Access to Work is a government scheme that funds practical support so that disabled and neurodivergent people can start work, stay in work, or become self-employed. It's run by the Department for Work and Pensions, and it's designed to remove the barriers that can make working harder than it needs to be.

It isn't a loan – you don't pay it back, and it won't affect any other benefits you receive.

Access to Work can fund a significant amount towards support per year, which can include coaching, assistive technology, travel support, and more.

Do I qualify?

You're likely eligible if you have ADHD (diagnosed or not), are in paid work or starting within 12 weeks, and live and work in England, Scotland or Wales. Self-employed people qualify too. 

While Access to Work does not require you to have a formal ADHD diagnosis, having one can make it easier to have your claim processed and approved. Without a diagnosis, you may be asked to provide evidence demonstrating how the condition impacts your ability to work.

How can Access to Work fund coaching?

Once your application is approved, a case manager will discuss what support you need. Coaching is one of the most commonly funded forms of support for people with ADHD. The specific type of coaching will depend on the needs and circumstances of the individual, e.g., it may be provided to help someone develop strategies for managing their ADHD symptoms at work, such as time management, organisation, or communication skills.

Your employer pays for the agreed support and then claims it back from Access to Work. If you're self-employed, you can manage the funding yourself through the Access to Work online claims portal. I provide invoices in whatever format your claim needs.

What can ADHD coaching actually help with?

ADHD doesn't just affect work. It shows up in how you plan your day, manage your energy, navigate relationships, and feel about yourself. Coaching works with all of that.

In our sessions, we might explore:

• Focus and prioritisation: understanding what pulls your attention and creating conditions that work for your brain 
• Time and task management: practical strategies that fit how you actually think, not how productivity culture says you should
• Emotional responses: noticing how feelings show up at work and in daily life, and building strategies to respond more intentionally
• Relationships and communication: how ADHD affects the way you connect with colleagues, managers, and the people you live with
• Identity and self-understanding: many people arrive at an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood, often after years of feeling like they were somehow failing. Coaching can be a space to reframe that, build on your strengths, and move forward on your own terms

The main takeaway is that ADHD isn't a problem to be solved – it’s a different way of thinking. Coaching is about working with that, not against it.

You can find full details of the Access to Work scheme, including how to apply, on the GOV.UK website

My sessions are priced at £95 each. This is the rate you'll provide to Access to Work when you apply, and it's the rate that will appear on invoices for reimbursement.

If you're self-employed or if you have an arrangement with your employer that means you are paying up front yourself, I also offer the option where Access to Work pays me directly instead so as you’re never out of pocket.

Not sure if you're eligible, or where to start with the application? That's something we can talk through on a discovery call – no commitment needed.

Book your discovery call here.

Where coaching isn't the right fit, I'll always say so and, where I can, point you toward more appropriate support.