BDA Annual Awards 2024 - A Review

"Last Friday, I had the pleasure of attending my first British Dyslexia Association Annual Awards!

I was very proud to join in celebrating the outstanding individuals and organisations recognised at this year’s awards. It was inspiring and humbling to meet and hear about the incredible achievements of those who are paving the way for a more inclusive and supportive world for people with dyslexia."

And a huge congratulations to all the award winners – your hard work, perseverance, and passion for raising awareness and creating positive change were truly inspiring.

But while we celebrated, we also reflected on the everyday challenges faced by dyslexic children and adults. From schools to the workplace, the struggle to be understood and supported remains real. So, we all need to keep on pushing for early identification, inclusion, and meaningful support for all dyslexic children and adults.

And finally, a very big THANK YOU to all those who attended and made the awards happen – the wonderful BDA team, our great trustees, our incredible nominees and winners, our generous sponsors and great hosts."

Ellen Broome
CEO

Outstanding Child Award - Sponsored by Ryman

Sophie Flynn: I was diagnosed with dyslexia three years ago. I used to find certain subjects at school really hard but with my hard work and resilience, the support of my teachers, in particular Mrs King, I feel I have come a long way. With all the extra support I have from my family, friends and teachers I have learnt a lot about how I learn, and how to overcome my struggles. I have learnt that Dyslexia will not hold me back and I can achieve whatever I put my mind to. I am proud of what I have achieved so far.

Inspiring Teacher/TA

Marlon James-Edwards: A Teacher, Consultant and Founder from Tottenham, North London. He is also Dyslexic. From humble beginnings from a single parent family he navigated his journey with essential support from his mum, grandmother’s and wider community. This all explains why his core and motivation is respect, education and opportunity. As a manager of Upward Bound in Islington, he continues to cultivate the legacy of ensuring the next generation feel seen and heard and understand that they really are the future regardless of barriers in Social Economics, Neurodiversity or Race

Inclusive Workplace Award - Sponsored by Fairley House

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Training and Education Department introduced the role of Specialist Lecturer Practitioner (Well-Being and Inclusion) in February 2023 to support employees and students with specific learning difficulties through their education journey.

The department delivers a host of clinical education programmes to 800 students every year, enabling us to make sure patients with serious or life-threatening injuries and illnesses get the care they need 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The trust provides accident and emergency services for people in need of urgent medical treatment and transport in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The trust’s commitment was recognised with the award of Dyslexia Friendly Quality Mark Bronze in October 2023 and were awarded the Silver Quality Mark in July 2024.

Inspiring SENCO - Sponsored by SEN Legal

Heidi Bryant: Heidi has been ALNCo at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun since 2020. Throughout her time Heidi has prioritised the needs of pupils and secured training and continued professional learning for herself and staff to build knowledge and skills for ALN pupils.

As ALNCo, she works tirelessly to ensure inclusion and equity for our ALN learners through resources and targeted interventions. Meeting regularly with pupils, parents, staff and other specialists to ensure the very best for each pupil. At school, the HAFAN has become the specialist unit for ALN pupils with an ethos and culture of hard work, commitment and aspiration for pupils and staff, reflecting Heidi’s vision and passion.

Inclusive Entrepreneur Award - Sponsored by Octopus Ventures

Miles Nichols: Miles grew up in a small village on the outskirts of Cambridge, at school Miles always struggled and never managed to sit any exams and left when he was 15 with no qualifications as he was unable to read or write like his peers, we now know that Miles was severely dyslexic and this had been the cause of so many of his struggles, however, he also realised that he could be shown something physically and be able to reproduce this almost exactly and he was soon offered a job in his local butchers shop, here he went from strength to strength learning and flourishing in this new found skill and success, he was soon a well-known face in his local area.

He has now set up his own butcher’s shop and is learning how to become his own boss with the support of his family his new business Morgans Butchery is an enormous success and being an entrepreneur with dyslexia has not held him back

Cadogan Award for Resilience - Sponsored by St Davids College

Reverend Abigail Harris: Abigail is an ordained minister in the church of England, serving her curacy at Hexham Abbey in Newcastle Diocese. She trained at Westcott from 2020-2024, where she was diagnosed with dyslexia and dyscalculia.

Her journey hasn’t been without difficulty, but this has made her more determined to advocate for others who are neurodivergent through education and by sharing her story.

She’s written a book called ‘Dyslexia in the Pulpit’, which highlights not only some of the obstacles of those with dyslexia in ministry, but some of the strengths.

Trailblazer - Sponsored by Boyes Turner

Angela Thompson: Like most trailblazers, Angela did not set out to be one, she just saw a problem that needed solving. She did not see why her children should have a lesser education because of their dyslexia, with associated lifelong consequences, so she did something about it.

She learnt to read and write beyond a basic level, first by doing an Open University Degree in Psychology when she was 46, then followed that up with a PhD in Psychology. She explored why after 50 years of research, education results for children were still so poor. She used the knowledge gained in challenging her Local Authority (10 appeals), to assist other parents as they challenged the system. She was consistently successful in those cases. The work with parents informed her research.

She has presented at numerous conferences, produced professional and academic papers, and has just been appointed a Visiting Scholar to Nottingham Trent University.

Inspiring Young Person - Sponsored by Cavendish Education

Alexandria Crystal: Alexandria has had an exceptional 2024. Prior to sitting her GCSEs this summer 16-year-old Alexandria was the Youngest Miss England finalist in the contest’s history, during which she was awarded the title Miss Inspiration for her dyslexia campaign.

Her campaign has seen her interview former MP Matt Hancock, a spy code named Charlotte from GCHQ and Grant Harrold alongside interviews focusing on support and assistance, attitudes and even the lack of training solicitors are given as to how to advise clients who might have dyslexia or literacy issues. The Third Sector Charity Awards have also recognised Alexandria’s talents where she was short-listed as a Rising Star.

Marion Welchman Award - Sponsored by Marion Welchman Trust

Steve Chinn: Steve has worked with students with SEN for four decades. He was Head of three specialist schools, including one in the States and one he founded in the UK which received several awards, including Beacon School status. Funding from this enabled Steve to deliver the UK’s first PG course on dyscalculia.

He has written several books, including ‘The Trouble with Maths’ which won a Times Educational Supplement award. He has also published video tutorials so that parents and schools can access help at low cost. He has lectured in over 30 countries, including training for the MoE in Singapore. In 2017 he was awarded the BDA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He also received awards from the Dyslexia Institute and Positive Dyslexia for his work on dyscalculia.

It has been his research, teaching and listening experiences with students who have difficulties with learning maths that has convinced him that by working with them we can discover so much about how all children can learn maths more effectively.

His Maths Explained video tutorials and worksheets have sold in over 30 countries. He was the first Chair of the BDA’s dyscalculia committee. He co-founded and then Chaired CReSTeD.

He co-initiated the founding of the Dyslexia Archive at Oxford University

Lifetime Achievement Award

Pamela Tomalin: Pam left school at 15 with no qualifications but used her practical skills to establish an international interior design and manufacturing business, which she ran until 2018. In 1999, she returned to education, despite not knowing she was dyslexic, and earned a Level 4 qualification in ‘Information Advice and Guidance Practitioner’ and a Diploma in Management Studies from the University of Northampton. She also completed a BDA Level 4 qualification as a Workplace Needs Assessor.

Pam has been involved with dyslexia advocacy since 2010, serving as Chair of the Northamptonshire & Buckinghamshire Dyslexia Association. In 2014, she joined the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) Management Board as a Local Association Trustee, a role she held until 2023. She actively volunteered at conferences and events, contributing her time and expertise to BDA initiatives.

Pam’s career also includes accomplishments outside of dyslexia advocacy. She was a founding member of the Federation of Small Businesses in 1974 and contributed to the development of Business Link in 1999. Additionally, she worked as a Princes’ Trust Advisor and successfully delivered a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) contract for the ‘Training for Work’ program. Drawing on her experience as an Adult Careers Advice Practitioner and Skills Coach, Pam created and delivered a European Social Fund pilot program to help unemployed individuals with dyslexia find employment. She also secured funding for two local training programs for parents of dyslexic children. Partnering with the Peterborough Dyslexia Association, she organised sessions on reading, writing, spelling, homework, working with schools, and assistive technology.

As a Matrix Champion, Pam trained helpline volunteers and led her team to achieve the prestigious DfE Matrix Standard Quality Framework Award for their Information, Advice, and Guidance services. Recognising declining support for Local Dyslexia Associations, Pam organised a successful conference with the BDA. It featured sessions for educators and parents, filling 300 seats and increasing membership. The event’s success led her to replicate the format in other regions, including Peterborough and Cambridge, strengthening dyslexia support efforts