I am raising £5000 by March 2027 to fund extra curricular activities in London schools for children who struggle to read. I will work with teachers I know to give children time in school to do things they are good at. The money will fund specialists to come into schools and run workshops. £50 will fund a cookery class for 5 children. £100 will fund dance classes for a child for 12 weeks!

I am a primary school teacher working in London, and I am also dyslexic. Like many children with dyslexia, I sometimes felt defined by the things I found difficult. I was humiliated by teachers again and again. Two examples really stick in my mind. The time I got 2 out of 100 hundred in a spelling test and the time the teacher held up my work and said ‘this child doesn’t know how to spell special-who doesn’t know that’-I was seven.

It’s something I still don’t disclose on job applications; and if you worked with me you probably wouldn’t know. I’m articulate, confident and organised. I succeeded academically and got top marks at university. I put this down to a school which let me succeed at non academic subjects, I escaped the classroom in dance class. I got to experiment with flavours and textures in food technology.

Drama class gave me a space in school where I felt confident, capable, and excited to learn. It gave me the confidence to speak well in other classes and value my opinion. I discovered that I had strengths that weren’t measured by a spelling test. That experience changed my relationship with school and ultimately helped me succeed.

Now, as a teacher, I see many children going through the same experience. I am a year 1 teacher. I see young bright, creative, curious pupils who struggle with reading and begin to believe that school simply isn’t “for them.” At age 5 I feel we have already taken their natural joy of learning. I spend hours preparing children for the phonics test, taking away time from subjects they thrive in.

A boy I used to look after at age 4 said ‘I don’t want to read; I'm the worst in my class’ At age 4! He is already losing the love of learning in the first year of school.

Those same children come alive in the art room, on the football pitch, or on a stage. Children who have reading difficulties often have other skills overlooked which are vital in today's society. That same 4 year old boy is an amazing leader; I see him in the playground making new friends and creating new games for everyone to play.

Extracurricular activities can be life-changing for these children. They provide confidence, joy, and a sense of identity beyond academic challenges. Unfortunately, many families cannot afford these opportunities either financially or with their time. I grew up with privilege where my parents happily paid for dance classes after school and had the time to drive me around to these.

This fundraiser aims to change that.

The goal is simple: to fund extracurricular opportunities for children in school time with reading difficulties. They can discover what they love and feel proud of what they can do. Whether it is joining a drama club, cooking classes, sports coaching, or attending an art class, these experiences can transform how a child sees themselves and their place in school.

I will work with schools and teachers to ensure the right children get support.

School should be a place where every child has the chance to succeed and to shine. This fund exists to help make that possible.