Close-up of a woman with straight light brown hair and bangs, wearing a pink hoodie and purple jacket, standing outdoors in front of a brick wall.

A collage of five photos: a man in a military uniform with medals, two girls hugging and smiling, a girl with red hair smiling indoors, and a girl with long dark hair and a white shirt smiling.

The Story of NeuroDiverse Community Catterick

NeuroDiverse Community Catterick (NDC) was founded in 2019 by Lesley Collier, our Founder and CEO. As a parent carer to her two children, Lesley understood firsthand the challenges of adapting her home and lifestyle to support their unique needs. Through her journey, she discovered new ways to foster an environment that allowed her children to thrive.

NDC began as a simple coffee morning, held once a month, offering a space for like-minded parents and carers to connect, share experiences, and offer each other support. Lesley quickly realised that she was not alone in navigating the world of neurodiversity, but that the support she was seeking simply didn’t exist in the way she needed it.

This realisation sparked an idea. What began as a monthly meet-up gradually evolved into a weekly stay-and-play session. Over the years, as Lesley dedicated herself to learning and advocating for neurodiversity, NDC grew—expanding its support services and welcoming more families into what became a truly neurodiverse community.