User Group Statement

“Memory Gardens” Statement as agreed by the Users Group


Sept 13th 2007


1. “Memory Gardens” has been providing a long running and current wide-ranging service to the community including:

a) A youth club for children between the ages of eight and fourteen on the high end of the Autistic Spectrum.

b) An Art and Gardening course for Autistic adults and local people to meet at, and through which they can work together.

c) An Artist Retreat and respite space for individuals to visit, who are affected by a spectrum disorder such as Autism, Dyslexia or ADHD.

2. We hope to continue providing this service from the current site until the Garden is needed for an active process of re-development.

3. If NCH has secured plans for re-development of the site by March 2007 “Memory Gardens” will be happy to leave the site for continuation of the Project elsewhere. This ties in with our current funding obligations.
4. If our access to the site via the car-park to the now vacant NCH Legard Family Support Unit creates difficulty for NCH, we could suggest an  alternate access route via the neighbouring Peter Bedford project, who would be willing to work with both our project and NCH to ensure the smooth running of this arrangement and to help with security.
5. Acceptable levels of security and access are essential to the safe running  of the project. Maintaining this is seen as a priority.

6. “Memory Gardens” will continue to maintain close links with the local Community and authorities in order to safegaurd the smooth running of the project until a time when it is prepared for change of use.


Active participants and on-going advisors in this process of consultation will continue to be:

a) The Peter Bedford Mental Health Project- whose members are involved in our adult courses.

b) The NAS ( National Autistic Society)

c) Hoffman De Visme- whose members attend our adult courses.

d) Representatives from our Parents Group.

e) City and Islington College who have in the past funded and monitored our courses.



7. We continue to invite the open and interactive participation of NCH in our ongoing project in order to support a culture of mutual understanding.


“We the Undersigned (representatives) of “Memory Gardens” agree to the use of our names as signatories of the current Statement of Action for the running of “Memory Gardens”.



Margaret Schoffield
Jamie Pike
Molly Porter
Eloina Alvarez
Adrian Wyatt
Becky Periman
Ruth Solomon


Date of Meeting: 13.9.07, 1.30pm-3.30pm

Location: “Memory Gardens” Legard Rd, London N5.