sarah, an eight year-old girl who has dyspraxia annual

ISSN 1462-9569

Annual Review

2004/2005

DYSPRAXIA FOUNDATION recognising developmental

“Everyone says I’m stupid but I know I’m not. I wish someone could understand what it’s like to

be me. I feel so fed up and lonely.” Sarah, an eight year-old girl who has dyspraxia

Front Cover: Hampshire Support Group. An adventurous day out at Alice Holt Forest Berkshire Support Group. Dragon Boat Racing. 14 children and 4 parents; the hardest thing was getting them in the wet suits. Page 11: Focus on the Berkshire Group “Our champion ‘long rope skipper’ has reached over 50 from a starting point of not being able to jump with two feet together. It makes it all worthwhile.”

DYSPRAXIA FOUNDATION Registered Charity No: 1058352 Company limited by guarantee, registered in England No: 3256733 Co-Founders Stella White Marilyn Owen The Board of Trustees Chair and director Pam Williams Dip. CST M Sc MRCSLT (Reg) HPC (Reg) Vice chair and director Michèle Lee GradDipPhys MCSP HPC (Reg) Honorary Treasurer Richard Yates Adult adviser Alex Gowing-Cumber Trustee and director Patricia Pullen RGN ( Resigned June 2004) Adult Group Rep Adrian Whyatt (Resigned June 2004) Local Co-Ordinator's Rep Linda Staddon (Appointed September 2004) Trustee Madeleine Portwood BSc MSc C Psychol Trustee Wendy Fidler Mont.Dip.(Hons) MEWI MCMI DMS AI RgNI CCI CMed Trustee Barbara Hunter Trustee Isobel Rathbone (Resigned June 2004) Honorary president Denise Robertson Patrons Dr Ian McKinlay BSc MB ChB DCH FRCP OBE Dr James Appleyard MA MD FRCP FRCPCH General manager and Company secretary Eleanor Howes Advisers Paul Wassell IT Tricia Pullen Personnel/Health & Safety National Office Team Eleanor Howes General Manager Janet Hayes Personal Assistant Elaine Rogers Membership and Local Groups Jane Trowbridge Admin Assistant Registered office 8 West Alley, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 1EG

Dyspraxia Foundation

Aims and Objectives The Dyspraxia Foundation was founded in 1987 by two mothers who met at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children. It changed its name in 1996 to Dyspraxia Foundation and became a company limited by guarantee. The Foundation is a national registered charity with its headquarters in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. The charity acts as an information and resource centre for those wishing to learn more about the condition, it’s diagnosis and treatment. It’s primary aim is to promote awareness and understanding of dyspraxia. The objects for which the Company is established are to relieve the condition of Dyspraxia among people and in particular children and young adults who are Dyspraxic in that they suffer from developmental co-ordination disorder or difficulties. The Foundation: publishes leaflets, books and guides for parents , those who have dyspraxia and professionals; organises conferences and talks about dyspraxia and related topics for parents, carers and professionals: facilitates a database of members and a network of local groups around the UK supporting families and those affected by dyspraxia.

Local Co-ordinator, Jacqui Barnes writes...I still remember the first time I contacted the Foundation and spoke to the Berkshire Co-ordinator. The relief of talking to some one who understood was tremendous. I attended my first national conference and met other members who are friends still. I later became a volunteer Local Co-ordinator myself and although awareness is growing, I still get calls from desperate parents who are relived to find they are not alone and someone understands. It has been helpful to be part of our local group; to go out with people who are not going to comment on food on the floor; tantrums; things that make our youngsters stand out in a crowd. There seems to be less problems when we do things together and our kids are more aware and considerate of each other. Parents can relax, rather than be constantly on edge waiting for comment or complaint. Having a good time builds self esteem for children and parents. Our children have grown up knowing they are not the only ones who feel the way they do. Our young adults now face new challenges; this is why we are helping to organise a one day event in November. See Page 12, A Mother’s Story

The Foundation helps teens and young adults

The Dyspraxia Foundation and the Berkshire Support Group plan to host a one day event to help teens and young adults. A must for parents, carers, those affected and anyone with an interest in specific learning difficulties.

Moving from adolescence into adulthood is aimed at 16 plus and will offer practical advice and strategies for the transition from teens into adulthood and cover diagnosis and assessment; social skills; dyspraxia in the workplace; disclosure; benefits and services. The day will include lunch, information exhibition and resources. Speakers include Patron, Dr Ian McKinlay, Jo Todd of Key 4 Learning and Anne & Jim Taylor of Dyspraxia Connexion. Foundation Adult Adviser, Alex Gowing-Cumber will present plans for a series of weekends and useful toolkits for teens and adults with dyspraxia.

Saturday, 12 November 2005 Reading Town Hall, Berkshire

Dyspraxia is surprisingly common in both children and adults. It is a hidden condition, which is sill poorly understood. The Dyspraxia Foundation is committed to making the teaching and medical professions more aware of dyspraxia and improving understanding of how those who have the condition can be helped. What is dyspraxia? Dyspraxia is generally recognised to be an impairment or immaturity of the organisation of movement. Associated with this may be problems of language, perception and thought. Other names for dyspraxic include Clumsy Child Syndrome; Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD); Minimal Brain Dysfunction: Motor learning Difficulty; and Pereceptuo-motor Dysfunction. Problems include: Perception People who have dyspraxia tend to have poor understanding of the messages that their senses convey and difficulty in relating those messages to actions. Thought There may be difficulty in planning and organising thoughts. Movement Physical activities are hard to learn, difficult to retain and generalise, hesitant and awkward in performance.

Speech and language Speech may be immature or unintelligible in early years. Language may be impaired or late to develop.

For some children, the primary difficulty is in making and co-ordinating the precise movements, which are used in the production of spoken

language, which results in severe and persisting speech production difficulties. The condition is termed developmental verbal dyspraxia: it may occur in isolation or in conjunction with general motor difficulties. Up to 10 per cent of the population may show symptoms of dyspraxia; and 2 per cent are severely affected by the condition. Of those diagnosed, 80 per cent are male. Early recognition of dyspraxia enables a child’s special educational and social needs to be identified. Action can then be taken to reduce the impact of this condition on their whole family. What causes dyspraxia? For the majority of those with the condition, there is no known cause. Current research suggests that it is due to an immaturity of neurone development in the brain rather than to brain damage. People with dyspraxia have no clinical neurological abnormality to explain their condition.

Dyspraxia Explained

“My writing is messy My drawings are too I don’t like my paintings I wish I was like you” Poem by Tom, ten year–old boy who was dyspraxia

How would I recognise a child with dyspraxia? The pre-school child Is late in reaching milestones e.g.

rolling over, sitting, standing, walking, and speaking.

May not be able to run, hop, jump, or

catch or kick a ball although their peers can do so.

Has difficulty in keeping friends; or

judging how to behave in company. Has little understanding of concepts

such as ‘in’, ‘on’, ‘in front of ’etc Has difficulty in walking up and down

stairs. Poor at dressing.

Slow and hesitant in most actions.

Appears not to be able to learn

anything instinctively but must be taught skills.

Falls over frequently.

Poor pencil grip.

Cannot do jigsaws or shape sorting

games. Artwork is very immature.

Often anxious and easily distracted.

The school age child

Probably has all the difficulties

experienced by the pre-school child with dyspraxia, with little or no improvement.

Avoids PE and games

Does badly in class but significantly better on a one-to -one basis.

Reacts to all stimuli without

discrimination and attention span is poor.

May have trouble with maths and

writing structured stories. Experiences great difficulty in

copying from the blackboard. Writes laboriously and immaturely.

Unable to remember and /or follow

instructions. Is generally poorly organised.

Where can I go for help? The Dyspraxia Foundation can help you to find sources of support in your area. It publishes a range of leaflets, booklets and books on aspects of the condition – call 01462 454986.

For pre-school children Talk to you GP and Health Visitor: they can refer your child to a paediatrician or a Child Development Centre. The appropriate psychologist, physiotherapist, speech and language therapist or occupational therapist can then assess your child for dyspraxia.

For school-age children Talk to your GP, school nurse, school doctor or Special Needs Co-ordinator who can make referrals for assessments. Hospital referral may be required for special tests or treatment. There is useful information in the Department for Education and Skills booklet “Special Educational Needs: A guide for parents and carers” – call DfES Publications: 0845 60 22260 for a copy.

For adults Problems experienced in childhood may continue into adulthood. Initial contact should be made with your GP who may refer you to a clinical psychologist, consultant neurologist, physiotherapist or occupational therapist. What about the future? Although dyspraxia is not curable, children with the condition may improve with growing maturity. Symptoms in children and adults can lessen if they are given appropriate treatment and advice on practical actions to minimise the day- to- day difficulties that their dyspraxia can cause. What does the Dyspraxia Foundation do? The Dyspraxia Foundation is a charity, founded in 1987 as the Dyspraxia Trust by two mothers who met at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children in 1996 the charity changed its name to the Dyspraxia Foundation. The objects of the Dyspraxia Foundation are: To support individuals and families

affected by dyspraxia To promote better diagnostic and

treatment facilities for those who have dyspraxia.

To help professionals in health and

education to assist those with Dyspraxia To promote awareness and understanding

of dyspraxia.

• The Foundation is run by a fewer than six full-time equivalent paid staff and is supported extensively by volunteers. Its work is funded entirely by voluntary donation and membership subscriptions.

The Foundation Publishes leaflets, booklets, books

and guides for parents, those who have

dyspraxia and professionals. Organises conferences and talks about

dyspraxia and related topics for parents, carers and professionals.

Supports a network of local groups

across the United Kingdom. Supports a group for adults who have

dyspraxia.

Membership

Members of the Dyspraxia Foundation receive:

The opportunity to join a local

support group A magazine Dyspraxia News

published twice yearly Professional members receive a copy

of The Professional Journal. The Annual Report

Reduced rates for the Foundation’s

publications and events

Membership details are available on our website or call 01462 455016 to join.

www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk

A word from the Chair

This year has been a more stable year financially and we have seen an encouraging rise in donations and fundraising. A successful application to Awards for All and the Garfield Weston Foundation by National Fundraiser, Andrew Coutts has enabled the Hitchin office to at last update their antiquated IT system. We now have the right office systems in place to move forward as a professionally managed charity and support our plans for a new website. A further award from Lloyds TSB means we have been able to commission website designers, t-morph to completely redesign www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk with the facility to take online subscriptions, trading and donations providing an improved service and generating increased income. The Hitchin office continues to work tirelessly to respond to the sheer number of requests and enquiries received from families, local groups, volunteers, statutory bodies and the media. Whilst our small team receive a huge number of requests for information by post and growing number of calls to the helpline, the number of enquiries over the internet continues to increase with over 5,000 emails received over the past twelve months. Help for the Helpline comes from the charitable arm of the Marchday Group, a property development company based in London. Director, John Orchard recently paid a visit to the Hitchin office to discuss awarding the Foundation £6,000 to help fund this vital resource. The Marchday Group chooses to support small and start up charities over several years and we fit their criteria perfectly. The Helpline receives over 5000 calls each year and is manned from 10am – 1pm, Monday to Friday. Most calls are from parents desperate for advice on how to get a diagnosis; education issues; looking for a therapist or school or just for someone to listen and empathise.

Whilst the Foundation has maintained a membership of 2,000 we are delighted to have seen particular growth in the Professional and Corporate subscriptions. This is extremely encouraging if we are to continue to promote awareness amongst Health and Education professionals. We now have 180 professional and 41 corporate members and each receive a copy of the Foundation’s Professional Journal. Our membership is vital if we are to offer a high level of service and we continue our efforts to promote and encourage new members to join. Events

During the past year, various events have promoted the work of the Foundation and provided vital information for parents and professionals. ‘Working Together’; our bi-annual two day conference for professionals was held on 12th and 13th November at The Beeches Conference Centre, Birmingham. It was a great success and certainly the highlight of our year. The programme featured talks on the bio medical approach to dyspraxia and other neuro-developmental disorders, othoscopics and visual disorders and the current research and practice in the treatment of dyspraxia. A wide choice of workshops each day covering health and education and presentations of posters and research papers added to the success of the event. Feedback was very encouraging and positive; one

‘Dyspraxia Friend’ is a scheme for donating on a regular basis by Standing Order. Supporters donate anything from £2 each month and our 82 friends provide us with income of £3,300 each year. We continue to encourage and promote this and other methods of funding our work.

delegate wrote – ‘This has been an excellent conference with thought provoking speakers. I have regained my enthusiasm and motivation’. Dyspraxia News continues to be full of information, events, hints, tips, book reviews, experiences and news for anyone with an interest in dyspraxia. Distributed twice yearly to members of the Foundation we would like to thank Hilary Robertson for volunteering to edit this regular newsletter. We hope to produce the newsletter in house and are actively seeking to funds to purchase the software package ‘Quark’ The Professional Journal is published annually and distributed to Professional and Corporate members. The Journal disseminates current practices, research and facilitates the continuing education for all professionals working with children and adults with dyspraxia. Our thanks to Michele Lee for editing this useful resource. ‘Moving from adolescence into adulthood’ planned for 12th November, 2005 will be a one day conference hosted in conjunction with the Foundation’s Berkshire Support Group. The conference is a direct result of the work undertaken by the Adult Working Party to develop our support for teens and adults. Under the leadership of Alex Gowing-Cumber, the group hopes to launch the first in a series of useful toolkits which will offer practical advice and help for everyday living. The event will be held at The Town Hall, Reading, Berkshire with practical advice and strategies for the transition from teens into adulthood. Future plans include further development of local services and co-ordinating and facilitating research into dyspraxia. Work of the Education Panel includes drafting criteria for dyspraxia friendly schools and the results of Maths Scheme which is currently being trialled in Co Durham. The Trustees will continue to seek suitable projects to support funding applications and have been encouraged by recent fundraising success for the IT system and the new website.

People and special thanks Our thanks for the continued support of Honorary President, Denise Robertson and to our patrons Dr Ian McKinlay and Dr James Appleyard. The Trustees remain indebted to the Hitchin team for their hard work and continued commitment over the year. With the support of volunteers they have met the huge demands placed upon our information and resource centre and we gratefully acknowledge the support of Carolyn Marsh, Beverly Worbey, Denise Morris, Barbara Demetriou and Wendy Love who join Eleanor Howes and the team at the Hitchin Office. The Executive Committee, employees, volunteers, local co-ordinators and contacts, advisors, and those on the various sub-committees have yet again worked tirelessly over the past year to support and promote the Foundation. I thank them all for giving their time freely help to help promote the Foundation and raise awareness of dyspraxia.

Pam Williams Dyspraxia Foundation Chair

Not clumsy, not naughty - Dyspraxic is the call for national Dyspraxia Awareness Day on 7th July 2005. This year, local groups all around the country will hold events to raise awareness and funds for those affected by the condition. Newly appointed Trustee, Hannah Carter who has many years experience in PR is co-ordinating press coverage and we look forward to this annual campaign’s continued success. As part of this year’s campaign, we are holding a national survey to raise awareness of dyspraxia. We will be announcing the results, which we hope, will give an insight into how it feels to be a child with dyspraxia or a parent of a child with dyspraxia.

Fundraising and sponsorship Fundraiser, Andrew Coutts has worked hard over the year to gain funds on our behalf from a wide range of Trusts and organisations whilst encouraging employers to make Payroll Giving available to their staff and for self employed to give through their self assessment return. A successful application to the BBC resulted in a Radio 4 Appeal last October to raise funds for the Foundation. We are extremely grateful to Honorary President Denise Robertson who wrote the script and recorded the appeal on our behalf and raised £2,700. Various clubs and individuals have supported us throughout the year including Mr and Mrs Holttum who asked for a donation to the Foundation in lieu of Ruby Wedding presents and Chris Allcock who organised a ‘dress down’ day at his place of work. Redhill & Reigate Golf Club kindly nominated the Foundation as their charity for the year and the ladies of the club collected over £2,000 to help print literature and leaflets to raise awareness of dyspraxia. Mum, Karen Miller faced her own fear of heights and took a tandem skydive from 12,000ft to raise £6000 after son Jason was diagnosed with dyspraxia. Karen said “This is something I wanted to do but never had the courage. It was fantastic and I was determined to do it for myself, Jason and the Foundation.” Lansons Communications, London decided to choose the Foundation as their charity for the year. Proposed by Sarah Whelband who has a brother with dyspraxia, Lansons donates 1% of its profits to charity each year and organises fundraising events throughout the year. The company has already raised funds by employees running in the Flora Light run and by holding a Christmas Fair. Running for dyspraxia is getting to be a habit and last year seven intrepid runners took to the streets of London to run The British 10K Road Race and raise funds for the Foundation. We were delighted to enter two husband and wife teams and thank David and Michelle Wilson, Nick and Samantha Debenham, David Evans, Allie Olszowska and Tammy Macleod for jointly raising over £3,000. Thanks also to Terry Borderick and Alastair Burns who entered the Flora London Marathon on our behalf. Between them they raised over £2,350 for the Foundation and to 15 yr old Elizabeth Wood for running 5K raising £76 from family and friends. Regular Dorset supporter, Lucille Dickinson again took to the streets and ran the 5 mile Milford Road Race raising £221 for the cause. At the same time the London Marathon began, Jeremy Dawes started his own challenge to row a 26 mile Marathon on a rowing machine at Marlborough Leisure Centre. His younger son, Nicholas 9, was diagnosed with sensory integration dysfunction in 2001 and the family wanted to do something for the Foundation after receiving help and advice. Jeremy raised over £3,000 and completed his challenge in 2hours, 55 minutes. A very big thank you to you all. In addition, the Foundation would like to gratefully acknowledge the following organisations and trusts for their generous support during the year:

Freemasons Grand Charity Cripps Portfolio Ormsby Charitable Trust Oakley Charitable trust Sir James Roll Charitable Trust Criffel Charitable Trust Madeleine Mabey Danes Hill School Neves Solicitors UK Birology Glaxo Smith Kline Huddersfield Medical Society Mrs E E Roberts Charitable Trust

Heaton Moor Ladies Probus Club Hitchin Property Trust Souter Charitable Trust Awards for All Garfield Weston Foundation Marchday Group Trust Sixty Three JTH Charitable Trust Albert Hunt Trust Curtis Charitable trust McClure Naismith

Foundation Local Co-ordinators and Contacts continue to work tirelessly to support parents, children, adolescents and adults in their area. They generously volunteer their time and energies to organise clubs, conferences and events, coffee mornings, talks, fundraising ventures and many produce a regular newsletter. They are the face of the Foundation and their presence alone raises the profile of dyspraxia amongst parents and professionals in the community. Their contribution to the Foundation is invaluable and their hard work very much appreciated. Run by volunteer Local Co-ordinators, the Foundation has groups in: Berkshire; Cambridgeshire; Cleveland; Cornwall; Co Durham; Derbyshire; Devon; Dorset; Essex; Gloucestershire; Bristol; Hampshire; Herts; Kent; Lancashire; Leicestershire; London; Oxfordshire; Manchester; Norfolk; Northants; Fife; Glasgow; Suffolk; Sussex; Tyne & Wear; Gwent; Swansea; Pontypridd; West Midlands; Yorkshire and Worcestershire. To find out about a group in your area or volunteer to help, call Elaine on: 01462 455016 or email: [email protected] In addition, the Foundation is pleased to work with the following groups to raise awareness of dyspraxia and share information and knowledge:

Working Together

Dyspraxia Connexion Nottinghamshire

DANDA, Developmental Adult Neuro Diversity Assoc UK

Dyspraxia Support Group of NZ New Zealand

Australian Dyspraxia Support Australian Dyspraxia Support

Dyspraxia Borders DCD Scotland

HACSG, Hyperactive Children’s Support Group Sussex

HDCD, Highland Developmental Co-ordination Disorders Scotland

Vale Dyspraxia Support Group Wales

The Dyspraxia Association Ireland

SAID, Support Awareness Information on Dyslexia Staffordshire

Quebec Dyspraxia Support Group Canada

Fantastic Dyspraxic Kids Lancashire

The Wellington Parent Support Group Somerset

Dyslexia and Dyspraxia Support Group Lowestoft

South Yorkshire Dyspraxia Support Group South Yorkshire

Shires Spectrum Support Group Oxford

North Lincs SEN Support Service Scunthorpe

Focus on the Berkshire Group

In 1998 we realised that exercise was going to be important for our dyspraxic children and with very long waiting lists for occupational therapy we needed to do something ourselves. Our children were not enjoying regular gym or trampoline sessions and we needed to find something suitable for their needs. Co-ordinators at the time, Shirley and Barbara, quickly discovered that what ever we did it was going to be expensive. Not only were occupational therapists scarce they were beyond our budgets! We needed funding! Shirley made a couple of failed attempts and then hit the jackpot. Berkshire Health Partnership Development Fund were very interested in our ideas. Things moved very quickly and with a grant of just over £7000 we booked school halls and employed an Occupational Therapist; we bought equipment and made scooter boards (we couldn’t justify buying them). Our SKILL sessions started in 1999. Each of the five 30 minute sessions catered for 4 children. Shirley and Barbara stepped back as Co-ordinators to spend more time managing the project. It was a phenomenal success. It was FUN! The benefits were beyond our expectations as well as developing their motor skills, children were making friends, talking, taking turns, learning new skills and building self-esteem. Parents benefited by meeting each other. We also started PGL Adventure Weekends and the children looked forward to going away with their friends. We now employ gymnastic coaches and assistants,

much cheaper than OT’s and easier to find. We adjust the groups by demand so we don’t have a waiting list. We are running four groups this term. We expected children to move on after a term or two but most have stayed three years, two children still attend after 5 years. We don’t set an age range we have had 4 to 14 year olds however the majority being aged 7 to 10 years. Parents contribute £3 per week but we felt

that children from poorer backgrounds were not accessing the group. Shirley applied for Lottery Funding to provide BASE (Balance, Agility, Speed and Efficiency) to all schools in a poorer area of Reading. We were awarded £5000 and each of the 10 schools welcomed the sessions.

Once the children had left SKILL we realised we needed to maintain their friendships. We needed somewhere they could meet and have fun. So in 2003 our Youth Club was started. Again we needed funding, Shirley made more applications and a radio community fund awarded a grant of £500. We hire a Youth Centre with a Youth worker and Shirley and Barbara work as volunteers to manage the club. Meeting fortnightly the group aged 14 to 21 enjoy activities such as pool, table football, table tennis, craft, board games or simply chat. It hasn’t been without sleepless nights but put simply, we just wanted to improve the lives of our children. We have found something they enjoy. Although we can’t take all the credit we are very proud of their achievements. Shirley McCaig, Berkshire Support Group

A Mother’s Story Stephen, our dyspraxic 17 year old, is looking forward to a month long expedition to Peru with World Challenge. He has come a long way from the child the Head teacher thought was incapable of learning any thing and was in the process of getting statemented for behavioural issues. Looking back now, there were signs that he was dyspraxic. He often screamed when he was laid on his back, which stopped the instant he was turned over and although he reached his milestones within “normal limits” there was always some thing different about the way he did them. Only saying the first half of words like button (but), tractor (trac); he ran like an accident waiting to happen; could not put on socks; had little control over pencils; scissors or any other objects he used; poor balance; often falling over; inability to stand or sit still; over-sensitive skin; lack of body awareness and poor muscle tone. We kept saying to the doctor and health visitor that Stephens’s co-ordination was not very good but they said he was OK, just give him plenty of exercise. We were referred to a paediatrician as part of the statementing process, who said there was nothing wrong with him i.e. Stephen did not have late onset Cerebral Palsy or the other neurological problems they were looking for. The school doctor put his problems down to him being over weight but he was also above the 105 percentile on the height chart for his age and is now 6’4”. The TASS team said there was nothing wrong with him. The Educational Psychologist picked up he has some specific learning difficulties but we had the impression everyone thought Stephen’s problems were all down to our parenting skills or lack of. The turning point came in his 2nd year when the Education Committee considering the Statement insisted that he saw an Occupational Therapist. A wonderful lady who spent an hour with Stephen before I joined them. She knew exactly what was wrong, “Dyspraxia” and spent the next half hour telling me the reason why Stephen did certain things and the problems he had with just coping with the world around him.

That day I felt truly blessed as that morning I had heard a talk at my local church by an Occupational Therapist about co-ordination problems in children and dyspraxia (she had been invited by a mum of a child with dyspraxia). By the end of the talk I was in tears; every thing she said was Stephen. The Head at his school moved quickly when she was told that Stephen actually had something wrong with him; she got in a Learning Support Assistant before the statement was approved. Receiving a diagnosis is such a relief but things did not improve over night. It has been a lot of hard work and frustration for us all. A referral to get Stephen’s eyes checked at the ophthalmic department discovered he had problems tracking and with convergence (the point when you see two when you bring you finger slowly towards you). At normal reading distances Stephen was seeing two sets of print on the page. We were given exercises to do every day which corrected the problem. He received two blocks of occupational therapy when he was 6/7 years old and we sent him to swimming, trampolining, horse riding and a Gym club organised by the local Dyspraxia Foundation group to improve his coordination and sensory integration. Things have improved although he does not have a good sense of balance, skills learnt in one area are not generalised, his pen grip is fisted rather than triangular, and his poor dexterity when handling tools scares me, he is always the one to cut or burn himself. As a family we decided that the more Stephen did with other adults the better, after a disastrous attempt at Boy’s Brigade – we were asked to remove Stephen. I called Carol at Beavers and told her all about the problems he had, she said bring him along. As a result he is now actively involved with Explorer Scouts. The leaders are aware he is different from most young people of his age but he is fully included. Recently he has been asked to help with a Scout group by his old

The Trustees continue to work tirelessly to pursue the Foundation's objects by developing the support and information provision available from the Head Office in Hitchin and encouraging provision of services by those local groups which are able to obtain sufficient resources. Head Office continued to find it difficult to respond to the sheer number of requests and enquiries received from families, local groups, volunteers, statutory bodies and the media during the year. However, since the year end our Fundraiser Andrew Coutts has been successful in obtaining three separate grants totalling approximately £13,334 to update our computers and redesign the Foundation web site, and a further award of £6,000 per year for three years to fund the telephone helpline. The Trustees are very grateful to Awards for All, Lloyds TSB Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation and the Marchday Group for this assistance, which will provide increased income through online trading and subscriptions as well as funding our other expenditure. The Norfolk Project has continued to provide a model of what can be achieved by local groups, and despite some setbacks has enabled the provision of valuable activities and support. The Trustees continue to include in future plans the further development of local services and a role in co-ordinating and facilitating research into Dyspraxia. The success of recent fundraising for specific projects has given encouragement to our belief that progress towards these aims will be possible, and that the Executive will continue to seek suitable projects to support funding applications. They have reviewed the reserves of the charity and concluded that to allow the charity to be managed efficiently and to provide a buffer for uninterrupted services, a general reserve equivalent to £100,000 should be maintained. This equates to approximately six months of unrestricted fund expenditure. The Trustees are working towards the necessary increase in funds to achieve this level of reserves. If you would like to support the work of the Foundation, please send a cheque (payable to Dyspraxia Foundation) or contact our office and ask for the fundraiser, Andrew Coutts.

Treasurer’s Report

Scout leader and take a junior leaders course. Carol and the other leaders who have seen Stephen grow up are so proud of him, as are we. He has been lucky to be at a school where they do not put league tables above the needs of the children. With hard work on their and Stephens part he has passed his GCSEs and is now studying A levels although he has found the transition to the more independent style of A levels hard. Stephen gets on with things, often impressing people by dealing with things better than many adults. We still get accused of being overprotective parents but like most teenagers Stephen is not always good at hearing or passing on information! Every day is a challenge and next on his list is learning to drive and independent living at college, where he wants to study Motor Sport Engineering.

The World Challenge Fun Run:

Stephen decided to walk 10m

carrying his full kit

DYSPRAXIA FOUNDATION Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 30 September 2004 The full report and accounts were approved and signed by the Trustees on 30 April 2005. Copies of the full accounts may be obtained from the Secretary at the registered office.

INCOMING RESOURCES

Income from charitable trading activities:

RESOURCES EXPENDED Costs of generating funds:

Charitable expenditure:

Unrestricted Funds

Restricted Funds

Total Funds 2004

Total Funds 2003

£ £ £ £

Donations and fundraising 103,589 – 103,589 96,158 Subscriptions 37,771 – 37,771 39,074

Grants receivable 9,789 48,021 57,810 58,980 Charitable trading income 32,061 – 32,061 31,880 Interest receivable 521 6 527 500

────────── ───────── ────────── ────────── TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 183,731 48,027 231,758 226,592

────────── ───────── ────────── ──────────

Fundraising and publicity 1,570 – 1,570 1,295

Support costs 137,075 58,301 195,376 183,166

Management and administration 40,429 673 41,102 38,975

────────── ───────── ────────── ──────────

TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 179,074 58,974 238,048 223,436

────────── ───────── ────────── ──────────

NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR 4,657 (10,947) (6,290) 3,156

Balances brought forward 34,612 14,219 48,831 45,676

───────── ───────── ───────── ───────── Balances carried forward 39,269 3,272 42,541 48,832

═════════ ═════════ ═════════ ═════════

Balance Sheet at 30 September 2004

FIXED ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS

FUNDS

These financial statements were approved by the members of the committee on 30/04/05 and signed by Pam Williams, Dyspraxia Foundation Chair

2004 2003

£ £ £

Tangible assets 9,325 7,654

Stocks 2,651 2,782 Debtors 3,840 1,260 Cash at bank and in hand 54,293 67,035

───────── ───────── 60,784 71,077 CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year (27,568) (29,899)

───────── ─────────

NET CURRENT ASSETS 33,216 41,178

───────── ───────── TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 42,541 48,832

───────── ───────── NET ASSETS 42,541 48,832

═════════ ═════════

Restricted 3,272 14,219 Unrestricted 39,269 34,613

───────── ───────── TOTAL FUNDS 42,541 48,832

═════════ ═════════

Independent Auditors’ Report to the Members of the Dyspraxia Foundation We have audited the financial statements which compromise the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet and the related notes. Opinion In our opinion the financial statements give a true and fair view of the charity’s state of affairs as at 30 September 2004 and of its incoming resources and application of resources in the year then ended and have been properly pre-pared in accordance with the Companies Act 1985. GODFREY LAWS & CO LTD, Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors, 69 Knowl Piece, Wilbury Way, Hitchin, Herts SG4 0TY

Dyspraxia Foundation

The Dyspraxia Foundation is a national registered charity financed entirely

by membership subscriptions and private donations. The Foundation has a national network of local groups offering support and a wide range of activities and maintains a service to over 2000 members. Members of the Foundation receive a copy of our bi-annual magazine ‘Dyspraxia News’ and a range of benefits to suit the individual.

The aims of the Foundation are: To support individuals and families affected by dyspraxia

To provide better diagnostic and treatment facilities for those who

have dyspraxia To help professionals in health and education to assist those with

dyspraxia To promote awareness and understanding of dyspraxia.

Contact us: Dyspraxia Foundation

8 West Alley Hitchin, Herts SG5 1EG

Tel: 01462 454986 Helpline 01462 455016 Administration

Fax: 01462 455052 www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk

[email protected]

sarah, an eight year-old girl who has dyspraxia annual

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