Heanor woman sets up non-profit enterprise for ADHD and autism sufferers

Credit: Dreamscape CIC

A 25-year-old woman from Heanor has gone public to share her personal journey which led her to set up a Community Interest Company (CIC) to offer support to those suffering with ADHD and Autism.

Marybeth Thornhill said that her personal journey and the gap in support led to the creation of Dreamscape Community Connections C.I.C.

Over the last few years, she has survived domestic abuse, homelessness, baby loss, grief and significant struggles with anxiety and my mental health, and began self-harming and struggling with eating aged just 13.

She said: “For a long time, I felt misunderstood and found everyday life, social situations and leaving the house incredibly difficult, but at the time of sending this, I am proud to say that I am one year and 15 days in recovery from self-harm.”

Marybeth was diagnosed with ADHD in February 2025 and later received confirmation that she is autistic. That understanding helped her realise that she was not broken, but had spent years trying to cope in environments and services that were not always designed for those suffering with ADHD and autism.

She continued: “During my recovery, I received support from different services. One service worked with me for around six weeks to help me begin leaving the house and accessing the community again. I later had someone supporting me with day-to-day difficulties, including procrastination, starting tasks, managing routines and dealing with things that could quickly become overwhelming.

“The support was helpful, and I will always be grateful for it, but it was time-limited. In my experience, the process before, during and after an intervention could last around 12 weeks. Then the intervention ended, and I was expected to continue on my own.”

After a few weeks, Marybeth realised that she was often using some of her support time simply to talk, so needed somewhere to get things off her chest and someone who understood, at least to some extent, what everyday life felt like for her.

She said “I did not necessarily need another appointment or formal intervention. I needed understanding, consistency and human connection. I asked whether there was a service where I could continue building connections, speak with people who understood and access the community in a calm, low-pressure way. I was told they were not aware of anything like that.”

Marybeth then began asking other professionals the same question and pushed herself to leave the house once a week to speak to other people and understand whether they felt the same way:

“The same message kept coming back. People wanted connection.  They wanted somewhere they could be themselves, meet others who understood, build confidence and take part without feeling judged or pressured. Some people were no longer receiving formal support, but that did not mean their loneliness, anxiety or difficulties had disappeared.

“That became the question behind Dreamscape Community Connections C.I.C.

What happens after short-term support ends, when someone is still lonely, overwhelmed and struggling to connect? I decided to create the kind of community I had been searching for.”

Dreamscape Community Connections C.I.C. now provides calm, welcoming and low-pressure activities across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire for neurodivergent people, people experiencing anxiety or low confidence, carers and anyone who feels isolated or excluded from traditional social groups.

The organisation arranges activities such as board-game evenings, meals out, creative sessions, pool nights, gentle outdoor activities and other opportunities for people to try something new.

People can attend alone or bring support. They can take quiet breaks, observe before joining in and connect at their own pace. Nobody is forced to speak, participate in every activity or explain why they find social situations difficult.

Dreamscape is not a clinical service or a replacement for professional support. It is about what can come alongside or after that support: community, belonging and somewhere people can continue building confidence without suddenly being left alone again.

Marybeth concluded: “The heart of the story is simple. Support should not end with someone being told they are ready to manage alone. People also need somewhere to belong — where quiet hearts find home.”

Dreamscape Community Connections C.I.C. was officially incorporated in March 2026 and is based in Heanor. Although still a relatively new organisation, it s already developing activities and community opportunities across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

Work is particularly aimed at people who may feel lonely, isolated, anxious, neurodivergent, lacking in confidence or uncomfortable within traditional social groups.

Carers and people who may have completed formal support but still need somewhere consistent and understanding to connect with others, are also welcomed.

Dreamscape is designed differently from many traditional social activities. People do not have to arrive feeling confident or ready to join in immediately. They can attend alone or bring somebody with them, observe before participating, take quiet breaks and connect at their own pace.

Alongside community events, wider outreach opportunities are being developed for local organisations, schools, community venues and professionals. This includes provision for young people, people who have left education and may benefit from confidence-building or work experience, care leavers and people seeking a gentler route into their community.

A Community Companion volunteer programme is also being developed helping people become trained and supported volunteers who can welcome attendees, provide reassurance and help make activities feel more accessible.

Activities currently include relaxed meals, board-game cafés, creative sessions, pool evenings, community walks and food and culture events.  Community access support is also being developed along with the Dreamscape Community Pantry and Sharing Hub.

Everything is intended to be calm, flexible and low pressure. Dreamscape is not a clinical, therapeutic or crisis service, but it can provide the community, consistency and sense of belonging that may be missing alongside or after formal support.

Although Dreamscape began because of Marybeth’s own experiences, it is becoming something much bigger than her individual story. The response received so far has shown that many people are searching for the same thing: somewhere they can be themselves, feel understood and begin connecting without pressure.

You can find out more at dreamscapecommunityconnections.co.uk