New Pilot Service to Support Neurodivergent Children and Families

30 September 2025

 

A new Neurodiversity and Emotional Wellbeing Service is being developed for children, young people, and families in Cumberland. This is a joint project between Cumberland Council and local NHS teams, including the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board. We are also working closely with SEND Alliance Cumbria (SENDAC), the parent and carer group for the area.

The word ‘neurodivergent’ is used to describe people whose brains work in different ways. This can affect things like communication, learning, attention, movement, or how someone processes sounds, lights, and other senses. It can include people who are autistic or have ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Tourette’s, or similar conditions. However, a person does not have to have any of these specific diagnoses to be considered neurodivergent. 

The term ‘neurodivergence’ is a general word for these differences. People who do not have these differences are often called ‘neurotypical’.

‘Emotional Wellbeing’ is used to describe a person's overall emotional health and how this impacts their daily life, such as completing everyday tasks, managing relationships, and managing their emotions. A child with positive emotional wellbeing will most likely enjoy school, be able to form good friendships, and be able to complete age-dependent tasks such as brushing their teeth or eating their dinner. 

 

We know that more children are being referred for assessments for things like autism and ADHD. We also know families in Cumberland, like families across the UK, can find it hard to get the support they need. This new service aims to give better support and to make sure neurodivergent people are recognised and valued in the community.

The service will run as a 12-month trial-run starting in November 2025. It will focus on early help, giving support as soon as needs are noticed.

This service will bring together help for neurodiversity and emotional wellbeing in one place. It will support children, young people, and families to understand and manage different ways of thinking and experiencing the world. Extra specialist support will be available when needed.

 

The service will offer:

  • A strengths and needs assessment to understand each person and plan the right support
  • A single point of contact for parents, carers, young people, and professionals
  • A multi-skilled team to give advice and support, by phone or in person

Children, young people, and families will help shape this service. We are working with SENDAC to make sure neuro-affirming (positive and respectful of neurodivergent people.)

We are very positive about this trial and hope it will offer more families the support needed. We are, however, aware this will be a trial, and therefore there may be some bumps in the road! We really appreciate families working with and being patient with us.

 

What we have done so far and what’s next:

  • We have created a Neurodiversity and Emotional Wellbeing section on the Cumberland Family Hubs website with help from local families and professionals. It will have information, advice, and tips for parents and carers who think their child may be neurodivergent. The website will launch in November.

     

  • We are also finishing the strengths and needs assessment tool, ready for the launch of the service. This includes training colleagues on using the tool, as well as using neuro-affirming language with families. The tool was trialed on a small scale with some families in Cumberland and the Eden area between December 2024 – July 2025 and received very positive feedback. 

     

What if I want to be involved or provide feedback? 

This service will continue to develop throughout the pilot as we receive more feedback from professionals and families.  

We are setting up a dedicated email inbox for this service where families can ask questions or submit any feedback. At this stage, this will inform a ‘frequently asked questions’ page for our website. We also welcome families sharing their lived experience of strategies they have found that have helped their child in various situations, such as eating, sleeping, making friends, etc. which we may include on our website as we continue to develop our webpages. At this stage, if any questions, comments or queries about the service can be sent to Public.HealthEnquiries@cumberland.gov.uk while our new inbox is being set up.

There will be regular consultations held throughout the pilot to ensure this service is providing the right support, advice and guidance for children/ young people and their families. These consultations will ask for your views, and provide the opportunity to attend open discussion workshops.