West Berkshire Dyslexia Association was started by a group of volunteers in 1983*
Established by Gill Shackleton-Jones, the was association started by a meeting at Gill’s house, following an article written for the Newbury Weekly News. The group set up a Saturday school as part of Berkshire Dyslexia Association, as it was known then. The school consisted of 3 teachers and 10 pupils and grew in a successful enterprise.
Many of the teachers worked full-time elsewhere, and parents pitched in. Together, teachers and parents helped to fundraise to keep the school going. At the height of its success, the school had a waitlist. However, sadly as the school closed down in 2010, the knock on effect has been that the organisation has also struggled. There has been a general lack of interest to support West Berkshire Dyslexia Association and it is now set to close.
The only remaining DA in Berkshire is the Windsor, Maidenhead, Slough and Bracknell Association as well as the Adult Dyslexia Centre in Thames Valley. West Berkshire Dyslexia Association would like to say thank you to everyone who has previously helped in any way, it has been invaluable.
*This article has been adapted from one with the same name published in September issue of Dyslexia Contact.