Help for Claire

My name is Kirsty, and I'm looking for help for my spectacular daughter, Claire.

Claire is an amazing 11-year-old girl with creative talent, a fierce sense of social justice, a love of reading (we joke about how she eats books, the rate she goes through them!), and a heart that melts for any animal she meets.

Claire has also struggled from a young age with difficulties around emotional regulation, social understanding, and sensory processing, as well as deep issues with self-esteem and self-confidence.

I have spent years trying to help Claire with these struggles myself. The National Health Service (NHS) has merely kept her on a waiting list for an Autism assessment for 3 years, and Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) refuses to help due to her being on the Autism-assessment waiting list.

Last year I made a big decision to move my family from Glasgow to the countryside, in a different area several hours away, to be closer to extended family support and to find a school environment that would be better for Claire. Unfortunately, this move meant we had to start from square one getting NHS help by getting a new referral and going on a new waiting list, as we were now in a different NHS health board area.

Right now it often feels like our family is at breaking point. The current struggles we have at home are having a huge impact on the wellbeing and mental health of our whole family-- Claire, her wee brother, me, and our amazingly supportive extended family. I desperately need the aid of professional resources to help her and our family.

I'm trying to raise funds for a Neurodevelopmental Assessment for Claire at a private clinic in Scotland called Grow and Thrive which provides assessments, support, and specialist services for families. It is a broad assessment looking at possible diagnoses of Autism, ADHD, emotional and psychological issues, and learning/cognitive difficulties. None of the services at the clinic are covered by the NHS, so must all be paid out of pocket. By attending this clinic it would mean that Claire could get help now, rather than waiting years more (or potentially indefinitely) on a waiting list with the NHS.

The funds will go towards a screening assessment (£600) and a full neurodevelopmental assessment (£4050) for Claire. The assessment at this clinic is extremely thorough over several sessions of in-person appointments with a team of professionals such as clinical psychologists and speech and language therapists. They would give not only a diagnosis, if appropriate, but detailed information and understanding of her needs and recommendations on the best ways to move forward to help Claire. Additional funds raised will go towards post diagnostic therapy and support, and travel costs to the clinic, none of which would be covered by the NHS.

Please consider donating to Claire's GoFundMe campaign and sharing it with your friends, family, and contacts. Your support will make a huge difference and have a lasting impact on Claire and her family. Thank you.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Kirsty