Helen Arkell, Author at Helen Arkell

Meet our London Marathon 2025 runners!

Support our amazing London Marathon 2025 runners

Our dedicated team of 6 runners are pushing themselves to the limit training in preparation for the event on 27 April.

Their passion and determination will not only carry them through 26.2 miles but will also help children and adults with dyslexia in urgent need of support.

Click on their stories below to find out what led them to go the extra mile for Helen Arkell and how you can support them.

Good luck everyone!

By Helen Arkell|2025-04-16T13:32:25+01:00April 16th, 2025|Fundraising news, Homepage featured|0 Comments

Theo Paphitis Dyslexia Bursary provides free training for schools

Thanks to the Theo Paphitis Dyslexia Bursary, launched in November 2023, an incredible 176 teachers and teaching assistants from UK state schools have already received free specialist training, enabling them to better support learners with dyslexia back in their classrooms.

The continuing generosity of Theo and Ryman Retail Limited means that we are able to offer even more teachers and teaching assistants from the state school sector free places on the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity’s six-week online Supporting Learners with Dyslexia course!

This practical course comprises six sessions on Fridays from 9.30 am, starting on 25 April 2025 and provides lots of useful, tried and tested strategies for supporting learners effectively. Recordings of each session are sent out after the live session for anyone who is unable to attend.

To apply for a bursary-funded place on this course, simply complete a short application form here.

Here’s what one of our past attendees had to say about the course:

‘I would like to say what an amazing course this has been!! I am a literacy practitioner at a secondary school, and the course was everything I was looking for and more! It has given me so much confidence delivering my literacy sessions, and I have gained so many tips and ideas. The presenters’ wealth of knowledge and information has been amazing, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every week.’

Please note, if you have already received a free place for this course, you will not be eligible for another free place. If your team found this course helpful you can book a paid-for place.

Helen Arkell’s aim is to remove barriers to learning, employment and life for more and more people with dyslexia, regardless of ability to pay, and we are indebted to Theo Paphitis and Ryman for helping us to achieve this.

By Helen Arkell|2025-03-25T13:48:58+00:00March 14th, 2025|Course news, Fundraising news|0 Comments

Signed ‘Max Magic’ books now available in our shop!

We are delighted to announce that we are now selling signed copies of the Max Magic trilogy, written by Farnham author Tom Easton and TV’s Magician Stephen Mullhern.

These books are now available in our bookshop and make the perfect Christmas present for any young reader. The magical stories for children follow the story of Max, a budding young magician, inspired by Stephen Mulhern’s incredible story of his journey to become a magician, performer and TV star.

“These engaging books are perfect for sparking children’s imaginations. Thank you for presenting these in a dyslexia-friendly format for our learners,” said Claire Harvey, Head of Education at Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity.

We stock all three books in the Max Magic collection, which you can order online or find them at our Farnham Centre.

Watch the special message from author Tom here and stop at our shop for more ‘magical’ stocking fillers for all ages this Christmas!

By Helen Arkell|2025-03-18T14:18:23+00:00November 15th, 2024|Shop news|0 Comments

Invitation to our Christmas Drinks evening

We would love you to join us for our annual Christmas Drinks evening when we celebrate the work of the charity during the last year.

Come and enjoy drinks and nibbles with our friends and colleagues while having a look around the Farnham Centre.

This is our chance to catch up and to say a heartfelt thank you for the support you’ve given us over the last 12 months.

Where: 24 West Street, Farnham GU9 7DR

When: Thursday, 28 November from 6 to 8 pm

Please let us know you are coming along by emailing events@helenarkell.org.uk

See you there!

By Helen Arkell|2024-10-30T12:59:16+00:00October 30th, 2024|Fundraising news|0 Comments

Half-term ceramics workshop

Seen The Unseen: Ceramics

Join us for this half-term workshop led by UCA Surrey Galleries in collaboration with 318 Ceramics and in association with the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity.

The project aims to develop awareness of invisible disabilities, specifically dyslexia. Generously funded by Farnham Town Council Grants for school holiday activities.

The workshops invite students, families, and friends to create clay discs textured with marks reflecting the achievements and occupations of people with dyslexia. The discs will have the names and occupations of these individuals stamped on them. Some discs will have no marks to represent those who are still unaware they have dyslexia.

The project will consist of five 3-hour making workshops for families in Farnham over the October half-term holiday. 318 Ceramics will provide expert ceramic tuition and guidance for the workshops, fire and glaze the works, and produce the final wall hanging.

The clay discs developed during the workshops will culminate in the creation of a dyslexia art installation to be displayed at the entrance of the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity for students, young people, families and everyone in Farnham to enjoy.

Book your free place here: Booking form

Dates: 28^th October – 1^st November 2024

Workshop Locations:

Monday 28 – Tuesday 29 October, 10am-1pm at UCA
Wednesday 30 – Thursday 31 October ,10am-1pm at Helen Arkell Centre Courtyard, (weather permitting; wet weather contingency – UCA, with signage and re-direction to UCA)
Friday 1 November, 10am-1pm at 318 Ceramics

Cost: The event is FREE open to all students and families

Workshop facilitators: 318 Ceramics tutors Kathy Mason & Sian Van Driel

UCA Surrey Galleries Curator: Dr Loucia Manopoulou

For further information, please contact gallery@uca.ac.uk

By Helen Arkell|2024-12-09T16:18:16+00:00October 22nd, 2024|Fundraising news|0 Comments

Co-op Local Community Fund

Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity is delighted to be part of the Co-op Local Community Fund initiative.

With the help of Co-op members, we’ll be able to offer free specialist dyslexia assessments, tuition and courses for disadvantaged children and young people to build skills, confidence and self-esteem.

Please choose us to help unlock their potential!

You can choose us as your charity no matter where you are in the UK

To find out more about our project and to choose us as your cause, click here: Local Community Fund

If you aren’t a Co-op member, you can find out about joining here:

Co-op Membership – Membership that makes a difference – Co-op

Thank you for your support and help.

By Helen Arkell|2024-10-29T10:17:45+00:00October 21st, 2024|Fundraising news|0 Comments

Thank you to our fantastic Royal Parks Half Marathon team!

We want to say a huge thank you to the amazing Helen Arkell team for being part of this year’s Royal Parks Half Marathon.

After weeks of training in all weathers, they joined 16,000 runners on a route through 4 of the beautiful Royal Parks, passing many iconic London landmarks on the way.

Our runners were incredible, and we loved seeing them wearing Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity’s name with pride as they crossed the finish line.

Congratulations to Ceri, Joanna, Peter, Alice, Jack and Chris!

As well as flying the flag for dyslexia, they have raised an incredible £4,140 so far!

You can still donate to their fundraising efforts here: Royal Parks Half 2024

If you would like to join our 2025 team, please email events@helenarkell.org.uk

By Helen Arkell|2024-10-29T10:17:53+00:00October 18th, 2024|Fundraising news|0 Comments

Thank you to our incredible London Marathon team

A massive thank you to our 2024 London Marathon heroes, for going above and beyond for the cause of dyslexia, and for really making a difference.

Five intrepid runners signed up for the Helen Arkell team in this year’s London Marathon which took place on 21 April.

It’s a gruelling test of endurance and considered the pinnacle of achievement for many runners. All of our runners completed the course, encouraged by the incredible atmosphere and cheering crowds along the route.

Darren, Douglas, Jack, Jemima and Naomi all showed incredible determination to help us fulfil our mission to transform the lives of children and adults with dyslexia.

The months of intense training in order to manage the 26.2 miles involved running whatever the weather, on dark evenings after work and chilly early mornings.

On the day itself, the team all completed one of the greatest challenges there is, collecting their hard earned medals before celebrating with proud family and friends.

You still have the opportunity to lend your support. Your contribution, regardless of its size, can really make a difference to our work. Together, we can create a lasting impact in the lives of those with dyslexia.

If you wish to sponsor our runners, please visit their individual fundraising pages here.

London Marathon 2025

If you’ve been inspired by this year’s runners, and are successful in the ballot for the 2025 London Marathon, you can apply for a place to be part of the Helen Arkell team.

If you would like to apply for one of our charity places, complete the short form here: London Marathon 2025.

By Helen Arkell|2024-07-23T16:32:33+01:00April 24th, 2024|Fundraising news|0 Comments

University of Surrey needs dyslexia research advisory group volunteers

Dyslexia research volunteers needed

A group of researchers in the School of Psychology at the University of Surrey are interested in adolescents’ social and emotional experiences related to reading difficulties, so that they can better support them in the future.

They would like to involve you as a group of experts by experience to ensure their dyslexia research is relevant to adolescents with reading difficulties.

Volunteers for their dyslexia research advisory groups will give feedback on the design of the research project and recruitment materials to be used in the subsequent study itself: “Understanding the mechanisms underpinning poor mental health outcomes in children with reading disorders”.

The University of Surrey team are looking for volunteers to join 3 advisory groups:

The panels will meet online about 3 times during the year for approximately an hour.

You will be asked to read some materials before these meetings.

In the meetings, you will be asked to provide your thoughts on parts of the research.

Please contact Jovana Durica at UnRAP@surrey.ac.uk if you are interested in joining the group or if you would like more information.

By Helen Arkell|2024-07-23T16:32:49+01:00April 7th, 2024|Research news|0 Comments

Our Christmas Appeal

Writing to us at Helen Arkell, Lillian’s mum said,

‘I just wanted to share my proud moment with you. Lillian’s diagnosis has brought her a great deal of comfort in why she struggles and has allowed her to identify areas that there are easy solutions too. She has embraced lots of coping mechanisms and is a much happier little girl – thank you.’

Read Lillian’s story here

At Helen Arkell, our mission is to create a world where individuals with dyslexia can achieve their full potential. We offer tailored and expert support to remove any barriers to education, employment, and daily life.

This Christmas we are requesting donations to kindly help us continue giving the gift of learning. Your donation, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated.

Together, we can support more people.

Give the gift of learning

Donate

Thank you for your support.