Edinburgh-based neurodiversity charity Salvesen Mindroom Centre (Mindroom) was shortlisted for ‘Campaign or Initiative of the Year’ at the Neurodiverse Business Awards 2026, hosted this week at the Grand Hall, Grand Connaught Rooms, London. As the only Scotland-based charity shortlisted in this category, it was an honour to be recognised alongside so many organisations driving meaningful change in this space.
The nomination recognises Mindroom’s groundbreaking parent-led research exploring the often invisible impact of raising a neurodivergent child while balancing employment, a project that gives voice to parents and carers while shining a light on the workplace pressures many families face but which are rarely acknowledged.
Alan Thornburrow, CEO of Mindroom, said: “We are delighted our work has received recognition with this nomination. This is a testament to the parents and carers who led this work and shared their experiences so openly. Their voices are helping to shape more informed, compassionate and inclusive workplaces. We are proud that lived experience is being recognised as central to meaningful change.
“By placing lived experience at the centre of workplace conversations, our research highlights a defining – but frequently overlooked – reality for many working families.”
Mindroom’s research brings long-overdue attention to the pressures experienced by working parents and carers of neurodivergent children, an issue with growing implications for employers, public services and the wider health and social care system, and was developed through Mindroom’s Neuroinclusion at Work programme and led by a small team of parents and carers of neurodivergent children, many of whom are neurodivergent themselves.
Parents and carers consistently described the strain of balancing employment with the hidden emotional, logistical and financial pressures of navigating fragmented support systems for their children. Over time, it became clear this was a widespread and under-recognised challenge, with significant implications for workforce health, inclusion and equality.
Over the past five years, demand for Mindroom’s support has increased by nearly 300%, with families often facing five-year long waits for assessments, children missing school due to unmet needs, and parents navigating complex systems that many describe “at breaking point.”
The charity’s latest Impact Report also highlights a 62% rise in families seeking mental health support and a 240% increase in training for professionals. These figures point to an urgent need for systemic change.
The national recognition reflects the urgent need for coordinated, cross-sector approaches to supporting working parents and carers of neurodivergent children. It also reinforces the importance of ensuring parent voices are central to discussions around neuroinclusion at work.
The Neurodiverse Business Awards celebrate organisations and initiatives that are driving meaningful progress in neuroinclusion across workplaces and society. The ‘Campaign or Initiative of the Year’ category specifically recognises projects that raise awareness, influence policy or practice, and deliver tangible improvements for neurodivergent people and those who support them.
Mindroom would also like to congratulate all of this year’s winners and fellow nominees.
The full research report, due to be launched in Spring 2026, will provide evidence-based recommendations for employers, policymakers and public services to make a change for the better when offering support to working parents and carers of neurodivergent children, helping to improve workplace inclusion, wellbeing, and access to vital services.
For more information, please visit www.mindroom.org.