Disadvantaged children with dyslexia will get help and support thanks to Berkshire Freemasons

Dyslexic children from families unable to afford specialist tuition will receive vital help and support thanks to a grant from Berkshire Freemasons to the British Dyslexia Association.

The £60,000 grant will allow 150 dyslexic young people aged 12 to 18 from deprived or low-income families to access ten weeks of specialist dyslexia tutoring.

Alongside one-to-one support, the project will provide parents and carers with practical toolkits and resources, helping families better understand dyslexia and how to support their child’s learning at home.

The programme will be open to eligible young people across England and Wales, with priority given to those living in areas of higher economic deprivation. It aims to address the existing deep inequalities in access to dyslexia support and empower parents and carers with the confidence and knowledge to advocate for their child.

The grant will make a lasting difference to the lives of children and their families. Specialist tutoring will help young people develop positive learning behaviours, improved skills, perseverance, and engagement, while reducing anxiety and building self-confidence. Research shows that the benefits of improved learning approaches continue long after tutoring ends and are particularly strong for children from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Parents and carers will also benefit directly from the programme. Targeted parental support interventions will strengthen coping strategies and understanding, leading to improved academic and behavioural outcomes for dyslexic children.

Dyslexia is recognised as a learning difference and affects around one in ten people. It can impact reading, writing, spelling, memory, organisation, and information processing. Despite this, there is currently no mandatory dyslexia training for teachers and school staff. Diagnostic assessments typically cost around £700 and must be paid for privately, yet do not guarantee access to support.

Without specialist intervention, dyslexic children often become more aware of how they struggle to learn, rather than how they can succeed. Studies show that children from lower-income families are significantly less likely to receive high-quality dyslexia support, contributing to attainment gaps and increased mental health needs.

The grant from Berkshire Freemasons come through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families, and friends from across England and Wales.

Ellen Broomé, Chief Executive at the British Dyslexia Association, said:
“We’re very grateful to Berkshire Freemasons for their generous grant. Dyslexic children are five times more likely to be excluded from school as are those from deprived backgrounds. This funding for specialist tuition will enable us to provide support to the young people who need it the most and help them reach their full potential.”

Peter Hopkins, the Charity Steward for Berkshire Freemasons, said:
“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to help the British Dyslexia Association with their hugely important programme of tutoring for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. It’s hard to overestimate the importance of literacy - It’s the single most important skill a child needs to be able to take advantage of their education.”