Dyslexia Sparks stretch creative muscles

The creative sparks were flying at the Humber Bridge on Saturday 7 May as a group of students from Dyslexia Sparks – Hull and East Yorkshire’s only registered charity – stretched their creative muscles in preparation for a writing competition.

A 70-strong group comprising Sparky Students and their families, along with the charity’s Specialist Tutors and Assessors, joined together on a walk across the 150-metre tall and 2,200-metre long bridge for inspiration ahead of entering the Humber Bridge’s short story and poem competition. Students were assisted with taking photographs and recording sounds and information during the event to encourage their creativity. These will now be brought back into lessons where students will be supported with writing their short story or poem by Dyslexia Sparks’ Specialist Tutors.

The event was also the first of the charity’s regular, free Sparks Socials and was created in response to feedback from clients requesting opportunities to meet and socialise with other Sparky Students and their families. Some students also raised funds for the charity as part of the event, participating in a sponsored walk across the bridge.

Jane Craig, Founding Director at Dyslexia Sparks, said: “We received a fantastic response to the first in our new Sparks Socials series. The event was a great opportunity for Sparky Students to get together, have fun and unleash their creativity!”

Blake, one of the Sparky Students who took part in the event, said: “The walk was inspiring as lots of people came along, to support Dyslexia Sparks and each other. It shows if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything. Nothing is impossible.”

Sparky Student Jacob, said: “I liked walking the Humber Bridge, it was something I have done many times before with my family but today it gave me a focus to think and gather ideas and descriptive words of my surroundings to help with my writing.

“I used to find learning could be stressful when I was trying my best to spell words and read. Dyslexia Sparks helps me to focus and remain calm when reading and writing by enabling me with strategies and supporting my memory with repetition of spelling facts.”

Mark Dyson, a parent of a Sparky Student, attended the event with his family. He said: “Dyslexia Sparks have supported my son for a year and a half now, providing specialist support strategies and more importantly the confidence and ability to believe that he is a reader and writer.  Whilst every child is capable, often a little bit of specialist support helps to ignite the spark!”

The Humber Bridge’s creative witing competition is open to primary school-aged children across the Humber region and Dyslexia Sparks are running their own creative writing competition in addition, so that Sparky Students of all ages can take part. Dyslexia Sparks provides specialist tuition and diagnostic dyslexia assessments for all ages from seven years onwards.

As a registered charity, Dyslexia Sparks can provide financial support to eligible households in Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire to help with the cost of specialist tuition and diagnostic dyslexia assessments.

The charity also provides free advice, support and guidance to dyslexic individuals and their families and promotes awareness and understanding of dyslexia. Follow Dyslexia Sparks on  Eventbrite, Facebook and Twitter to be kept up to date with the latest news and events.

For further information, contact Dyslexia Sparks on 01482 234856 and at office@dyslexia-sparks.org.uk or visit www.dyslexiasparks.org.uk.