About us

Matthew’s Hub was set up after Matthew died by suicide and Simona, his mother, believed that appropriate support to better understand autism would have helped.

We worked with a young autistic man to develop a service to meet the needs of autistic people without a learning disability. We added ADHD to our support as we quickly discovered the high co-occurrence levels between autism and ADHD and the low levels of support available.

We registered as a charity in 2016; our charitable objects are to:

Support autistic people and those with ADHD to better understand their neurodiversity, how it impacts their life and develop individualised coping mechanisms and strategies for life
To raise awareness about neurodiversity and how best to support neurodiverse people; offering training and workshops to individual workers, organisations and neurodivergent people

We ask people to apply to be members of Matthew’s Hub through our online application form and to comply with our rule of maintaining respect for other members, our space and staff.

Many of our team are autistic, have ADHD, dyslexia and therefore have lived experience of neurodiversity. We have a wide range of graduate and post graduate qualifications and worked experience, in subjects including nursing, mental health, social care, education, criminology, autism and ADHD. Some of our team have published papers on neurodiversity in a range of publications.

We provide support for autistic people and those with ADHD without a learning disability aged 13 or over, living in Hull or East Riding who have, or are waiting for a diagnostic assessment.

We offer peer mentoring, social opportunities and activities. Our advice and support sessions help individuals to understand how autism and ADHD impacts them as an individual and offer a safe space to socialise and access support relation to health, employment, education, help to access housing and benefits.

The Beginning

Matthew's Hub was founded in 2014 and was originally the project of another charity called FIND, who have day services for autistic people with a learning disability.

FIND were approached by a parent (Simona) whose son Matthew sadly died by suicide. Simona wanted there to be something in Matthew’s memory which supported autistic people like Matthew who didn’t have a learning disability, as it was her belief that had there been a service which could have supported him he might still be alive today.

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Matthew's story

Why our support matters

Find out more aboout Autism and ADHD and how it can effect the lives of our members as we de-bunk some myths and explain the imporance of our work.

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Timeline

2013-2014

Moved into 1st floor Regent House. Website set up. Less than 100 members and 3 part time staff. Grant for £25,000 from Deflog, Hull Lord Mayor's Charity of the year..
2015-2016

Moved up to 2nd floor Regent House. Became a charity (CIO) with 9 trustees, still with 3 part time staff. Got our own bank account, earnt contacts and multiple grants.
2017-2018

HubBot our bespoke CRM system initiated. 33 new members, aged 22-69 and now 4 staff members. 1st Big Lottery grant and able to recruit to 1st admin role.
2019

209 members, aged 18-74 and now 7 staff members. NHS pre and post diagnosis contract, Reaching Communities Big Lottery grant.
2020

Covid 19 - closed Regent House and everyone worked from home. 172 members, aged 17-75 and 9 staff members. Transition contract with NHS, Police & Crime Commissioner grant.
2021

Moved into Arthur Street. Oliver McGowan Training work started. 199 members, aged 14-66 and 11 staff members. 2nd Big Lottery grant, Social prescribing grant, NHS pre and post diagnosis contact.
2022

Hull University Flexible internship, Hull Local Authority Floating Housing Related Support. 283 members, aged 14-81 and 13 staff members.
2023

Oliver McGowan expert by experience recruitment and training contract. 610 members, aged 11-73 and 18 staff members.
2024

NHS Neurodiversity Support Service working with young people at risk of mental health admission. 657 members, aged 11-66 and 19 staff members.