The Dyspraxia Foundation has been proudly supporting dyspraxic people of all ages since 1987. Our vision is a world in which dyspraxia is understood and where dyspraxia is not a barrier to opportunity and fulfilment, and our mission is to enable all children, young people, and adults with dyspraxia (in England & Wales) to reach their full potential at every stage in life.
Today Dyspraxia Foundation answers approximately 10,000 enquiries and distributes more than 20,000 leaflets about the condition, annually. The Foundation seeks every opportunity to increase understanding of dyspraxia, particularly among professionals in health and education and encourages its local groups to do the same. Dyspraxia Foundation carries out charitable activities to both directly and indirectly help people with dyspraxia (also known as developmental coordination disorder – DCD), their families and professionals working with them. We have organised our activities into four programme areas,ensuring our time and resources are directed to have the greatest benefit for dyspraxic people of all ages and those who live or work with them. Our programme areas are:
• Information and advice
• Community support
• Professional resources
• Advocacy and awareness
Programme activities are underpinned by a strategy of effective governance, ensuring that we comply with the law and relevant regulations, and ensuring a culture focused towards achieving our vision.
Dyspraxia/DCD is a lifelong condition that is poorly understood, affecting 5% of children, 2% severely. Difficulties continue into adulthood in most cases. The provision of services and support for people with dyspraxia/DCD varies across the UK and is particularly lacking for teenagers and adults. Evidence indicates that while dyspraxia/DCD can affect a person’s long-term physical, social, emotional, and economic well-being, early intervention can reduce the impact of the condition, promote self-management and reduce the need for future support.
We are a national charity small in size yet large in ambition, and we have a highly-committed and hands-on board, roughly half of whom have dyspraxia, including our chair who is one of the youngest charity chairs in the country.
Why the Dyspraxia Foundation is supporting Boardroom Apprentice
As a board, we are passionate about continually seeking to be the best we can be. We are highly committed to what we do and our board plays an integral and to some extent hands-on role in the running of our overall organisation. We are committed to giving others opportunities to play their part in trusteeship, including those who may not be the typical profile of a trustee. Our Chair, Jonathan Levy, is one of the youngest charity chairs in the country, and we have other relatively young trustees too, who joined our board without prior experience in governance or leadership. Each board member has benefitted from their experience, and our efforts absolutely make a difference in setting the strategic direction and overseeing the smooth running of the organisation. Currently, this is a particularly exciting time to get involved as we have recently appointed a new Chief Executive Officer, who will be joining us later this year. They will be replacing a postholder of 30 years so this will be a huge change, but one that the whole organisation is excited about and ready for. We are clear about what we want to achieve, and we have recently approved a new organisational business plan for the next three years. The boardroom apprentice who joins us will certainly be welcomed and made to feel comfortable, with sufficient support from the chair, other members of the board, and our operational team.
Location of Board and Committee Meetings
Most meetings held online via Zoom every two or three months, same with the finance committee which currently meets every month. We also hold a whole team (board and staff) away day in person once a year.
Frequency and timing of board/committee meetings
Board and committee meetings are held every two or three months online using Zoom, usually between half six and eight in the evening.
Date of Board Meetings (January 2024 – December 2024)
To be confirmed but likely to be in January, March, May, July, September, and November
Committee of the Boards and meeting dates (January 2024 – December 2024)
To be confirmed but the finance committee currently meets online each month on a weekday evening between seven and eight.
