Frank Takes on Ironman 70.3 and Raises Funds for Helen Arkell

 

What started as a daunting challenge became an extraordinary achievement as our supporter Frank has completed an Ironman 70.3 Austria in support of Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity.
In August, Frank and his son took on the Zell am See-Kaprun Ironman 70.3, tackling a 1.9km swim, a 90km cycle ride and a half marathon. After three knee operations, six years with very little running, and more than three decades since his last triathlon, Frank described the challenge as “especially daunting”.

The toughest part? A gruelling 13km mountain climb on the bike course that made the rest of the race even more demanding.

Frank chose to support Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity because of his connection to our work through a friend, and because he has seen first-hand how dyslexia affects people he knows.

We’re incredibly grateful to Frank for taking on this remarkable challenge and helping us continue to support children, young people and adults with dyslexia to achieve their potential. 💙

Congratulations, Frank.

Help support Frank’s fundraiser here! 

By |2026-09-17T11:09:21+01:00September 17th, 2026|Fundraising news, Homepage featured, Latest news|Comments Off on Frank Takes on Ironman 70.3 and Raises Funds for Helen Arkell

Gain Accredited CPD Through Flexible Online Learning Supporting Learners Course

 

Gain Accredited CPD Certificate on our Supporting Learners with Dyslexia Course

Our specialist Supporting Learners course offers educators and professionals the flexibility to learn live or on demand, with each session providing 3 hours of accredited CPD. Participants can book the full 18-hour programme or select individual sessions to suit their interests and professional development needs.

Missed a live session? Simply book the session as usual and you’ll receive access to the recording. Upon completion, attendees will be awarded CPD accreditation through the CPD Standards Office and receive a certificate, whether they have participated live or viewed sessions on demand.

The Theo Paphitis Bursary Fund continues to support access to high-quality training by offering one free place on this course starting this November.

We have funded places for dyslexia support training available to state schools across the UK.

If you work in a state-funded school, this is a fantastic opportunity to access expert-led dyslexia training, at no cost to your school.

This course is ideal for teaching assistants and teachers looking for practical advice.

For full details and bursary applications, visit the course booking page.

 

By |2026-09-11T14:31:28+01:00September 11th, 2026|Uncategorized|Comments Off on Gain Accredited CPD Through Flexible Online Learning Supporting Learners Course

Parents Invited to Discover Practical Ways to Support Children with Dyslexia at Home

How to Help at Home Course 16 October 2026 

Parents and carers looking for effective ways to help their child thrive with dyslexia are encouraged to sign up for an informative and supportive face-to-face workshop presented by dyslexia specialist Helen Barrett.

Our workshop, How to Help at Home – Supporting Your Child with Dyslexia at Home, is designed to give parents a deeper understanding of dyslexia and provide practical strategies they can use immediately to support their child’s learning, confidence and well-being.

Led by Helen Barrett, Specialist Assessor and Level 7 Course Tutor, the session will explore what dyslexia is, the common characteristics associated with it, and the impact it can have on literacy and numeracy development. Attendees will also learn about the benefits of a multi-sensory approach to learning and discover practical techniques for supporting reading, reading comprehension, writing and spelling at home.

Importantly, the workshop recognises that dyslexia affects far more than academic skills. Parents will gain valuable insights into supporting memory, organisation and self-esteem, helping their children build confidence and reach their full potential.

Learn more here. 

By |2026-09-10T11:22:17+01:00September 10th, 2026|Course news, Homepage featured, Latest news|Comments Off on Parents Invited to Discover Practical Ways to Support Children with Dyslexia at Home

Dyslexia Assessment Research Participants Needed!

Are you a parent of an adolescent aged 11–16 who has reading difficulties and is fluent in English?
Researchers at the University of Surrey are inviting parent-child pairs to take part in an online research study exploring the connection between reading difficulties and anxiety.
Your insights will help them better support adolescents with reading difficulties in the future.
As a thank you, both you and your child will receive a £10 Amazon voucher for participating!
To take part please email Jovana Durica at: UnRAP@surrey.ac.uk
More information is available in the invitation letter below.
Thank you.
By |2026-09-02T09:50:55+01:00September 2nd, 2026|Homepage featured, Latest news, Research news|Comments Off on Dyslexia Assessment Research Participants Needed!

We need 6 more people to pledge £100! 

We need 6 more people to pledge £100! 

We’re working hard to reach our £1,000 Big Give pledge target by 28 August, and we now need just 6 more people to pledge £100 to get us there.

Why does reaching £1,000 matter? Because we need to hit this pledge target in order to take part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge and access the match funding opportunity later in the year. Reaching the target could make a significant difference to how much we’re ultimately able to raise for our bursary projects.

A £100 pledge isn’t an immediate donation. It’s simply a commitment to give £100 after the Big Give campaign in December.

Could you be one of the 6 people we need?

Make a £100 pledge: Pledge

And if you can’t make a pledge yourself, please share this with your network – you may know someone who can.

We have until 28 August to reach our £1,000 target. Every pledge brings us one step closer.

Thank you for helping us spread the word.

💙

By |2026-08-25T11:48:48+01:00August 25th, 2026|Fundraising news, Homepage featured, Latest news|Comments Off on We need 6 more people to pledge £100! 

Summer Touch-Typing Courses

Now that the summer holidays are here and routines are a little quieter, it’s the perfect time to help your child build valuable skills while having fun. ☀️⌨️

Join us from 19–21 August 2026 for either our Introduction to Touch Typing course for beginners or our Developing Touch Typing course for children who already know the basics and want to improve their speed, accuracy and confidence.

With just 1.5 hours a day over three days, these engaging, supportive sessions are a great way to fill part of the holiday, boost confidence and help learners get ready for the new school term.

See our courses page to sign up!

By |2026-08-07T15:44:52+01:00August 7th, 2026|Course news, Homepage featured, Latest news|Comments Off on Summer Touch-Typing Courses

The Great Farnham Treasure Hunt

We’re taking part in The Great Farnham Treasure Hunt!

Explore Farnham this summer and discover hidden treasures along the way!

📅 27th July – 6th September

Pick up your FREE Treasure Passport from Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity, Elphicks or any participating business, collect all 12 treasure stamps as you explore the town, complete the quiz and return your passport to Elphicks to be entered into the prize draws.

Purchase something from the Helen Arkell Shop to collect a FREE bonus stamp in your passport!

A fun, free activity for all the family!

The Great Farnham Treasure Hunt!

By |2026-08-03T09:57:16+01:00August 3rd, 2026|Homepage featured, Latest news, Shop news, Uncategorized|Comments Off on The Great Farnham Treasure Hunt

Help us reach our Big Give Pledge Target

 

Help Us Unlock Funding Through the Big Give Christmas Challenge

We know Christmas feels a long way off, but we’re already preparing for this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge!

  • 🎄 We’re aiming to raise £4,000 to help more children, young people and adults with dyslexia access vital support.
  • 💛 To secure match funding, we need to reach our pledge target of £1,000 by 28 August 2026.
  • 🎁 Pledges can be made by individuals, businesses, trusts and foundations.
  • ✅ Pledges are only collected if our campaign is successful.
  • 🌟 Every pledge helps unlock match funding, potentially doubling the impact of donations during the Christmas Challenge.

If you’d like to help us support more people with dyslexia, we’d love to hear from you.

Learn more or make a pledge here. 

Together, we can help more people with dyslexia discover their strengths and achieve their potential. 💙

By |2026-07-23T15:17:11+01:00July 23rd, 2026|Fundraising news, Homepage featured, Latest news|Comments Off on Help us reach our Big Give Pledge Target

London Landmarks Half April 2027 – Waiting List Open!

We have opened a waiting list for those hoping to take part in the London Landmarks Half Marathon in 2027 for Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity.
Whether you’re running for a personal challenge, to beat your personal best or supporting dyslexia, the London Landmarks Half Marathon promises an inspiring and memorable experience in one of the world’s greatest cities.
By |2026-07-22T10:39:59+01:00July 22nd, 2026|Fundraising news, Homepage featured, Latest news, Uncategorized|Comments Off on London Landmarks Half April 2027 – Waiting List Open!

‘Go All In’ with our Summer Reading Tips!

This year is the National Year of Reading.

To help encourage a love of reading, Helen Arkell is pleased to share our top reading tips for the Summer Holidays!

For children with dyslexia, building confidence is just as important as building skills. Whether you’re practising phonics, reading together, exploring graphic novels, listening to audiobooks, or using assistive technology, you’re helping your child develop a positive relationship with reading. 

Not every child learns to read in the same way – and that’s okay. 

If reading feels hard, try a different approach. Audiobooks, graphic novels, or reading together all count as reading and can help build confidence. 

Remember… 

Children who struggle with reading often work much harder than we realise. 

Reading can be: 

  • More effortful 
  • More tiring 
  • More frustrating 

A little patience goes a long way. 

Encourage, Don’t Pressure 

The goal isn’t just to create good readers…It’s to create children who enjoy stories. 

A love of books often comes before confident reading. 

This Summer we will share useful tips to help your child keep their interest alive. Week-by-week we will share some simple strategies that encourage reading before the new term begins. 

Wishing all our families a happy, relaxing summer filled with stories, laughter, and plenty of opportunities to discover the joy of reading!

Following along here and on our social media to learn more. 📚

 

By |2026-07-17T12:36:20+01:00July 17th, 2026|Latest news, Team blog, Uncategorized|Comments Off on ‘Go All In’ with our Summer Reading Tips!
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