On Friday, Princess Beatrice met with local school children who are assisted by Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity, before calling into the founder’s house for tea.
She met with children from across Farnham, to hear how the specialist 1:1 tuition they have been receiving from the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity Centre has helped them to find new ways forward that work around their dyslexia and play to their strengths.
The Centre works with both children and young adults suffering from dyslexia and teachers to educate them on how to adapt their methods to help dyslexic students.
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Beatrice became a patron of the charity in 2013. It is an issue she is extremely passionate about due to her own experience. Diagnosed with dyslexia at seven, Beatrice received specialist help from the centre during her schooling years.
Pearl, nine, who greeted Beatrice on arrival with a posy of flowers, said: “I was so excited to meet a Princess. She was really nice and told me that my dyslexia means I think differently in a way that can be very useful”.
She also met with Matilda, 12, who explained how her one on one sessions with centre volunteer Ginny, helps her make the most of her abilities.
“We are just looking at how it helps me to draw mind maps, to help me organise my thoughts and ideas better”, said Matilda.
“The Princess told me that she finds this useful too, and that she still uses tips that she learnt from her Helen Arkell tutor when she was my age. I told her that I might struggle at some things at school but I’m really good at triathlons. And I like cars. So Princess Beatrice thinks I might be a brilliant racing driver one day!”
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Following the visit, Beatrice visited the home of the charities founder Helen Arkell, 98.
Mrs Arkell founded the charity in 1971 after overcoming her own struggles with dyslexia. She was awarded an MBE in 1999. Her charity has assisted thousands of young people who have struggled with the learning disability.
Beatrice also joined Mrs Arkell and her son David for a tea party.
David said: “She [Princess Beatrice] is such an inspiration and wears her dyslexia with pride – she’s a brilliant ambassador for this charity. My mum was a pioneer in her day, breaking new ground in the field of dyslexia, and setting up this charity to help more people. She is so delighted that the charity is going from strength to strength”.
It is estimated that up to one in eight school children in Britain may suffer from some form of dyslexia.
