OUR PROJECTS

Making ADHD support real and local

From community allotments to hands-on learning hubs, we're building practical spaces where neurodivergent people can connect, grow, and thrive.

CURRENT PROJECTS

The Blueprint Community Allotment

Growing Food. Growing Confidence. Growing Community.

We're making great progress on our new community allotment, and it's really starting to come together! Every step forward is helping us create a calm, welcoming space where people can connect, learn new skills, spend time in nature, and support their wellbeing together.

This isn't just about growing fruit and vegetables—it's about growing confidence, friendships, purpose, and a community where everyone feels they belong.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us so far. Your encouragement means the world.

SPECIAL THANKS

MKM Building Supplies logo

A big thank you to MKM Building Supplies for providing the materials that are helping bring our community allotment to life.

Why gardening can be especially beneficial for ADHD:

  • Dopamine and Mental Recovery: Gardening tasks provide immediate, tangible results that satisfy the ADHD brain's need for dopamine, while the natural environment offers effortless engagement that prevents mental burnout.
  • Visual Structure and Physical Outlet: The physical space acts as an intuitive, visual to-do list that bypasses executive dysfunction, while offering a productive channel for restlessness and healthy hyperfocus.
  • Low-Demand Social Support: The shared setting creates natural "body doubling" to boost motivation and provides a relaxed space to build connections without the pressure of intense social interaction.
Humphrey Park Allotment Association hand-painted sign, established 1915

CURRENT PROGRESS

Raised beds planted out with seedlings in the summer sun at the community allotmentNewly built raised beds laid out across the allotment plotFreshly built raised beds at the community allotmentRows of new raised beds prepared for planting at the allotment

THE VISION

A calm, welcoming space to grow together.

Artist's impression of the completed community allotment at dusk, with raised beds, winding path, covered seating area and fairy lights

This is the future we're working towards: a thriving community allotment where people can connect with nature, learn practical skills, and find a sense of calm and belonging.

Picture raised beds full of fresh produce, a covered social area for conversation and workshops, and pathways that invite you to slow down and breathe.

It's more than a garden — it's a space for recovery, friendship, and growing confidence one season at a time.

The Blueprint Adventure Land

Play. Exploration. Adventure.

We've helped transform a local school field into an exciting outdoor space for play, exploration and adventure — part of the school's OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) programme.

The new areas include Muddy Mayhem, Sandy Shores, Burrow Hill and Rainbow Ridge — spaces designed to inspire creativity, imagination, problem-solving and outdoor fun for every child.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MY ADHD BRAIN GETS AN IDEA!

This whole project started with a Facebook post asking for help with the school field. I offered to go and do some digging — and then my little ADHD brain kicked into gear!

One small job quickly turned into:

  • A huge sandpit
  • Two tunnels joined together and covered with earth
  • Another tunnel with tyres built into it for the children to climb and use as steps
  • A completely new outdoor play area for the children to explore and enjoy

I've done pretty much all the physical work myself. Once my brain sees what something could become, that's it — bang, boom, boom! I start working out what I can build, what materials I need, where I can get them from and how to make the whole idea happen.

I've done this entire project without charging a penny. Giving back is a massive part of who I am. I genuinely believe that when you give your time, effort and kindness to help others — without expecting anything in return — you will receive blessings in other ways.

This is the positive side of my ADHD brain. I might go somewhere intending to do one little job, but then I see the bigger picture. I notice possibilities other people might miss, connect everything together and turn an idea into something real.

It's been hard graft, but seeing what we've created for these children makes every minute worth it. I'm proud of this one.

— Martin Donnelly, Founder

WITH THANKS TO

  • A massive thank you to my friend Terry Cummings, who helped me get the tunnel sections and concrete tunnels for free.
  • Another huge thank you to Mark at Salford Grabs, who supplied 20 tonnes of MOT stone for underneath the sandpit.
  • And a big thank you to Mike from my ADHD group, who gave up a couple of days of his own time to come and help me for free. It was really appreciated.

A MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL

"It's wonderful to see our school field being transformed into an even more exciting space for play, exploration and adventure!

We are delighted to introduce some fantastic new OPAL areas, including Muddy Mayhem, Sandy Shores, Burrow Hill and Rainbow Ridge. These exciting spaces will inspire creativity, imagination, problem-solving and outdoor fun for all of our children.

A huge thank you to Martin from ADHD Unite Network UK for the countless hours of hard work, dedication and enthusiasm he has given as a volunteer. His efforts have helped turn these ideas into reality and made our field an even more special place for children to learn, play and thrive.

We're confident these new areas will create memories and opportunities that our children will enjoy for years to come."

Hand-carved wooden sign reading The Blueprint Adventure Land on the school fieldCarved wooden sign for the Muddy Mayhem play areaSandy Shores sand play area with buckets and spadesCarved Burrow Hill sign beside the tunnel moundRainbow Ridge sign set in a red tyre among colourful tyresGroundwork underway on the school field with toy diggers on the dug-out play areaTwo joined tunnels running through the Burrow Hill sand moundRainbow Ridge with brightly painted tyres set into the sand mound and a tunnel entranceToy digger on the freshly prepared play area soil

Support our projects

Your donation or sponsorship helps us fund plants, tools, materials, workshop equipment and community events across all our projects. Every contribution — big or small — goes directly into growing our work and supporting our community.

Thank you for believing in what we're building — your support means everything to us.

UPCOMING PROJECTS

What's next

Brand new opportunities we're rolling out to help neurodivergent young people learn, connect and thrive.

Big News! ADHD Unite has secured a school to pilot the Upstairs Downstairs House 4-week program
SCHOOL PILOT

The Upstairs Downstairs House

A 4-week program helping young people understand their brains, regulate emotions, build resilience and thrive.

We've secured a school to pilot our Upstairs Downstairs House program — using the simple upstairs (thinking) / downstairs (survival) brain metaphor to help kids understand how their minds work. A huge thank you to the school for believing in our vision and giving our program a home.

  • Understand their brain
  • Manage big emotions
  • Improve focus and confidence
  • Build stronger relationships
  • Grow skills for life
ADHD Unite has secured a fishery for up to 20 ADHD kids to try fishing
OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE

Fishery Experience Days

For up to 20 ADHD kids who'd like to try fishing.

We've secured access to a local fishery — a calm, supportive space for young people with ADHD to try something new, connect with nature and enjoy quality time outdoors.

  • Build patience and focus
  • Reduce stress and anxiety
  • Connect with nature
  • Fun, supportive environment

THE VISION

The Stretford Kinesthetic Learning Hub

Turning a "disability" into a trade skill.

A hands-on woodworking and trade-skills workshop for neurodivergent young people (ADHD/Autism) who struggle in traditional academic settings.

Our mission is to channel the natural energy and hyper-focus of ADHD into professional trade skills. Under expert supervision, students learn to design and manufacture high-quality gates, fencing and garden furniture.

Instead of desk-based learning, we provide kinesthetic — hands-on — education. Real tools. Real materials. Real outcomes.

WHY IT'S NEEDED

Filling the gap in Trafford.

Long NHS waiting lists. Rising school exclusions. Currently no local provision combining mental health support with vocational trade training. Our survey of local parents shows 90% demand for non-classroom intervention.

Improved Executive Function

Through our "Measure Twice, Cut Once" philosophy, students develop patience, planning and impulse control.

Reduced Social Isolation

The workshop acts as a Unite hub — bringing together isolated families and building a peer-support network.

Community Pride

Functional products built in the workshop are reinvested back into the Stretford community for local residents.

SAFETY & GOVERNANCE

Safety first. Always.

We operate with a strict Safety First mandate. Every part of the workshop is built around protecting the young people in our care.

Qualified Oversight

Lead Tutors are Level 3 Safeguarding (DSL) certified.

Rigorous Vetting

All staff and volunteers hold Enhanced DBS Certificates.

Strict Risk Management

Industry-standard Tool Competency Logs and 1-to-1 supervision for high-risk equipment.

Comprehensive Insurance

Full Public Liability and Employer's Liability cover (£5m).

GET INVOLVED

Parent, partner, or supporter?

Whether you've got a young person who could benefit, you're a local business looking to partner, or you want to support the project — we'd love to hear from you.