Celebrating our volunteers

This year, in volunteers’ week, we want to celebrate all of those who are part of the team – from our formal volunteers making a difference at national and local levels to those that volunteer to speak at events, respond to Helpline enquiries, write articles, record podcasts or actively collaborate to initiate change and raise awareness.

Dyslexia Scotland is a team – a team of many people who freely give their time, skills, and passion to inspire and enable dyslexic people to reach their potential. A team who are leading the way in making Scotland a country that values the skills and talents of those with dyslexia.

This Volunteers’ Week Scotland, we thank them all and look forward to continuing together on our journey to a dyslexia-friendly Scotland.

Our Team

Helpline

Six trained and experienced volunteers manage our Helpline 5 days a week alongside our staff, answering 2000 calls each year, helping make a positive difference to the lives of those with dyslexia every single day.

Ambassadors

Our high-profile volunteer Ambassadors, representing different parts of Scottish society, raise awareness of the issues faced by people with dyslexia.

Young Ambassadors

Our volunteer Young Ambassadors, aged 14 – 25, raise awareness of the experience of young people with dyslexia in education and in their early careers at conferences, in the national media, and at government level. Together they encourage and inspire young dyslexic people to reach their potential.

Speakers, writers, podcasts

In just the past 12 months, 42 Branch and national events volunteers have prepared and presented talks, training and workshops at one or more Dyslexia Scotland events. Volunteers have written 75 articles for our quarterly members’ magazine and recorded 6 podcasts.

Branches

Our 18 Local Dyslexia Scotland Branches across Scotland raise awareness through talks on a variery of topics related to dyslexia. They offer a friendly space for people to know that they’re not alone. These Branches are entirely run by volunteers and always looking for new members to become part of their local team.

Changemakers

All those who volunteer to take small steps or giant leaps to raise awareness or initiate change in their place of study, workplace or community are taking us further down the road to a dyslexia-friendly Scotland. These are our ‘Changemakers’.

Practical support

Without our team of volunteers who help us practically, we would have no podcasts, no Dyslexic Student Networks or Dyslexic Adult Network meetings, no Branch events, no resource centre and uncompleted office tasks.

Fundraising

We thank those individuals, families, teams and companies who have volunteered to walk, cycle, or run, those who have fundraised through triathlons or reading challenges, and those who have arranged coffee mornings and quizzes to raise money to make a difference to the lives of dyslexic adults and children and young people across Scotland.

Board

As with all charities, our board of trustees are volunteers. We are lucky enough to have a board of highly experienced professionals from different walks of life who share the drive and passion to inspire and enable dyslexic people in life, learning and work and create a dyslexia-friendly Scotland.