Autumn Projects of the Year 2026

The Micro Gardens project seeks funding to transform small, underused spaces across Navigo sites into attractive, low-maintenance green areas that promote wellbeing, biodiversity and community involvement. Beginning with a pilot garden at Navigo House, the project aims to demonstrate how even the smallest forgotten spaces can be repurposed into welcoming environments that benefit staff, service users, carers and visitors.

Key features:

• Creation of small gardens in underused areas across Navigo sites
• Raised planters designed and maintained with involvement from service users, carers, staff and local communities
• Low-maintenance planting to provide year-round colour and interest
• Wildlife-friendly features including bug hotels and birdhouses
• Benches and seating areas to encourage relaxation and reflection

Key benefits:

• Enhances biodiversity and supports local wildlife habitats
• Provides opportunities for social inclusion, skill development and community participation
• Supports staff wellbeing by increasing access to calming green spaces

This project demonstrates how small environmental improvements can create meaningful benefits for wellbeing, community engagement and sustainability, transforming overlooked spaces into welcoming places for nature and recovery.

The Growing Well Together team seeks funding for Pairfect Dads— a year-long pilot project designed to help fathers build strong, healthy bonds with their babies while improving confidence, reducing isolation, and providing peer support. Working alongside existing parent-infant and perinatal services, the project will create dedicated support opportunities for fathers — an area where support is currently limited.

Key features:

• Weekly dad-focused peer support group, co-produced with fathers
• Safe space to discuss parenting, mental health, relationships and baby development
• Practical sessions including baby soothing techniques and baby massage
• Quarterly father-and-baby bonding activities and outings through ‘Pairfect Dads on Tour’
• Development of future ‘Dad Champions’ to sustain support networks locally
• Creation of online resources and promotional materials to reach more families

Key benefits:

• Supports dads whose partners are accessing specialist perinatal services
• Reduces isolation and strengthens parent-infant relationships

This project provides a lasting legacy for local families by empowering fathers with the knowledge, confidence and support needed to develop strong relationships with their babies, while creating sustainable peer networks that can continue beyond the funding period.

Rharian Fields, home of Navigo’s specialist eating disorder services, are seeking funding to introduce sensory-focused environmental improvements throughout the building, creating personalised sensory experiences that support emotional regulation, independence and wellbeing. Rather than developing a dedicated sensory room, the project will enhance bedrooms and communal areas with a range of sensory adaptations tailored to the needs of service users.

Key features:

• Sensory adaptations across bedrooms and communal spaces
• Lighting, sound, aromatherapy and tactile resources tailored to individual needs

Key benefits:

• Supports people with autism, ADHD, dementia, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and sensory processing difficulties
• Provides calming environments that help reduce stress, anxiety and sensory overload
• Encourages emotional regulation and supports recovery
• Promotes cognitive development through interactive sensory equipment
• Enhances communication, social interaction and self-advocacy
• Supports independence by allowing service users to control aspects of their sensory environment

This project provides accessible sensory support within everyday living spaces, enabling service users to manage their environment in a way that promotes comfort, confidence and person-centred care.

Harrison House is seeking funding to create a more calming and supportive environment for service users in crisis, particularly those who are neurodivergent. The proposal focuses on improving the waiting area at Harrison House and providing sensory boxes containing items that help individuals regulate emotions, reduce distress and prevent escalation.

Key features:

• Creation of a more sensory-friendly waiting area with adjustable lighting and suitable furnishings
• Provision of sensory boxes containing calming and self-regulation tools

Key benefits:

• Supports neurodivergent service users during times of distress or crisis
• Helps reduce stress, anxiety and emotional overwhelm
• Encourages improved focus and self-regulation
• Offers an alternative de-escalation approach that may reduce the need for restraint

This project provides a practical and accessible way to improve the experience of service users accessing crisis and inpatient support, creating a safer and more therapeutic environment for both patients and staff.