If you are employed in the UK and ADHD affects how you work, you may be eligible for funded coaching through the Government’s Access to Work scheme. Many people do not know it exists, and many who do find the application process confusing.
Here is the straightforward route, drawn from helping clients through it many times.
What is Access to Work?
Access to Work is a Government scheme that pays for practical support to help disabled people and people with health conditions start or stay in work. ADHD is covered.
The support can include:
- Job coaching (sometimes called “coping strategies coaching”)
- Specialist equipment or software
- Support workers
- Travel costs if public transport is difficult
Access to Work job coaching is focused on workplace challenges. It is practical, structured, and tailored to your role.
Who can apply?
You can apply if you are in paid employment (including self-employment), aged 16 or over, live in England, Scotland, or Wales, and have a health condition or disability that affects your work.
You do not need a formal diagnosis in every case, though having one can speed things up. A letter from your GP or a specialist can support your application.
How to apply
- Call the Access to Work helpline on 0800 121 7479 or apply online via gov.uk
- You will have an assessment where an adviser asks about your role, your challenges, and what support would help
- They will agree a support plan which may include a set number of coaching sessions
- You choose your coach and the funding is arranged
The process can take months, so it is worth applying as soon as you know you need support.
What Access to Work job coaching looks like
In 26+ years of coaching ADHD professionals, including funded Access to Work job coaching, the workplace challenges that come up most often are:
- Managing your workload and priorities
- Staying on top of deadlines and admin
- Reducing overwhelm during busy periods
- Building better communication and boundary-setting with colleagues
- Creating sustainable routines that fit your role
These are exactly the areas Access to Work job coaching is designed to address.
What to do next
Once your funding is agreed, the next question is how to make the most of the sessions: Making Access to Work Job Coaching Count.
If you would like to talk first about whether Access to Work job coaching is the right route for you:
Book Your Free Discovery Session
About Linda Fox
Linda Fox is an ICF-ACC credentialled Adult ADHD Life & Business Coach (CALC) with 26+ years of experience and lived experience of ADHD herself. She works with entrepreneurs, solicitors, and business owners, helping them build practical strategies that fit how their brain actually works. UK-based, coaching worldwide via Zoom.
