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So far Vicky Brighton has created 25 blog entries.

The Dyslexic Advantage – a UK premier screening at Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity

🎬 Join us for the UK premiere of The Dyslexic Advantage – a powerful new short film reshaping how we understand dyslexia on Wednesday 4th Feb 2026.

Moving beyond the narrative of struggle, this inspiring film celebrates dyslexia as a strength, driving creativity, innovation, problem solving, and discovery.

Nearly 1 in 5 people think differently and this film shows why that matters.

🎤 Special Guest Q&A

We’re delighted to be joined by Fernette Eide, CEO of Dyslexic Advantage, Executive Producer of the film, and co author of the renowned book The Dyslexic Advantage.

Fernette will answer questions live after the screening.

 

🌍 Online event – attend from anywhere! Can’t watch live on the night? No problem.

Book your place and we’ll send you the recording later in the week.

 

👪 Who is this for?

✔️ Parents

✔️ Teachers and education professionals

 

Through science, animation, and powerful personal stories of innovators, artists, and entrepreneurs, the film also gently explores the social and emotional challenges young people can face in school and how understanding strengths can change outcomes.

 

The Dyslexic Advantage book is available to purchase in our shop: https://helenarkell.org.uk/product/the-dyslexic-advantage-new-edition/

 

👉 Book now to secure your place for this Spotlight session: https://helenarkell.org.uk/events/spotlight-the-dyslexic-advantage/

By |2026-01-21T10:01:01+00:00January 21st, 2026|Homepage featured, Latest news, Shop news, Uncategorized|Comments Off on The Dyslexic Advantage – a UK premier screening at Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity

Tesco Stronger Starts

We’re thrilled to be part of the Stronger Starts customer vote for Tesco in 2026!

This scheme gives community projects grants of up to £1,500.

Tesco customers can now vote in store in the Gerrards Cross, Ashford, Sunbury, Abingdon, Buckingham, Faringdon, Kidlington and Egham Tesco Stores.

There are a number of stores in each of these areas where you can vote.

During January to March this year every blue token is a vote to decide how much funding we get, so please support us next time you shop at Tesco!

Through the project we will provide specialist dyslexia training to teachers and teaching assistants in locals schools around these areas.

The training will support all the pupils in the school community and many more children over the course of each teacher’s career.

The stores where you can drop a blue token for Helen Arkell are: 

Gerrards Cross

2267 Chalfont Express Express SL9 0NP
2564 Gerrards Cross Superstore SL9 8ER
5355 Chalfont St Peter Express Express SL9 9HE

Ashford

2047 Ashford Middlesex Extra Extra TW19 7PZ
5478 Ashford Express Express TW15 2UT

Sunbury

3220 Sunbury Extra TW16 7BB
6820 Ashford Staines Express Express TW15 1RP

Abingdon

2008 Abingdon Extra OX14 1TU
5429 Grove Wantage Express Express OX12 7JZ
6426 Abingdon Fitzharris Express Express OX14 1JH
6519 Abingdon Oxford Road Express Express OX14 2ED

Buckingham

2162 Buckingham Superstore MK18 1AB
5143 Market Hill Express Express MK18 1JX

Faringdon

4338 Faringdon Superstore Superstore SN7 7BP

Kidlington

2319 Witney Cogges Hill Express Express OX28 3XY
2488 Eynsham Express Express OX29 4EF
2499 Fettiplace Witney Express Express OX28 5AP
2788 Kidlington Superstore Superstore OX5 2DN
3339 Witney Valence Crescent Express Express OX28 5YP
3418 Witney Express Express OX28 4EJ

Egham

2454 Egham Superstore Superstore TW20 9EX
4690 Staines High Street Express Express TW18 4QB

We’ll be sharing stories of how our work helps in these areas very soon. 

To learn more about Stronger Starts, visit the Tesco website here.

tescoplc.com/strongerstarts

By |2026-01-19T11:07:54+00:00January 19th, 2026|Fundraising news, Homepage featured, Latest news, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Tesco Stronger Starts

New Handwriting Spotlights – A 2-part series by the National Handwriting Association

We are delighted to bring you two new courses in January. 
Many dyslexic learners struggle with handwriting, and this can have a number of negative impacts on learning. Finding out about the skills involved in handwriting, why some learners struggle, what research tells us about handwriting, and how to support learners with handwriting difficulties at home or in the classroom, is extremely valuable for both parents and education professionals.

The National Handwriting Association are experts in this field and we are delighted that they will come and share all their knowledge and expertise over these two new Spotlight Sessions with us in January.

The two spotlights, part 1 and part 2, are appropriate for parents and education professionals.
  • What does handwriting typically look like in children with dyslexia and how does this differ from the handwriting of neurotypical children
  • What does current research tell us about handwriting difficulties and support options
  • What role does weak spelling have on the impact of handwriting
  • Practical strategies and top tips for supporting handwriting both at home and in the classroom

Part 2 on 19 January will explore the wider implications of handwriting including

  • What does current research tell us about the wider implications of handwriting difficulties
  • What are the options for reasonable accommodations e.g. extra time/use of word processor
  • Practical strategies when handwriting difficulties persist into secondary school
  • What role do handwriting interventions have
  • When to consider touch typing

 

To find out more or make a booking please see our courses page. 

By |2025-12-19T10:40:57+00:00December 19th, 2025|Course news, Homepage featured, Latest news|Comments Off on New Handwriting Spotlights – A 2-part series by the National Handwriting Association

More Support for Adults with Undiagnosed Dyslexia Needed – BBC News

Adults struggling with undiagnosed dyslexia are facing challenges, from the high cost of assessments to the difficulty of navigating word-heavy online resources.
Amanda Lightowler, Specialist Tutor for Children and Adults at Helen Arkell comments in today’s article on BBC News that many people seeking answers are deterred by costs. For those already grappling with literacy barriers, even finding reliable information online can feel like an impossible task.

Read the full article here.

At Helen Arkell, we offer a range of dyslexia assessments for adults and children. A dyslexia assessment will help someone understand their strengths, and why they may be experiencing difficulties in their learning or day-to-day life.

For enquiries about all types of assessments including adult assessments, please see our dyslexia assessments page here.

By |2025-12-10T14:39:00+00:00December 10th, 2025|Homepage featured, Latest news, Uncategorized|Comments Off on More Support for Adults with Undiagnosed Dyslexia Needed – BBC News

The Big Give #ChristmasChallenge

Your Donation Will Be DOUBLED This December !

We’re very excited to let you know that we have been selected to participate in this year’s Big Give #ChristmasChallenge.

That means that every donation made to our campaign via BigGive.org during the week of 2 – 9 December, will be doubled.

All donations to Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity will be matched £1 for £1 through the #ChristmasChallenge, helped by our group of incredible pledgers and our champion match funder, AKO Foundation.

Your donation of £10 turns into £20, your £50 into £100 – and so on!

So whatever you can give, no matter the size, every donation will make double the difference helping us to deliver specialist support for people with dyslexia.

What can you do now?

✅ Starting today at midday and running until 9 December, make a donation to the Big Give’s #ChristmasChallenge here. The donate button will appear on the Big Give Helen Arkell page when the campaign starts at 12pm (midday) today.

Share the campaign with friends, family, or on social media – anyone who may want their donation doubled!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at fundraising@helenarkell.org.uk

Thank you so much for your support – together, we can make twice the impact in 2026!

Watch the Big Give Video here! Backhand index pointing down

Q & A’s

1) Online donations to participating Charities received during the live campaign will be matched initially by pledge funds. Once a Charity has used all of its pledge funds, donations will be matched by Champion funds until Champion funds are exhausted or until the campaign ends, whichever is sooner.

2) Once our Charity pledge funds and Champion funds have been exhausted, our donation page on the Big Give website will clearly state that any subsequent donations will not be matched. Donors will still be encouraged to make an unmatched donation.

3) All donations made during the campaign must be made online via Big Give’s website without exception. Donations must be made via a Charity’s donation page on Big Give’s website, for the project which has been accepted into the campaign.

4) The minimum single donation that can be made during the campaign is £1. The maximum donation made during the campaign using a credit or debit card is £25,000. The largest donation made using our donation funds feature is £500,000.

5) A donation is eligible to be matched if it is made through the Charities campaign when the campaign is live and if there is sufficient funding available in the match fund for the selected Charity.

6) Once matching funds are reserved, donors will have 25 minutes to complete their donation. If the donation is not completed within 25 minutes, the Donor will be notified, and the match funding will be released back into the match fund for said Charity.

A message from Mia

Mia tells us why this campaign will help more children like her.

By |2025-12-03T17:01:09+00:00November 28th, 2025|Fundraising news, Homepage featured, Latest news, Uncategorized|Comments Off on The Big Give #ChristmasChallenge

Research Participants Needed

Help Us Understand Reading and Anxiety in Adolescents.

 

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.

Why participate?
Your insights will help us better support adolescents with reading difficulties in the future.

What’s involved?

  • Parents: Complete 3 short online surveys (approx. 20 mins total) and share child’s dyslexia assessment report via a secure link.
  • Adolescents: Complete 2 short online surveys (approx. 15 mins total).

🎁 Thank you gift: Each parent and adolescent will receive a £10 Amazon voucher for participating!

📌 Eligibility:

  • Adolescents aged 11–16.
  • In secondary school.
  • Have reading difficulties.
  • Had a dyslexia assessment in the last year.
  • Both parent and adolescent must be fluent in English.

🔗 Interested?
Follow the link to take part here or mail Jovana Durica at UnRAP@surrey.ac.uk to learn more and sign up.

Let’s work together to make a difference in how we support young people with reading challenges.

By |2025-11-28T15:22:06+00:00November 28th, 2025|Research news|Comments Off on Research Participants Needed

Making Spirits Bright: Santa’s Grotto Launch Brings Joy and Support for Helen Arkell Students

Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity and children from surrounding local schools welcomed Santa and his team of elves to Squires Garden Centre, Badshot Lea, to help cut the ribbon and launch the opening of Santa’s Grotto for 2025!

Children who have benefited from the services of Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity joined from Potters Gate School in Farnham and William Cobbett School Farnham and were the first to meet Father Christmas and his helpers! Each child visited Santa and everyone came away with a special gift.

Squires Garden Centre, Badshot Lea, have chosen Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity as their Charity of the Year this year, and we are thrilled to have their support. As part of this, £1 from every ticket sold for Santa’s Grotto will be donated to Helen Arkell in the New Year. These funds will help us provide life-changing support to more people with dyslexia.

Santa’s Grotto is open until 4pm on Christmas Eve, so there’s lots of time to book your place and visit before Christmas!

To make a booking, please visit their website here. 

 

By |2025-11-25T15:20:34+00:00November 25th, 2025|Fundraising news, Homepage featured, Latest news, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Making Spirits Bright: Santa’s Grotto Launch Brings Joy and Support for Helen Arkell Students

THRIVE: Neurodivergence at Work Survey

Help the UK Young Academy improve workplaces for neurodivergent people 

The UK Young Academy — a network of early-career professionals working for positive change — is running a survey on how UK workplaces can better support dyslexic and other neurodivergent people.

You don’t need a formal diagnosis to participate.

All neurotypes welcome.

Whether you’re dyslexic, autistic, have ADHD, Tourette’s, or another form of neurodivergence — your voice matters.

Help shape more inclusive, supportive workplaces across the UK by sharing your experience.

Take the survey:

 https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/THRIVEUKYA/

By |2025-11-18T10:22:05+00:00November 18th, 2025|Latest news, Research news, Uncategorized|Comments Off on THRIVE: Neurodivergence at Work Survey

Congratulations Caroline!

Congratulations to our amazing supporter Caroline who successfully completed the New York Marathon earlier this month, raising funds for dyslexia awareness.
This is the second time Caroline has run the marathon, both for ourselves and The Children’s Dyslexia Center of New Jersey.
Caroline completed the course in 4 hours and 47 minutes, inspired by her son George, who is thriving thanks to the support of specialist charities.
And as if one marathon wasn’t enough, Caroline is doing it all again (this side of the pond!) running the London Marathon in April 2026, for Helen Arkell.
She’s truly inspiring!
Read her full story and support her fundraising here 👇
Inspired by Caroline’s story? Take on a challenge for dyslexia!
Visit our events page to find a challenge!
By |2025-11-14T15:07:36+00:00November 14th, 2025|Fundraising news, Homepage featured, Latest news, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Congratulations Caroline!

Three CPD Courses for specialist assessors

Three fantastic courses for assessors are now available to book.

We have been developing our range of CPD training for specialist assessors. All courses are now available to book here: Courses for assessors | Helen Arkell

 

Introduction to the Intelligence and Development Scales 2nd Edition (IDS-2)

This presentation includes an overview of how the test battery is constructed, its strengths for assessing the areas of cognition and attainment that are most relevant for dyslexia, and scoring. Sarah Sainty, the course presenter, is an Assessment Consultant for Hogrefe and a highly experienced assessor. She enjoys using the IDS-2 and will explain the wealth of information it yields. We give thanks to Hogrefe for this presentation. For more details and to book: Introduction to the Intelligence and Development Scales (IDS-2) | Helen Arkell

 

WIAT-III UK: A comparison with the WIAT-III UK-T

This course is for specialist assessors who are familiar with administering the WIAT-III UK-T and would like to understand the additional areas of testing offered by the WIAT-III UK. The course includes an overview of the WIAT-III UK, a comparison of the test materials in both versions, a comparison of the subtests offered in both versions, a recap of the administration of existing key subtests, and guidance on administration of the new subtests in the WIAT-III UK in areas of language, reading, spelling, writing and maths. Helen Barrett, an experienced assessor, presents this course. For more details and to book:  WIAT-III UK: A Comparison with the WIAT-III UK-T | Helen Arkell

 

Alternative Tests of Underlying Ability

This course is for specialist assessors who are considering alternatives to the Wide Range Intelligence Test (WRIT) which will be withdrawn from the SASC list of approved tests at the start of January 2026. The course includes an overview of conceptualisations of intelligence, the structure and conceptualisation of intelligence of 5 test batteries: RIAS-2, IDS-2, WCJIV-Cog, TOD and CAS-2, the subtests in each battery that aim to measure intelligence and/or the ability to find ways to tackle learning tasks, and how these relate to the requirements of the current SASC report format, examples of the kinds of tasks an examinee would be asked to complete in these subtests, and basic test information including age range, approximate costs, administration time, standardisation, validity and reliability. Anita Haigh, an experienced assessor, presents this course. For more details and to book: Alternative Tests of Underlying Ability | Helen Arkell

By |2025-11-13T10:01:37+00:00November 13th, 2025|Course news, Latest news|Comments Off on Three CPD Courses for specialist assessors
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