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Really well done to WFDA Literacy and Touch-Typing student, Hugo. Pictured with Major Jeremy Fern TD DL, Deputy Lieutenant, receiving his Jack Petchey Achievement Award at the recent ceremony
Our thanks go to WFDA Numeracy students for providing the colourful decorations for our tree at St Peter’s-in-the-Forest Christmas Tree Festival 2025. To Katherine Hewlett for donating the tree and lights. They look fantastic!
WFDA Literacy and Numeracy pupil Clara and younger sister, Frida, selling cakes and toys during the summer holidays to raise money for WFDA’s ‘Do and Donate 2025’. A huge thank you for all your effort. What a great idea!
WFDA Touch-Typing pupil, Jonah, proudly displaying his WFDA ‘Do and Donate 2025’ Achievement Award for being our Top Fundraiser. A huge thank you for all your fantastic efforts raising money by playing the drums and piano. We are all very proud of you!
In 2024 the WFDA are a chosen charity for the Waltham Forest Mayor Sharon Waldron
Katherine lead for Adults service and Kenyah Nyameche Advocate at the Mayors Butterfly festival September 2024. Promoting the services of the WFDA
Classes
WFDA provides online literacy classes and face-to-face/in person numeracy classes for primary and secondary children. Any new referrals for these classes should go through WFDA’s Children’s Co-ordinator, Sheena Penfold, via email at childrens.coordinator@wfda.org.uk
WFDA Touch Typing Classes
WFDA deliver 2 x Touch Typing Classes at two separate locations on the following days and venues:
- Tuesdays at Henry Maynard Primary School, Maynard Road E17 9JE from 4.20pm – 5.10pm. The classes will run at this location every Tuesday during the school term time.
- Thursdays at Walthamstow School for Girls, Church Hill E17 9RZ from 4.10 – 5.00pm. The classes will run at this location every Thursday during school term time.
Cost: The classes will cost £8.00 per week and WFDA requires half termly payments to be made in advance of starting the classes.
Need to know: Our Touch Typing Tutor is also a qualified teacher who has run these classes for the past 17 years. She is keen to see all students achieve whilst having fun, learning along the way. The same Tutor will run the classes on both sites.
Please note: There is no parking or waiting area / reception at either school. Children can be dropped off at the entrance of the school and collected once the lessons have finished. Parking on the roads near each school is, however, an option but please do check for any permit signs before parking.
Class information: Classes will have a maximum of 12 x students, currently we have a few spaces available which will be on a first come first serve basis. If interest increases, then we will look at potentially running additional classes.
What do you need to do: If you are interested and would like your child to attend Touch Typing classes, please contact WFDA’s Children’s Co-ordinator, Sheena Penfold, via email at childrens.coordinator@wfda.org.uk
Practical Strategies for Work course
Dyslexia Ireland
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/dyslexiaireland/1751604
Practical Strategies for Work is a self-paced eLearning course developed by Dyslexia Ireland, tailored for adults with a dyslexic profile who are looking to build confidence and develop effective strategies to support their success in the workplace. A formal diagnosis of dyslexia is not required to participate.
The course is delivered through flexible, self-directed learning and includes the optional opportunity to attend live drop-in Zoom sessions with Dyslexia Ireland after you have worked through the course materials.
Course Access: Access to the course materials will be available from September 1st to December 31st, 2025. Enrolment will close on December 1st.
Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Use practical technologies and strategies to address common workplace challenges, such as reading and writing, organisation and time management.
- Develop a clear understanding of self-advocacy
Live Zoom Session Dates (optional):
- September 29th | 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
- October 22nd | 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
- November 26th | 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
- December 9th | 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Intended Audience: Adults with a dyslexic profile who wish to develop practical tools and approaches to navigate and thrive in a work environment.
Course Fee: €20 for Dyslexia Ireland members, and €30 for non-members
For more information please contact Caoimhe by email: comalley@dyslexia.ie
Neurodiversity week
10th April 2025 celebrating Neurodivergence in Leadership with the Waltham Forest Mayor Sharon Waldron
See the Adult Advocate programme of talks as shown on our partner charity web
The Adult Advocate Programme is a partnership project delivered by WFDA and AchieveAbility (AA). The purpose of the programme was to bring ND people together and build strong relationships across communities, and to enable more people to fulfil their potential . This project was from February 2022 to February 2024 and included screening for Adults. These sessions developed our Neurodivergent advocates into highly skilled speakers. The Adult Meetups and the Advocate work were programmes integrated for a sustainable future for adult work at WFDA. The nine advocates were drawn from a wide range of experiences and backgrounds.
All Advocates were assessed as being neurodivergent and their expertise covered fields such as: Town Planning, Well-being, Legal knowledge, Assistive Technology,Psychology, Social Work, Speech therapy, Social Media, Marketing and Retail.
The Neurodivergent Advocate Leadership Programme (NALP)
As from May 2024 to May 2025 we are delivering the Neurodivergent Advocate Leadership Programme (NALP). The project aims to develop leadership skills building on our successful Advocate project for wellbeing and strengthening ND communities. We have a set of six training sessions for Inclusive Leadership to equip Neurodivergent Adults to navigate employment with leadership skills. The training will strengthen self-awareness, emotional intelligence and skills for leadership with neurodiversity as a core value.
The Zoom sessions by the nine advocates will enable other ND people to train using this leadership approach –“Training the Trainer”. We plan to use our learning to shape future projects in Advocacy and Inclusive Leadership. This is a project that is building on our previous work around advocacy. This training will raise awareness of the unique perspectives ND adults have. Through advocacy and leadership, we aim to increase understanding of how effective ND leaders can be for neuro- majority colleagues. Their unique perspectives can contribute hugely to success whether in education, training.
Watch this space for the training films to be available as of February 2025
Adult Screening
Simply email us at admin@wfda.org.uk with your queries and/or referrals using the subject title ‘Dyslexia Screening Query’ and let us discuss the next steps in receiving the support that you deserve. Alternatively, you can call us on 020 8520 7370.
Child Screening
For Primary School aged screenings email Debra Lewis on debra.lewis@wfda.org.uk. Screenings will take place during school term-time.
For Secondary screenings contact Katherine Marshall on 07790 038 706 Monday – Friday between 10am – 8pm, or Saturday – Sunday between 2pm – 6pm.
The Helpline will run as usual.
Sir Jack Petchey CBE
WFDA have been saddened to learn of the death of Sir Jack Petchey CBE on 27 June 2024.
Sir Jack Petchey CBE led an extraordinary life, growing up in Manor Park, East London and leaving school aged 13 with no qualifications. His focused determination, combined with his entrepreneurial skills enabled him to build a multi-million-pound empire. However, Sir Jack Petchey was passionate about young people and dedicated his life to inspiring young people which is why his charity Jack Petchey Foundation was birthed in 1999.
The Jack Petchey Foundation has invested over £170 million in grants to support youth projects across London and Essex. Sir Jack entrepreneurial skills saw the delivery of a range of creative and innovative schemes for young people involving positive engagement in their learning, public speaking, dance, sport and music. The schemes all aim to boost aspirations by rewarding young people’s achievements and encouraging them to take pride in what they have done.
WFDA have been the recipient of the Jack Petchey Foundation Bronze Scheme Award for almost 10 years and have been able to award many of our students for their positive engagement and progress within our support classes. As a results our students have been encouraged and inspired to believe they can achieve. As a charity we have received funding to enable us to buy resources and hold celebration parties all of which promote positivity and hope amongst those who engage with the WFDA.
We want to take this opportunity to thank the Jack Petchey Foundation for their consistent generosity, support and belief in what we do here at WFDA – supporting young people to believe they can achieve! Thank you, Sir Jack Petchey CBE, your legacy will continue to live on for many years to come!
Karen Sparkes
WFDA Children’s Programme Manager
Benjamin Zephaniah
Click here to read our tribute to Benjamin Zephaniah
WFDA featured in British Dyslexia Association ‘Contact’ Magazine
