B.E.A.A.N.S. (Beats, Exercise, Art, ADHD & Nutrition Study)

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BEAANS (Beats, Exercise, Art, ADHD, Nutrition Study) is a pioneering early-intervention programme developed by the Nutritious Minds Trust Charity in collaboration with Dr Abbe Brady at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. Curated by Dr Rachel Gow, following years of frontline experience working within the neurodivergent space, BEAANS has been shaped by a deeply concerning and increasingly visible reality: too many bright, creative children are being educationally failed, excluded from school, or becoming disengaged from learning altogether.
For some, this trajectory progresses into the youth offending and criminal justice system, often fuelled by self-medicating with substances and alcohol — a pathway often described as the “playground-to-prison pipeline,” and one that is, in many cases, entirely preventable.
BEAANS has been designed to intervene early. This pilot programme, launching in August 2026, supports children aged 10–14 through a one-week immersive experience, followed by a structured three-month mentoring and follow-up phase. The model integrates nutrition, physical activity, and creative expression — recognising the strong links between neurodivergence and creativity, particularly in ADHD, dyslexia, and autism.
Children will engage in specialist creative electives, including music production, where they will learn to DJ, mix, write lyrics, perform, and develop skills in MCing; art as therapeutic self-expression; and film-making, culminating in the co-creation of both an original music track and a documentary capturing the BEAANS journey and its wider social impact. Alongside this, children receive two nutritionally designed meals per day, targeted supplementation, and structured daily movement — from paddle and athletics to yoga and nature-based activities — all designed to support brain health, emotional regulation, and confidence.
Each child is further supported through ongoing mentoring and nutritional provision until the end of November, providing continuity, stability, and meaningful behavioural change beyond the initial intervention.
Importantly, BEAANS is a research-led model. Outcomes will be evaluated and published in a peer-reviewed journal, creating a scalable, evidence-based framework that can be rolled out across communities to reduce risk and improve life trajectories for neurodivergent children.
If you or your child has been impacted by ADHD, dyslexia or another neurodivergent condition, and you are passionate about creating meaningful change at a preventative, grassroots, community level, please get in touch. We really need your support, and would love to hear from you.