A Christmas Spark in Hull
This December, Dyslexia Sparks, Hull and East Yorkshire’s only dyslexia charity — lit up the city in a very special way by taking part in the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Tree…
Meet The Team
Specialist Dyslexia Services, Based in Yorkshire
Meet The Team
In 2016, Jane co-founded Dyslexia Sparks and has led the team ever since. With a Master’s degree in Occupational Psychology, she previously worked as a senior teacher at Dyslexia Action and as a lecturer at the University of Hull. Jane is passionate about helping people to develop – in all walks of life.
Holding a Level 7 Professional Diploma in Dyslexia and Literacy and an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC), Jane is one of the charity’s lead Dyslexia Assessors. She also delivers training and activity sessions for schools, and collaborates with businesses and organisations to help dyslexic individuals overcome barriers to success.
Jane shows continued determination in achieving the charity’s mission and considers herself very lucky to be meeting and working with fantastic dyslexic individuals every day!
With over 20 years of experience – including roles as a nursery manager, SENDCo, and speech and language specialist – she brings a deep passion for inclusive education. Her positivity, resilience and standout teaching continues to impress parents and support students every step of the way – she gets results!
Laura has been with the charity for 5 years and has recently passed her Level 7 qualification in Diagnosing Dyslexia: Assessment Practice and Reporting.
“Many students arrive at Sparks with low self-esteem and a lack of confidence in their abilities. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness their transformation as they develop learning strategies, begin to believe in themselves, and realise they are capable of achieving so much more than they thought possible.”
Rachel joined the team at the start of 2024. She hit the ground running and quickly made her mark with a sellout event within two weeks. Her background in agencies brings creative ideas and a strategic approach to all our marketing and events. Rachel is driven to make a positive impact by hosting accessible events, raising charity project funds and creating campaigns that empower those affected by dyslexia. Her enthusiastic approach, combined with her strong marketing skills, are set to drive the charity even further forwards!
Sam has been with the charity since its beginning, bringing ideas, passion, and experience to her role every day. As a dyslexic individual, she understands first-hand the dyslexic challenges that can impact learning, and uses this insight to offer empathy and guidance to those we support.
Sam plays a pivotal role in our services – providing diagnostic assessments, specialist tuition, and teacher training, while also leading our team of specialist tutors. She holds a Master’s in Professional Practice in Dyslexia and Literacy, alongside an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC).
“Teaching is not just about passing tests - it’s about empowering our students to achieve their goals, whatever they may be. That means teaching in ways that work for them, at a pace that suits them, with strategies that support where they are right now.”
Lauren joined Sparks in April 2024, combining her energetic and bubbly approach to learning with many years of experience of supporting students with special educational needs. Lauren’s Level 5 qualification in Specialist Dyslexia Teaching allows her to use specialist knowledge to develop the skills of dyslexic learners. Lauren fully embraces the Sparks’ values of compassion, care, and professionalism within a fun learning environment, and always does it with a smile on her face!
“Teaching at Sparks is an absolute breath of fresh air. The smaller scale allows me to tailor the learning to each student and really hone in on their individual needs. I feel very lucky to be able to witness their growth, not only academically, but also in areas such as confidence and self-awareness.”
Amanda is the first port of call for enquiries to Dyslexia Sparks. An integral part of the support services we provide, Amanda provides clear information and always delivers on her promises. Her conscientious and hard-working nature helps to ensure our charity offers the support that so many individuals need. Amanda joined Team Sparks in 2019 and has made a huge impact to the services we deliver. Definitely a woman to be celebrated!
Amy has achieved both Level 5 and Level 7 Professional Diploma in Literacy and Dyslexia, supported by her Assessing Practitioner Certificate (APC). As a Dyslexia Assessor, Specialist Tutor, and our Assistive Technology Lead, she plays a key role in advancing the charity’s work – helping us expand into digital support and empowering individuals through technology.
Amy’s kindness is evident in every interaction, and she consistently goes above and beyond to help others.
“Teaching allows you to inspire curious, lifelong learners, and witness students' growth as they gain confidence and master new skills.”
Helen joined Sparks having built up extensive experience within the education system. Her most recent role was as Deputy Head at a local school. With Sparks’ support, Helen achieved her Level 5 qualification in Specialist Dyslexia Teaching and brings passion and fun to all her lessons, as well as a hard-working nature. She is a fantastic advocate for dyslexic learners, and has taken on the role of lead for the Sparks Ambassador project.
“The approach to learning at Sparks is powerfully engaging, with every student discovering things for themselves in lessons, rather than just being instructed. I get the opportunity to teach in a truly personalised way, with time to see what each student needs to build upon.”
Meet Our TRUSTEE BOARD
Matt brings valuable leadership experience to his role as Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Alongside his role as Chair he currently sits on the Legal Leadership Team at Shawbrook Group serving as their Data Protection Officer and also acts as a Trustee for another charity.
He provides leadership to the trustee board in respect of strategic planning helping the charity fulfil its mission.
Matt has first hand insight into the challenges individuals face in employment and enjoys supporting dyslexic individuals and facilitating their development.
“Sparks has established itself as a leading provider for Dyslexic support in East Riding and I welcome the opportunity to help shape the future direction of the organisation.”
Dipti is a highly experienced human resources director, bringing expertise in transforming services and providing strategic perspective, advice, and long-term direction. She balances her commitment as HR Trustee alongside her role as Head of People at Unaric. Dipti's extensive leadership experience enables her to contribute meaningfully to our mission and policies - driving transformation, offering expert guidance, and supporting ongoing development opportunities across the organization.
“Becoming a trustee of Dyslexia Sparks would be profound opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of those with dyslexia. My interest in the charity stems from a deep commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where every individual can achieve their full potential.”
In 2022 Christine organised a neurodiversity webinar where she recognised the challenges her own daughter was experiencing. After arranging a full diagnostic dyslexia assessment for her daughter, she was able to gain some relief and “the support she would need to be able to simply feel equal to her peers at School.” Christine embarked on a journey through her daughters education, pushing for support, reasonable adjustments and finding practical tools to support her through her GCSE exams. “This journey led me to want to seek out how I could support others who are not neurotypical and their families and loved ones. I am extremely proud to be a Trustee and committed to sharing not only my professional skills in leading Marketing and Stakeholder Engagement to support Dyslexia Sparks but also raising awareness of neurodiversity to reduce the stigma and discrimination that unfortunately is prevalent in both education and the workplace.”
Brad has taken on the role of Treasurer for the charity, playing a crucial role in safeguarding the financial health and integrity of the organisation. He also ensures compliance and advises on financial and long-term sustainability strategies. With extensive experience leading finance teams and business leader - most recently at the Nottingham Building Society - Brad brings valuable expertise to guide our financial planning and resource management.
"The fantastic work and support the Sparks team provide is really empowering members of the community with dyslexia and creating a meaningful difference in their lives. I look forward to using the financial and business leadership skills I have acquired over my career, to support the team and enable Sparks to continue on its growth trajectory and allow it to help more and more people flourish."
As an individual who is dyslexic and who feels fortunate to have received great support throughout his formative years from family and professionals, Duncan joined the Trustee board to support the charity in its mission of helping other dyslexic individuals. Duncan brings his innovative problem-solving skills and experience of working with a range of stakeholders to help grow the charity, with a particular focus on helping the charity develop its strategy for the future.
"I was delighted to join Sparks as a Trustee and play a part in furthering the development of a charity which supports people to overcome the barriers they face being dyslexic. "As someone with dyslexia, I found the learning process difficult, and struggled to engage with during my education. I was fortunate however, to be assessed early and receive great support and engagement - which meant I had the confidence to take on exams and written assignments that may otherwise have felt out of reach. "This drives me as a Trustee - I want to ensure all individuals with dyslexia are supported in the right way and afforded opportunities so they don’t feel like they have to limit their ambitions be that in taking exams or perhaps overcoming other barriers they may face. "I get to work with great people (from Dyslexia Sparks and the other Trustees) and provide my time and knowledge to help shape a charity that has such impact for dyslexic individuals. I find it so humbling to hear of the work the charity delivers and the feedback from clients - so if a little bit of what I do helps on this mission I am very happy indeed!"
"I was delighted to join Sparks as a Trustee and play a part in furthering the development of a charity which supports people to overcome the barriers they face being dyslexic. "As someone with dyslexia, I found the learning process difficult, and struggled to engage with during my education. I was fortunate however, to be assessed early and receive great support and engagement - which meant I had the confidence to take on exams and written assignments that may otherwise have felt out of reach. "This drives me as a Trustee - I want to ensure all individuals with dyslexia are supported in the right way and afforded opportunities so they don’t feel like they have to limit their ambitions be that in taking exams or perhaps overcoming other barriers they may face. "I get to work with great people (from Dyslexia Sparks and the other Trustees) and provide my time and knowledge to help shape a charity that has such impact for dyslexic individuals. I find it so humbling to hear of the work the charity delivers and the feedback from clients - so if a little bit of what I do helps on this mission I am very happy indeed!"
