A determined woman is preparing to climb Ben Nevis along with her son and her therapy dog in order to raise enough funds to run a Neurodiverse family workshop in Southport.  

Helen Maxwell is appealing for support as she looks to take on the fundraiser. 

Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Scotland and the United Kingdom, standing at a challenging 1,345 m (4,413 ft) tall. 

Helen’s vision is to create a Neurodiverse Hub in Southport. 

The initiative is now a registered Community interest Company (CIC). 

Plans are starting to slot into place with applications being submitted for some grant funds that will support Helen to offer free support services to the Neuro Diverse population in Southport.

Helen Maxwell said:- “During the week of 31 March - 4 April 2026, I’m climbing Ben Nevis to raise £350 for The Neurodiverse Hub CIC - we are a Community Interest Company helping neurodiverse children, parents, carers and families in Southport get support that’s genuinely accessible. This challenge is personal to me. I have seen 1st-hand how dysregulation affects the welfare of families as a whole and have spent years learning the skills to help families learn how to co-regulate through activity, breathwork and other coping strategies. I’ll also be joined by my son and our trainee therapy dog Willow - a very determined sausage dog! - along with our new recruit, our rescue dog that has come to us from the war in Ukraine.” 

There is a real need for Helen to raise the funding needed. 

She said:- “Right now, too many neurodiverse families in Southport are being missed. Our aim is to fill this gap and provide those families with much needed support. There are services available, but in reality FREE classes and support aren’t accessible for many families in Southport. Families are left trying to cope alone — and when you’re supporting a neurodiverse child, that can impact the whole household’s wellbeing and mental health. This fundraiser will pay for a family workshop for 10 families, where parents and children take part together and learn practical ways to co-regulate  - calming and supporting each other through stress, overwhelm and big emotions. Your donations will cover:- Venue hire + refreshments and Workbooks to take away. Just £35 would pay for 1 family to attend. Every pound goes towards making this session happen and giving families tools they can use at home straight away. Please share our story, and if you can, please:- Donate (any amount helps). Share our page with your friends / family / community. Or cheer us on as we take on the climb! Thank you for helping neurodiverse families in Southport get out and live life — with support that meets them where they are.”

If you would like to donate please visit this link. 

See live updates along the way here.