Step Change design is an award winning organisation supporting creating active and meaningful care home gardens within person-centred care practices.

Upcoming events :

We are back out sharing our work with workshops and presentations scheduled in the coming months to support care settings, garden designers and those who support people living in care settings. You can find us at the following events:

DemFest 2026

Romsey, Hampshire, Dementia Awareness Group’s annual Festival and Dementia information day

• Date: 13 September 2026
• Time: 10am -4pm
• Venue: Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Ampfield, Romsey, SO51 0QA

This event has all the feel of a garden fete, with music, games for the children all alongside both national and local organisations providing advice and support to anyone living with or caring for someone living with dementia. We’ll be there sharing hints and tips on keeping the connection with the garden alive, plus a chance to see our publication if you a local care provider or garden designer working in this area.

For more information see  www.romdag.co.uk

Gardens that Care

• Title: Gardens that Care
• Event: FutureScape
• Date: 13-14 October 2026, speaking on 13th
• Time: 11-1145am, theatre tbc
• Venue: Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre
• Theatre: Outdoor living and nurture theatre

I’ll be speaking at this event focusing on gardens that care. We all know that gardens can nurture people and the planet, and many of us set out to create spaces to bring these benefits into people’s lives. Yet all too often, these potentially beneficial spaces, fall out of use or don’t live up to expectations. Commonly the client may blame the garden while we may blame the organisation for not maintaining it or a lack of knowledge or that staff have no time to use it. Our award-winning study cuts through these and many other myths to help ensure the efforts we go to in creating these valuable spaces results in an actively used garden long after we have left.

Why not join me to hear more, register at https://www.futurescapeevent.com/register-attend

Transformative Aging – Global online summit

• Montessori-Care.com
• Date: 10-12 November 2026, speaking date TBC
• Time: TBC
• Venue: On-line

I have been invited to deliver a workshop at this Global Gathering for Innovation in Aging. Bringing together researchers, practitioners, innovators, caregivers, and thought leaders to explore new possibilities for aging, dementia, disability, and human flourishing.

For more information see   https://montessori-care.com/transformative-aging/

2026 UK Dementia Congress

• Date: 17-18 November 2026
• Venue: Doncaster Racecourse, Leger Way, Doncaster, DN2 6BB
• Presentation Title: ‘When a pretty garden isn’t enough’
• Presentation Date/Time: 18/11/26, 15:30-16:40
• Parallel session 6.3 Cultivating Connections: Nature, Sport & Therapeutic Activity

We will be presenting at this amazing 2 day event exploring that while gardens are often beautiful restful places, we know are good for us so often even the prettiest and well-designed spaces are under-used? In Horticulture we have a phrase of ‘Right plant, right place’ to ensure they thrive. Our work identifies the need for the ‘Right garden, in the right care culture’ to ensure it is used long term and so benefits residents the way it should. We’ll explore how even the prettiest garden may not be the right one for you and guide you to understanding how to focus in on what really matter and find the right fit for your organisation and most importantly your residents.

For more information & to book your tickets see https://journalofdementiacare.co.uk/congress

National Activity Conference & Awards 2027

• National Activity Providers Association annual conference and awards
• Date: Time: 22nd January 2027
• Venue: Hunton park Hotel, Essex Lane, Hunton Bridge, Hertfordshire, WD4 8PN

As a special adviser to NAPA I’ll be speaking alongside Hilary Woodhead, CEO, to get Launch their year of ‘The Great Outdoors’ and get it off to a flying start. With a wide range of speakers including Dementia Adventure and from overseas this will be an interactive and thought provoking event. If you are involved in activity provision or a manager leading on wellbeing this is a must attend event.

For more information & to book  Conference information & booking

We are proud to have been shortlisted as a finalist for a NAPA award for Activity Partner. This award recognises an outstanding external provider that delivers high quality activity services. The evening after the conference is awards night and will see a celebration of all the amazing work happening to across Activity Provision in the Care Sector, with awards for individuals and organisations who are transforming how care is delivered. The awards celebrate innovation, dedication and excellence.

Why not join the party and see who wins and support the amazing work of NAPA too. Book your tickets at https://napa-activities.org.uk/get-involved/national-activity-awards/

Why don’t we go into the garden? Workshops 2026

We are currently looking to schedule our next care team workshops and courses for garden designers; if you are interested in attending one of these let us know via our contact form and where you are located as this may help us decide our final locations.

For more details of outcomes of these events visit our courses page. We are also able to run these in house for care organisations, landscape design practices or academic settings.