Helen Arkell, Author at Helen Arkell

Christmas Champions – Unwrap a New Future

This Christmas we have launched our crowdfunding campaign to help us provide vital support for people with dyslexia from disadvantaged backgrounds.

With the cost-of-living crisis hitting hard and little government funding available, many families are unable to afford essential dyslexia assessments and tutoring. But together, we can change that.

🌟 Making a Difference

Every year, we support over 1,500 individuals with dyslexia. Thanks to donations, 93% of those we help report improved confidence and reduced anxiety, while 94% experience enhanced literacy skills.

This year, our Christmas Crowdfunding Campaign, we are calling on our supporters to help us raise funds make sure everyone can get the advice and support they need on their journey with dyslexia.

🎁 How You Can Help

£15 can part-fund family consultations
£75 can contribute to a life-changing assessment for a child
As a thank-you, donations of £75 or more will receive a pack of our beautiful Christmas cards!

🌟 Be a Christmas Champion

Visit our Christmas Champions – Unwrap a New Future Crowdfunder page and help us make sure every child and adult who needs support can access it—this Christmas and beyond.

Together, we can empower more learners and give the gift of confidence, literacy, and a brighter future.

Thank you for being a part of the change this holiday season. 🎄

By Helen Arkell|2025-01-06T10:21:13+00:00November 26th, 2024|Fundraising news|Comments Off

Christmas Silent Auction

The festive season is here, and with it comes the opportunity to give back while treating yourself to something truly special. We are delighted to share with you our Christmas Silent Auction. This is a chance to bid for unique treasures, indulge in exclusive experiences, all to make a lasting impact on the lives of children and adults with dyslexia.

What’s on Offer?

We are thrilled to present a collection of exceptional items including:

Rare Bottles of Vintage Port and Whisky
Limited Edition Pints
Jewellery
Unforgettable Experiences
And much more!

How your bid can make a difference

The funds raised through the auction will help support Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity to empower individuals with dyslexia through life-changing assessments, resources, and support. A donation of £100 could help fund a transformative assessment for a child, equipping them with the tools and confidence to thrive.

Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of many this holiday season.

The Christmas Silent Auction is now live online! Don’t miss your chance to explore and bid on these incredible items:

👉 Place Your Bid Here

Huge thanks to Nigel Macdonald for generously donating the rare vintage and whiskey.

And thank you for your generosity, and from all of us at Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity

By Helen Arkell|2025-01-06T10:20:44+00:00November 26th, 2024|Fundraising news|Comments Off

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|Comments Off

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|Comments Off

Goals for Good: Community Spirit Shines as Farnham FC Hosts Dyslexia Awareness Week Charity Game

On Saturday, October 12th, Farnham FC took on Southall FC in a memorable match that united local football fans for an important cause: supporting dyslexia awareness. Held as part of Dyslexia Awareness Week 2024, the charity match successfully raised £100 for the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity, which will go on to help many more individuals with dyslexia through support, resources, and advocacy.

This year’s Dyslexia Awareness Week theme, “What’s Your Story?” resonated deeply throughout the event, drawing football fans and community members together to share stories, raise awareness, and celebrate the vital work done by Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity.

Victoria Brighton, Individual Giving Officer at Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity, expressed gratitude for the community’s support. “We’re deeply grateful to Farnham FC and all the supporters who came together to raise awareness and funds for dyslexia on the day,” she said. “Every contribution helps us continue our mission of supporting individuals with dyslexia.”

The match at Farnham FC was part of a series of events organized for Dyslexia Awareness Week (October 7-13). Other highlights included community gatherings at The Shed in Bordon and the Tes SEND Show in London. The week of activities culminated on October 13th with the Royal Parks Half Marathon in London, where six inspiring runners took on the challenge to raise essential funds for the charity.

By Helen Arkell|2024-12-09T16:16:02+00:00October 29th, 2024|Fundraising news|Comments Off

Exploring the Impact of Dyslexia on Sleep: UCL’s Groundbreaking Study and How You Can Help

University College London (UCL) is embarking on a crucial study to understand the impact of dyslexia on sleep. This follows a groundbreaking discovery in their recent research, which found that 66% of children with dyslexia experience clinical sleep issues. Given that sleep is essential for brain development, mental health, and overall well-being, UCL’s latest research aims to uncover how dyslexia might be affecting sleep across all age groups.

Why This Research Matters

Sleep plays a central role in cognitive function, emotional regulation, and physical health. For those with dyslexia, difficulties in learning and processing information are common, yet little is understood about the additional challenges they may face related to sleep. UCL’s recent findings have raised significant questions about how widespread these sleep issues are, and how they might influence cognitive performance, mental health, and day-to-day life.

In children with dyslexia, sleep disturbances can further complicate learning challenges, making academic and personal growth even more difficult. If similar sleep issues persist into adulthood, understanding and addressing these disruptions could be transformative for individuals with dyslexia at all stages of life.

How You Can Help

UCL is now seeking participants both with and without dyslexia to take part in a short online questionnaire about their sleep behaviours. The input from a wide range of participants will help researchers pinpoint patterns, enabling them to take a closer look at how dyslexia and sleep intersect.

By participating, you’ll be contributing to a vital research project that could lead to better support, improved sleep interventions, and a deeper understanding of dyslexia’s impact on mental and physical health.

Interested in helping out?
Follow this link to participate and be part of this meaningful study.

Thank you for your support in advancing our knowledge of the Impact of Dyslexia on Sleep!

By Helen Arkell|2024-12-09T16:17:46+00:00October 29th, 2024|Research news|Comments Off

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|Comments Off

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|Comments Off

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|Comments Off

Dyslexia Awareness Week 2024 – What’s your Story?

Monday 7th October – Sunday 13th October 2024

We are counting down to Dyslexia Awareness Week in October. This is the week in the year where we go even further to help people understand what dyslexia is, that there is effective support available and to explain the up and down-sides of having dyslexia. If you can join us, we would love it!

The theme of this year’s Dyslexia Awareness Week is What’s Your Story?

Look out for posts on our social media pages and for ways you can get involved.

Could you help spread the word about dyslexia?

Dyslexia brings unique strengths. What’s your story of thriving with dyslexia? We would really love it if you wanted to share your own dyslexia story with us. How about sending a short video no longer than one minute. Look out for others’ films during the week on our social media channels.

You can use your mobile phone and let our community know what makes you a champion for dyslexia!

Share Your Dyslexia Story!

Show us how you have overcome your dyslexia or are working to succeed. Send a 1-minute video about your unique journey.

Email to: events@helenarkell.org.uk
Share on social media: #DAW24, #Dyslexia, #DyslexiaAwarenessWeek, #WhatsYourStory and tag us in!

Be Helen’s Hero!

Share your story or take on a challenge!

Could you fundraise during #DAW24 week and become one of Helen’s Heroes?

To launch the celebration of our heroes we are asking our supporters to tell us your story or do something challenging for dyslexia.

Have you done something amazing for dyslexia? Have you overcome a battle and feel like you have found strategies to cope with your dyslexia?

Some Fun Fundraising Ideas to get you started:

Sponsored run or walk
Board game marathon
Bake sale
Quiz night
Skydive or wing walk
Treasure Hunt
Silent auctions
School or office dress-up days!

Your fundraising will help even more people with dyslexia make sense of their life. All our heroes will receive a certificate and a place in our hall of fame on our website. Let’s help people with dyslexia know we are proud to share awareness.

Contact: fundraising@helenarkell.org.uk

Support our Royal Parks Half Marathon team

Our magnificent Royal Parks Half Marathon runners are taking part in this race on Sunday 13 October, which is also the last day of Dyslexia Awareness Week. A great final flourish to cap off a week of raising awareness and understanding for dyslexia!

Good luck to all who are taking part! Support them here: Royal Parks Half Marathon 2024 – JustGiving

If you have any questions, email the team on events@helenarkell.org.uk.

Thank you!

Watch this space for DAW 24 updates or sign up for our e-newsletter.

By Helen Arkell|2024-10-29T10:18:03+00:00October 9th, 2024|Fundraising news|Comments Off

About Helen Arkell

Monday 7th October – Sunday 13th October 2024

Could you help spread the word about dyslexia?

Share Your Dyslexia Story!

Be Helen’s Hero!

Some Fun Fundraising Ideas to get you started:

Support our Royal Parks Half Marathon team

Thank you!

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