Chelle - CEO Tees Valley Buddies

Why did you decide to become a Community Champion? 

Becoming a Healthwatch champion will help our service users to build trust and feel comfortable in the knowledge that their experiences will be shared with services in the local area. Supporting Autistic, ADHD and otherwise neurodivergent people to have a voice in the things that affect them.

Well-being and community stand at the heart of any person’s fulfilment in life. Tees Valley Buddies are passionate about building a neurodivergent community to allow for Autistic, ADHD and other neurodivergent people across tees valley to be able to have a sense of belonging and authentically be themselves. 

By creating social opportunities we are able to hold a safe space and offer relatable support by using lived experience and peer support to offer a deeper understanding and compassion for our service users. We build trust having neurodivergent volunteers and staff members through shared vulnerability and experiences. We offer member-led approaches, social opportunities and regardless of diagnosis, encourage every person to fulfilled in their day to day lives. 

How does your role help people in South Tees?

My role as CEO plays an active and hands on role within the charity. Every person involved in the organisation is a part of a community and so you’ll find me joining in with our NeuroGames social group or joining our Walk and Talk for example. The best way we can support our members is to hear their experiences first hand. I offer peer support, share my own experiences as an AUdhd dyslexic and dyspraxic person and like many of our volunteers, model an example of why our community holds an advantage. I joined the charity in early 2021 when we were still setting up. I was very quiet and situationally mute and would wait till after our online meetings to share ideas and my input into a group chat. In such a short space of time, spending time with people I could relate to, I was able to find confidence in who I was and achieve something I never imagined would be possible.