At our AGM in our Golden Anniversary year we were delighted to have two guest speakers.  Bertie Ballinger, who previously cycled for Bromsgrove to Hereford to raise funds for HWDA. Bertie, dyslexic himself, talked candidly about his struggles and successes associated with being dyslexic. 

Alice Hubbard, our second guest speaker was part of the Association for many years and we were enthralled to learn about how the association came about. Her profession as a nurse teacher dealing with people who had a Neurological Deficit brought Alice in contact with Psychologists, she became aware of the struggle going on nationwide with dyslexia. Laterly teaching at Evesham College, working with Les Kewley who was managing a Unit for people with Acquired Brain injury. Alice’s son is severely Dyslexic and his school’s SENCO was Les Kewley. 

Alice shared how Herefordshire and Worcestershire were very lucky to have three knowledgeable and determined people who were prepared to keep pushing the Government of the day to recognise Dyslexia as a handicap to learning. Victor Booth was Chief Inspector of English.Margaret Newton an Educational Psychologist and Tim Miles who was The Professor of Psychology at Bangor University. Between them they submitted many Green Papers which were rejected until eventually their recommendations were accepted and became a white paper and passed into law in 1981. In the meantime Victor was instrumental in setting up 9 dyslexia units in schools across both counties these were managed by Les Kewley. In addition to all this he was instrumental in establishing the RSA Diploma SpLD for tutors and teachers who were working in the field. Margaret Newton was the Chief Assessor of the Diploma. The first cohort of students graduated in 1986. Val Martin (who set up and ran the Worcester Workshop) was one of these.The course was run at two centres Evesham College with Grace McQuaid as tutor and at Watford with Violet Brand as tutor. 

From here many workshops came into existence, but all these years later we still come up against barriers which allow Educational Authorities to refuse children the right to personalised teaching.  

Alice shared she thinks HWDA should stand for Victor, Tim and Margaret who made the all this happen.

HWDA exists due to its highly experienced, passionate tutors and volunteers
many giving years, even decades of their time, Val Martin aforementioned, others after their own retirement from the Learning Support Teams at the LA,  Victoria Crivelli and Linda Adey ( supported by her husband Geoff) who retired after 30 years, to return recently when the charity was in need.  Victoria Crivelli, set up the previous invaluable support group in Worcester , with Frances Browne, educating professionals and parents alike, with guest speakers and their own knowledge and expertise, providing support, alongside theory. 

By Katrina Kear-Wood, Honorary President HWDA

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Alice was one of the early founders of HWDA in the late 1970s and gave a talk on the origins and history of our association.

Bertie has raised money for our charity through sponsored cycle rides and shared his family’s story on how dyslexia has impacted them – a story that will be very familiar to our families too.

There was a slideshow of some of the wonderful things HWDA has been up to since the last HWDA – a small snapshot of the work, fundraising and networking we do alongside the fun and learning! Click on the link to see the slideshow.

Linda Adey, Bromsgrove’s Senior Tutor, gave a moving tribute to Grace Shepherd who sadly died on April 1st this year. Grace, pictured with her family, (second from left) had been the Parent Rep and a stalwart of Bromsgrove Workshop for many years. This is Linda’s tribute:

There is a lot I don’t know about Grace, when she was born, a middle name. But what I do know has made me want to stand here today to celebrate the part of her life I did know about. 

Grace was a wonderful woman who was always at her husband John’s side. She would do anything to support her two sons who were severely dyslexic. Indeed, it was an anecdote about her eldest son that I included in my many talks about dyslexia (of course with Grace’s permission) – the clever boy, who at the age of nine, couldn’t spell his own name … and his name was Tim. This would always make the audience gasp, but I would always conclude that both he and his younger brother Will went to Loughborough university and gained first class honours degrees in Civil engineering. 

Grace was so very proud. 

I hope that as an adult Tim would take pleasure from knowing that those few words gave hope to thousands of families over the decades. 

I remember well when Will came back to the Workshop to give an inspiring talk to our study skills groups about Life After School, where (amongst other things) he remembered strategies he had learned at the workshop which had been so helpful. 

They say that a friend comes into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime! The first two describe my friendship with Grace. 

I think I first met Grace in 1990 across a table at an HWDA committee meeting. I do not recall her having a specific role on the Committee but she was proactive, full of ideas and always offering her time. She stayed on the committee long after her boys had left the Workshop and, even when she did retire from the committee, she would always support our special events and fundraisers.

Grace was my mentor.  In those early days, I was like many of you, a young mum with a dyslexic son. I was so worried.

I had just become Senior Tutor at our Bromsgrove Workshop. Grace’s boys were a few years older than mine so whenever I reached a hurdle, Grace had already mastered it and was happy to share her knowledge. This is something I have always tried to emulate. When talking to parents I remember well my search for someone with knowledge and a sympathetic ear. I would like to think that I have followed in Grace’s footsteps in this respect. 

I wish I could say that I had been Grace’s friend for a lifetime but our paths parted and life got in the way, but we continued to exchange Christmas cards and hers would always contain some encouraging words about my continued life with dyslexia. 

I was very sad to hear of Grace’s passing but not at all surprised that, even at the end, she remembered us by asking for donations for HWDA. 

Thank you Grace, and Rest in Peace. 

Linda has also paid tribute to Grace McQuaid, another key contributor to the development of the HWDA. Grace died last year but her legacy will live on in all she achieved.

This is Linda’s tribute:

Sadly, a very great lady in the world of dyslexia died last year. 

It is over a hundred years since the word dyslexia was coined to describe the difficulties experienced by those people who struggle with literacy. But still, in the early 1970s, there was no mention of it when I trained as a teacher. 

In 1976, a group of concerned professionals and parents formed the Hereford and Worcester Dyslexia Association to raise awareness, stand up to conventional thinking and improve the lot of dyslexics. 

Grace McQuaid was there. 

In her classroom she pioneered new strategies like Words in Colour, but realised that not all dyslexics were helped by the same methods. She came to understand that dyslexics were all different and needed different strategies to help them thrive. 

She also realised that there was no framework for training teachers how to teach these vulnerable children. And what’s more there seemed to be no one even looking at how this could be achieved!

So, encouraged by fellow HWDA committee member, Victor Booth who worked for Worcestershire LEA, Grace spent five years of her life putting together a training course for teachers, which became the RSA Diploma course for teachers of SpLD. 

In 1985 there were three pilot centres at Evesham, Harrow and Watford – the first courses of their kind in the UK, the gold standard. Over the decades, thousands of teachers (myself included) will have gone on to support hundreds of thousands of dyslexics, giving them  the chance of a better future. They all owe such a lot to Grace McQuaid. 

One of Grace’s students, Margaret Newton, went on to devise the Aston Portfolio and the Aston Index, a tool for teachers to assess their dyslexic pupils. Margaret too was instrumental in the growth and success of the young HWDA. 

Another of her students was Keith Holland. He founded the UK’s first in-house visual therapy clinic in Cheltenham, and also  the British Association of Behavioural Optometrists. He attended Grace’s course so that he would understand dyslexia and the children he was aiming to help.

Peter Blythe, who founded the Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology (INPP) in Chester in 1975, which assessed the links between early movement, primitive reflexes, and learning difficulties, also worked with Grace in Worcester forming assessment and support materials. 

As an Association, we will always be eternally grateful to Grace and her fellow pioneers who, only half a century ago, battled against convention to get some kind of justice for dyslexics. 

Grace’s legacy was phenomenal. 

Thank you to Ian, Grace’s son, and Frances, Grace’s friend and HWDA tutor, for filling in the gaps. 

Gallery of pictures from the AGM

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Please join us on Saturday 11th July from 2:30pm at the workshop’s site at Worcester Woods Countryside Park, WR5 2LG.

Bring your own picnic or enjoy a snack at the Orchard Cafe which is in the grounds of the country park.

Parking is free and there are lots of lovely woodland walks as well as a children’s play area.

This is a free event – all are welcome!

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There will be a Golden theme for our tree this year which links to HWDA’s upcoming 50th Anniversary. If you would like to make or donate a decoration for the tree, please get it to Bev Drinkwater, Senior Tutor Hereford. For further information please contact her at: seniortutorhereford@hwda.org.uk

We hope you will enjoy visiting the festival to see the brilliant decorations made by our students.

Thea made these beautiful decorations at home. Her felt Christmas mice, Rosie and Daisy, each have the most exquisite detail!

The students have been busy crafting their baubles and decorations. The precision work provides a good opportunity to put into practice spatial and design skills as well as developing fine motor skills.

The post HWDA takes part in the Christmas Tree Festival at All Saints Church, Hereford from 30th November 2025 appeared first on Hereford & Worcester Dyslexia Association.

There are lots of free events and activities throughout November at various schools and locations in Worcestershire so why not pop along and see what WPCF is all about! Below are details of what’s happening in November as set out on their Facebook Page, which you can follow here: (1) Facebook

This week marks the start of our SEND parent carers’ events, which WPCF are hosting in primary, first and middle schools across Worcestershire. In total 31 Worcestershire schools are involved in the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools programme. PINS aims to shape and improve whole school SEND provision, with a particular focus on neurodivergent pupils – diagnosed or otherwise. WPCF’s role is to amplify the voice of parent carers and support schools in developing their parental engagement. If you are a parent or carer to a pupil at a school involved in Worcestershire’s PINS, we’re looking forward to welcoming you to one of this week’s events. Join us at:

Whittington C of E Primary School Kid’s slime making 18/11/2025, 3.30pm

Leigh and Bransford Primary School Coffee, Cake & Conversation 19/11/2025,

Abbeywood First School A Guide to PINS 19/11/2025, 2pm

LEFS Bromsgrove Anxiety, Mental Health & SEND 19/11/2025, 8.45am

Nunnery Wood Primary School Coffee, Cake & Conversation 20/11/2025, 9am

Woodfield Academy Anxiety, Mental Health & SEND 20/11/2025, 9am

Beaconside Primary School Anxiety, Mental Health & SEND 21/11/2025, 1.30pm

The post Worcestershire Parent Carer Forum (WPCF) Brilliant Free Events Throughout November: Activities, Advice and Support appeared first on Hereford & Worcester Dyslexia Association.

Applications are open until the 9 January 2026. 
We will then contact applicants on a first-come, first-served basis to complete a booking pack. Eligibility will then be assessed once the pack has been received. Eligibility Criteria and Terms and Conditions apply: Find out more

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On Sunday 28th September 2025, Bertie set off from Bromsgrove Leisure Centre to cycle to Hereford to raise funds for HWDA. Students, families, friends and HWDA staff were there to wave him off with flags designed and made by Bromsgrove Workshop students. Bertie thought they were brilliant and was really happy that so many people had made such an effort to get up early and cheer him on his way!

Bertie’s friend Ben joined him for part of the ride to keep him company and his friend Marcus and his dad Wayne cycled the whole 42.4 miles with him (at an impressive average speed of 12.7 mph). They arrived at Hereford Cathedral at 1 pm and were greeted by Hereford Workshop tutors and trustees.

Bertie told us:

We thoroughly enjoyed our cycle. We had a great send off in Bromsgrove – I’ve been fundraising for years and have never had a send off like it!

Thank you to all who have supported Bertie and made a donation. So far Bertie has raised over £400 for HWDA. If you would like to make a contribution his Just Giving Page is still active at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/bertie-ballinger-4?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

I am raising funds in support of the Hereford and Worcester Dyslexia Association, a fantastic local charity dedicated to helping individuals with dyslexia.

As someone who has personally experienced the challenges of dyslexia, I find it quite fitting, and a bit ironic, that the word itself is so difficult to spell.

This cause is very close to my heart. By supporting this charity, we can help ensure that children growing up with dyslexia today receive the understanding, support, and resources that were often missing for many of us in the past.

Every contribution makes a real difference. Thank you for your support.

Bertie Ballinger

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A calculator designed for people with dyscalculia.

Dyscalculia is a neurodiverse learning difficulty that affects a person’s ability to understand, remember, and manipulate numbers and mathematical concepts. It is often referred to as “maths dyslexia” and can manifest as difficulties with basic arithmetic, understanding time, using money, and comprehending mathematical concepts and formulas. This condition varies in severity and often requires tailored educational strategies and interventions to help individuals manage and overcome their challenges.

You can follow the link to download the App: https://www.dyscalculator.app

Drawn to Numbers: A British Dyslexia Association Online Conference for Supporting Dyscalculia

The upcoming virtual conference will focus on using visual materials in the classroom to support maths learning, with an emphasis on practical tools already available and encouraging children to create their own visuals and drawings to support their understanding. There is a charge for this conference which is primarily aimed at teachers but please follow the link to register your interest:

https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/events/dyscalculia-conference-2025-drawn-to-numbers-empowering-children-to-understand-maths#:~:text=The%20upcoming%20virtual%20conference%20will,drawings%20to%20support%20their%20understanding.

Time

Tuesday 25th November 2025
1:00pm – 5:00pm

Location

Online
United Kingdom

This year’s Dyscalculia conference is designed to be an inspiring and effective event for all classroom based educators.  The conference will explore how visuals and creative methods can support children to better understand numbers and overcome maths difficulties, including anxiety. 

It aims to provide resources, practical strategies and approaches that will help educators feel more confident in empowering learners. The core topics explored will include, how to use imagery to show a better understanding of maths concepts, how creative maths teaching can support the development of maths, even in reluctant learners and how to foster a positive view of maths amongst individuals in a classroom setting.

The post Dyscalculia News: DysCalculator App – a calculator designed for people with dyscalculia & BDA Online Conference on Supporting Dyscalculia -25th Nov 1-5pm appeared first on Hereford & Worcester Dyslexia Association.

Massive thanks also go to the Hereford Workshop’s Parent Reps Kelly and Claire who co-ordinated setting up and running the stalls. Another big thank you shout out goes to Gemma Power of Carpigiani who provided us with the ice-cream making machine again. It was as popular at this year’s Fun Day as it was at last year’s and we had perfect ice-cream weather too!

Well done to all who took part in the Genius Challenge competition – the winners received their awards at the following Saturday’s Workshop. We hope you enjoy this selection of pictures from the Fun Day.

Congratulations to Dan who was this year’s Star and Square Genius!

Mary was runner-up in both categories.

Finn is this year’s Bee Genius.

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