support.

“The great thing about our Neurodiverse Champions is that they ‘just get it’. People don’t have to explain why they’re feeling a certain way because they’re talking to someone who has most likely experienced that same thing themselves.”

The chair of Hertfordshire Police Federation Luke Mitchell, who has previously opened up about his experiences living with dyslexia, says support from the Neurodiversity Champions will be a ‘lifeline’ to some members.

“I am definitely a champion for the champions, “ said Luke, adding: “Having someone at the other end of a phone to speak to, or a friendly face when you don’t know where to turn, will be absolutely priceless.”

Luke was diagnosed with dyslexia - a learning difficulty that mainly impacts a person’s reading and spelling skills - when he was around 11.

“Speaking as a male police officer in my 30s, living with a neurodiverse condition, I know personally, just how vital support from the Neurodiversity Champions will be,” added Luke.

“The Force is changing, it’s developing and people are gradually starting to be more open about neurodiversity but that means the support needs to respond accordingly, which they clearly have done.

“And much like our Force is trying to adapt, we at Hertfordshire Police Federation are as well.

“I’ve recently signed off on some additional training for all our reps around equality and one of our priorities will be neurodiversity.

“I’m also pleased that we have chosen to continue to use the services of an equality advisor, who is always on hand to support our reps with specialist advice.”