The Challenge

Going somewhere new can feel like a risk.

A café might be too loud. A park too crowded. A gym too overwhelming.

For many autistic people, carers, and families, that uncertainty is often enough to stay home entirely.

My brother works as a carer. A close friend is autistic and has an autistic child. Despite very different lives, they faced the same question every time they left home:

Will this place be manageable?

There was no reliable way to know before arriving. Just memory, experience, and sometimes a difficult journey home.

I'm Dr Sai Raj Ali, founder of MindHaven.

When my dissertation supervisor had to step back due to serious illness, I made the decision to build MindHaven as my research. That decision changed everything.

During my MSc research at Middlesex University London, I began exploring whether publicly available environmental data could help answer that question before someone left home.

The challenge is not the person. The challenge is the lack of information available before they arrive.

The result was MindHaven.

The Solution

MindHaven helps people discover places that may offer lower sensory load before they leave home.

Using publicly available UK environmental data, MindHaven scores 197,130 locations across London based on four factors that influence sensory comfort:

• Noise levels
• Green space
• Crowd pressure
• Physical accessibility

Every location receives a ComfortScore, helping users quickly identify places that may better suit their needs.

Users can also create a NeuroPassport, a private sensory profile stored entirely on their own device. No personal sensory data is sent to our servers.

The goal is simple:

Helping people feel more confident about where they go before they get there.

MindHaven is designed to support different levels of need, from casual exploration to personalised sensory planning and care support.

The comparison below shows how Discover, Compass, and Sanctuary differ.

Why MindHaven Is Different

Most accessibility tools focus on physical access.

MindHaven focuses on environmental comfort.

Rather than relying on reviews or guesswork, MindHaven combines multiple sources of public environmental data to estimate how a place may feel before arrival.

It is not a review platform.

It is not a venue directory.

It is a decision-support tool built for the moment before someone leaves home and asks:

"Will this place be okay for me?"

Where We Are Now

MindHaven has been built through academic research, community conversations, and support from Middlesex University London and Enactus UK & Ireland.

Our ComfortScore methodology was validated across 1,212 London venues as part of dissertation research.

During testing, most participants reported feeling more confident planning outings after using MindHaven, and the vast majority said they would use a tool like this regularly.

The platform has already mapped and scored 197,130 London locations.

This campaign is about getting that work into the hands of the people who need it.

Who We Are

MindHaven is led by Dr Sai Raj Ali and supported by researchers, technologists, and community advocates through the Enactus Middlesex programme.

Our work has been supported by Middlesex University London and Enactus UK & Ireland.

We are grateful for recognition from Santander X Explorer, Bentley iTwin4Good, and Enactus UK Nationals 2026, which have helped us develop and validate the project.

Necesidades del proyecto

What We Will Do With The Money

MindHaven already exists.

This campaign is not about starting from scratch. It is about launching, testing, and reaching the communities who need it most.

Minimum Goal: £500 - Reaching the people who need it most

The first £500 will help us:

• Publish MindHaven on Android and iOS
• Produce printed awareness and outreach materials
• Attend community events and SEND networks across London
• Begin engagement with care homes and community organisations

Optimal Goal: £3,000 - A Full Year of Protected Growth

At £3,000 we can:

• Sustain the platform during its first year of operation
• Expand testing with care homes and community organisations
• Produce accessibility and outreach materials
• Continue community engagement and feedback activities
• Publish public reports on outcomes and learning
   

If We Exceed £3,000

Additional funding will support:

• Accessibility improvements
• Independent accessibility reviews
• Trademark protection
• Expansion of ComfortScore validation into additional boroughs

If We Do Not Reach Our Goal

All contributions are returned in full.

If we do reach our goal, we will publish transparent updates showing how funds were spent, what was delivered, and what comes next.

Privacy First

Privacy has been part of MindHaven from the beginning.

Your NeuroPassport remains on your device.

No personal sensory profile is sent to our servers.

Where AI is used, it works only with public and anonymised environmental information.

Your sensory preferences stay private.

The city becomes easier to navigate.

Thank You

MindHaven exists because carers, autistic adults, families, researchers, students, and community organisations shared their experiences and trusted us with their insights.

Every donation helps move MindHaven from research into real-world impact.

Together, we can make cities kinder for every mind.