The AP Cymru Newsletter

Welcome to the fourth edition of the AP Cymru Newsletter and thank you so much for the feedback.

We have uploaded some great new hats to the website for sale, and have gift vouchers ready for Christmas! Please visit our online shop to see the whole range of items. Every purchase helps us to keep supporting children, young people and their families. Here's the link – www.apcymru.org.uk/shop.

With warmest wishes,

Karen

Minority Ethnic Communities (MEC) Health Fair 2025 at Fitzalan High School

This year’s theme “Celebrating Diversity in Health Care highlighted the importance of accessible, culturally aware and inclusive health and wellbeing services for all communities.  It was a fantastic opportunity to engage with students, families, professionals and local organisations who shared our goal to empower and support neurodivergent young people and their communities across Wales.

Events like these remind us how collaboration and understanding can help create a future where every individual feels seen, supported and included.

AP Cymru - Superstar Award!

Eli Hall is an incredible young person and is a wonderful younger brother. He is kind, patient and supports his brother with love and understanding.

He really deserves recognition for the sacrifices he has made and for his compassion at all times.

🧠 From “Being” to “Doing” — My ADHD Mountain

Our Chief Executive Karen Mills is writing an inspiring blog for the charity. Here is her second blog.

There are days when the smallest task feels like standing at the bottom of a mountain.

I can see the top clearly — it’s just sending that email, starting that report, folding the washing. Simple, right? But somehow, my feet won’t move. My brain knows what needs to happen, but it’s like someone has cut the rope between knowing and doing.

It’s a strange kind of stuck. On the outside, I might look like I’m doing nothing. But inside? I’m climbing a thousand mental mountains — thinking, worrying, planning, and guilt-tripping myself for not moving. I tell myself, “Just start, just do one thing.”

But the starting part feels like the hardest thing in the world.

People often think procrastination is about laziness or lack of willpower. But for me, it’s more like paralysis. My ADHD brain wants to go, but it’s waiting for a spark — that magic hit of motivation, dopamine, or urgency to flip the switch from being to doing.

And when that switch finally flips — oh, it’s a rush. Suddenly, I’m halfway up the mountain, flying through everything I couldn’t even look at earlier. Focused, fast, almost unstoppable. It feels amazing… until I crash and wonder why I couldn’t have started sooner.

But here’s what I’m learning: it’s not my fault that the first step is hard. My mountain might be invisible, but it’s real. And the climb from stillness to action takes effort most people never have to think about.

These days, I try to be gentler with myself. Sometimes I make the steps smaller — like, ridiculously small. “Open the laptop.” “Write the title.” “Just start badly.”

Sometimes I ask a friend to sit with me while I work — that quiet accountability can make all the difference.

And sometimes, I just remind myself that being is okay too. That rest and pause aren’t failures; they’re part of how I work.

Because even when my mountain feels steep, I know I’ll get there — one small, imperfect, messy step at a time ♥️

Thank You to the Taffs Well Inn

We are so grateful to The Taffs Well Inn for donating a brilliant £106 to AP Cymru. The team have just started a charity quiz, and we were delighted to receive the first payment.

Fantastic Halloween and Half Term Fun

What a brilliant week it has been for our Halloween and Half Term events. Families joined us for a packed few days of fun at The Meadows Farm, Fun HQ and Create Caerphilly for our special craft sessions and activities.

We were delighted to see so many happy faces, and so pleased to welcome a number of new families who joined us for the very first time. A huge thank you to all our families, volunteers Vicky and Ben and venues for making this week such a success. We are already planning our next events which we will share with you soon.

Own one of our special bespoke T Shirts and Hoodies!

Thank you so much to everyone who has been shopping with AP Cymru, and for all the brilliant feedback we have received regarding the quality of the clothing.

We are enjoying receiving your photos - please keep them coming!

Purple Tuesday

Our team are looking forward to celebrating Purple Tuesday at St David's Centre in Cardiff. Please pop along to our stand, say hello and learn more about our services. Tuesday 4th November, 10am-4pm.