Milton Keynes Umbrella Project

Celebrating Neurodiversity in Milton Keynes

This rainbow-coloured canopy of umbrellas is a powerful symbol of inclusion and diversity for our city.

What is the Milton Keynes Umbrella Project?

  • These installations are designed to spark conversations and enable cities like ours to show that we champion difference and we aspire to be more inclusive. They provide a bold and colourful platform for us to recognise and celebrate Neurodiversity.
      • The MK Umbrella Project is underpinned by the recognition that all people are valid and valuable, regardless of having different ways of engaging in the world.
      • With an installation of 400 umbrellas, ours is the largest display in the UK to date.  

Educate • Advocate • Celebrate

In 2025 we’re delighted to have brought this stand-out display of colour to Milton Keynes where it was showcased in Midsummer Place.

In celebration of Neurodiversity, these are our project’s aims:
 
    • To Educate – through providing more knowledge, myth-busting and sharing lived experiences  
    • To Advocate – by reframing perspective and shifting the narrative to acceptance and support
    • To Celebrate – by shining a light on strengths and the positives of difference.

Podcasts

If you missed any of the speakers from the launch event, do not worry, you can listen to them all back here:

Listen Here
 
You will be able to listen to local people and their experiences with neurodiversity including inspiring messages from:
 
  • Jane Lambert – Project Lead and CEO of Makewell Clinic.
  • Simon Martin – General Manager of Midsummer Place – Our host and headline sponsor
  • Cllr Maie Bradburn – The Mayor of Milton Keynes
  • Chris Curtis – MP (Milton Keynes North)
  • Dennis Murray – The Assistant Chief Constable
  • Ife Thomas – Motivational speaker, author and coach
  • Hester Grainger – Co-founder of Perfectly Autistic
  • Bekka Prideaux – Founder of The Curious Choice
  • Dr Lyndsey Roberts – Interim CEO The ADHD Foundation
  • Nikki Ross – Retired ACC for Thames Valley police and late diagnosed with ADHD.
  • Caitlin Smith – Education professional diagnosed with Autism as an adult.

MKFM Interview - Jane Lambert

Listen to Jane Lambert’s fantastic interview, focused on the Umbrella Project which was hosted on MKFM by clicking the button below!

Listen Here

Michael Blades chats to Jane to talk about the Umbrella Project at Midsummer Place and how the legacy of this project can continue long after the umbrellas are removed.

 

What Is Neurodiversity?

‘Neuro’ = brain and ‘Diversity’ = a range of difference and varieties.

So like the different umbrellas, it symbolises all of the different and unique ways that we all act, think, respond and feel. Neurodiversity is a collective term for every single one of us!
 
This means we are all neurodiverse
 

One of the aims of the MK Umbrella Project, is to improve the acceptance and understanding of neurodivergence – an umbrella term to describe individuals whose minds or cognitive functioning means they may think, learn or act differently.

There are many types of neurodivergence, they include: Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Tourettes Syndrome, Dysgraphia, Dyspraxia and Dyscalculia. 

The MK Umbrella Project recognises that all types of people are valid and valuable, regardless of having different ways of engaging in the world.
 

The Neurodiversity Movement is a social justice movement that seeks rights, equality and inclusion for neurodivergent people and an end to marginalisation. It began in the US in the late 1990’s, when honoring different brain types and accepting people for who they are was first cited. 

Creating a lasting legacy for Milton Keynes

The umbrella display itself symbolises a catalyst for change. It is our ambition to ensure we build on the community of support this project has created and that we make a joint commitment towards lasting change and to becoming a city where inclusion is part of DNA.

Using our project’s aims: to educate, advocate and celebrate, we have created a set of guiding principles within our Charter for Change.  

What do the installations look like?

Liverpool

Aberdeen

Heathrow

Liverpool John Moores University

Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young

Our Sponsors

We are extremely grateful to each and every one of our sponsors, whose support has enabled this project to be realised.

By supporting this initiative, you are championing positive change for our city.

Sign The Neurodiversity Charter Here – It’s FREE

Sign here

Who's Involved?

Jane Lambert

Through lived experience
(with my adopted daughters) and now running Makewell I am passionate about
reducing the stigma around neurodivergent conditions and to show people all the things to
celebrate. It’s not all bad. Quite the opposite.

Jerry Taylor

Supporting the project felt like a natural way for me personally to contribute in some way to a more inclusive and understanding community. I am delighted to have played a small role in bringing this vital initiative to Milton Keynes, it’s been an absolute pleasure to work with some talented and passionate individuals from the Milton Keynes business community.

Amanda Wright

Founder & Creative Director at Yellowyoyo. Supporting and celebrating neurodiversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it aligns with Yellowyoyo’s and my own personal values of inclusion, respect and recognising the brilliance in everyone. We’re incredibly proud to have shaped the project’s creative direction and to be part of the team bringing it to life.

Adam Moore

Founder & Founder & Partner at MGA Moore Growth Accountants. I’m proud to play a part in helping bring this project to life. I joined the project because I’m keen to raise the understanding of neurodivergence and help businesses enhance their culture and inclusion.

Gamiel Yafai

Founder and CEO of Diversity Marketplace, an award-winning global DEI Consultancy. Author of ‘Demystifying Diversity’. Newly diagnosed Dyslexic and Neuroinclusive champion. Volunteers to support Neurodivergent individuals access employment opportunities and become aware of organisations that can help their career development. 

Sammy King

As someone who suspects they have undiagnosed
dyslexia, I am passionate about raising awareness and driving change around
neurodiversity. Working at Makewell, I interact with neurodiverse individuals
daily, and their experiences continue to inspire me to advocate for greater
understanding.

Lisa Hathway

I live and work in Milton Keynes, and I’m a parent to a
neurodivergent young adult, so I understand the challenges. I want to help make
real change and raise awareness of neurodiversity in our wonderful city,
alongside equally passionate people.

Jill Farnsworth

Jill Farnsworth is CEO of My-MK Business Improvement District (BID), a collective of 330 businesses that invest in the success of the future of Milton Keynes City Centre. The Umbrella Project is a perfect fit with the BID’s ambition to make Milton Keynes the first ever Purple City.

Sue Pardy

As
a business that provides HR support to micro and small businesses in Milton
Keynes, I’m passionate about fostering inclusive workplaces and culture. I
joined this project to help support meaningful change, ensuring employers
embrace diversity and build inclusive cultures that benefit all their
employees.

Sarah Sweet-Rowley

CEO of local children’s charity Autism Early
Support (AES). Sarah and her team at AES strongly support the social justice
movement, towards neurodivergence becoming better understood and widely
included.

Jon Manning

Jon has experienced
living with mental health conditions for over 20 years and set up Arthur Ellis
to develop a national alternative to mental health services. Arthur Ellis now
runs a charity that supports over 3,500 young people in and around Milton Keynes
without thresholds or waiting lists.

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