The It's ME! Learning Fund provides funds to pay for specialist tuition, at Dyslexia Action Centres, for those with learning and literacy disabilities, who would otherwise not be able to afford it.
Over the past 12 months 96% of our learners demonstrated an improved score in at least 1 of the 4 areas they were taught in.
- 61% of pupils improved their score in reading.
- 85% improved in phonics (sounding out words).
- 71% improved in spelling.
- 71% improved in passage comprehension.
The It's ME! Learning Fund supports children, young people and adults with dyslexia in greatest need of our help. Their need is considered on the basis of educational requirements, dyslexia severity and financial circumstances. All those applying to the fund must have either a full psychological assessment or a screening profile.
We are currently only able to help 1 in every 3 people who submit an application to the Fund. We expect that as the impact of the recession worsens the demand on the It's ME! Learning Fund will increase.
The Cost to SocietyResearch shows that the cost to the nation of not dealing with dyslexia amounts to £1.8B each year. Insufficient support for those with dyslexia and specific learning difficulties (SpLd) have been identified as the biggest reason for educational failure in the UK.
Opening doors through educationIn 2009 after 2-3 terms of tuition learners experienced improvments in reading, writing and spelling which resulted in an increase in confidence and self-esteem.
Through the It's ME! appeal we aim to raise £2m by 2014, this will enable us to help 2,500 more people through the It's ME! Learning Fund.
If you haven't already, you can help by
sharing your story or by shouting about us on your Facebook and Twitter by doing this you are helping to stop dyslexia from being a hidden disability.
By making a donation or raising money for It's ME! you are helping to stop dyslexia from being a hidden cause.
In 2010 Dyslexia Action supporters and fundraisers raised £197,000 to help 242 children and adults through the It’s ME! Learning Fund.
The majority of beneficiaries received support through the multi-sensory tuition package at an average of £800 per person.
The It's ME! Learning Fund is delivered by Dyslexia Action Centres across the UK.
By 2014 we aim to have raised £2 million enabling us to help 2,500 more people through the It's ME! Learning Fund. Previously the average cost per person for has been £800, however Dyslexia Action has designed tailored packages which allow for the individuals needs of an applicant to be better met and allowing us to reach more people as a result.
Therefore we hope to be able to reach as many as 500 children, young people and adults each year.
Details of the packages offered by the Learning Fund
- Multi-sensory tuition: Provides three terms of tuition (38 weeks) at £1500 per person
- Combined course: Provides three terms of tuition at £1,000 per person
- Independent Learning Package supports an adult or child at home for the long term at £500 per person
- The Specialist Tuition Courses at hourly rate of £70 an hour, can reach up to five or six beneficiaries over 10 weeks at a cost of £1050 helps up to 6 people.