GREEN LIGHT FOR INDIGO!

The Indigo Dyslexia Centre, which provides support and guidance for dyslexic adults and children, has become one of the first services in the field of dyslexia to gain Investors in People Recognition. The award was presented at the Charing Cross Centre in Norwich by Elaine Johnson, managing director of The Assessment Network, the Investors in People (IiP) Centre for the East of England, who worked with them to achieve accreditation.

[ClickPress, Mon Aug 06 2007] The Indigo Dyslexia Centre, which provides support and guidance for dyslexic adults and children, has become one of the first services in the field of dyslexia to gain Investors in People Recognition. The award was presented at the Charing Cross Centre in Norwich by Elaine Johnson, managing director of The Assessment Network, the Investors in People (IiP) Centre for the East of England, who worked with them to achieve accreditation.

Indigo was set up in November 2003 and currently have 20 volunteers who engage with over 400 people over a 12-month period. Run as a drop-in centre, many of the adults visiting are self-referrals. Historically, dyslexia was seen as only affecting children, but it actually affects each sufferer throughout their life, starting with education and going on to employment. Indigo provides a holistic role, from cradle to grave.

Jenny Parsonage is chair of the Centre and explained why they had decided to work towards IiP status. “We are part of the learning system dealing with people with special educational needs, so we also spend a great deal of time communicating with specialists and volunteers who offer many different skills including psychology, education, health, physiology, diagnostic, counselling and befriending. We needed a business framework which was robust but flexible and provided the processes and systems which would allow everybody to work together.” She continued. “We are also publishing a new model of excellence for dyslexia and needed to demonstrate that our people are well trained to deliver this new model.”

To ensure The Assessment Network understood the specialist needs of dyslexics, Jenny sent them a technical definition about the type of symptoms they managed. Dress is very important and suits are not allowed as they would intimidate, so the assessors made sure they arrived casually dressed.

The Assessment Network then designed a customised framework, which still provided best practice through written work, but also took account of the huge need for verbal work through one-to-one sessions, as many of Indigo’s volunteers are also dyslexic. One important point, which had to be factored into the processes and procedures assessment, was that everything had to be written in 14 point arial font for clarity.

Indigo began working towards accreditation in 2006 and achieved it in June 2007. The Assessment Network’s Elaine Johnson was full of praise for the organisation and said: “The whole team have obviously embraced the IiP business improvement framework. There is now a clear vision and holistic approach for providing a first-class service for people with dyslexia. This is supported by fully trained volunteers who now feel empowered, and are eager to propose and initiate new ideas to take the business forward. A new officially accredited level 3 training programme for volunteers has also been designed, and is now being used as a benchmark for others.”

Jenny was keen to point out that IiP is not just for the big boys. “In a previous post I was CEO of an NHS Trust where we gained IiP. The process was as difficult to achieve for Indigo as for the Trust, so there is no quarter given to smaller organisations, and nor should there be. The accreditation is as worthy to us as it was to the Trust. “

Norwich MP Dr Ian Gibson was also at the presentation and expressed his delight at Indigo’s achievement. ““Now that Indigo has attained IiP the kudos that it brings will help them access business and government funding and support, which would not have been available without the accreditation. The work of the Indigo Centre has rapidly increased due to the enthusiasm, determination and innovative skills of the staff. I firmly believe that the centre will now move forward and reach the large number of people who require its advice and support.”

Jenny believes the secret of success is to choose the right IiP partner who really understands what you are trying to achieve. “I would wholeheartedly recommend The Assessment Network to other charities and small organisations considering IiP. Everybody I came into contact with were extremely knowledgeable and helpful. They were also ‘fast and friendly’; by that I mean they didn’t waste time, when I needed help and advice they responded immediately. Now we have a proper business framework in place, our plan for 2008 is to replicate our model of excellence and our strategic plan is towards business growth and development.”

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Date: Aug 2007

For more information about The Assessment Network or Investors in People Standard Tel 01480 479222

For more information about Indigo please contact Martin Parsonage, INDIGO Dyslexia centre, 17 – 19 St John Maddermarket, Norwich, NR2 1DN
Tel: 0845 347 9322 email: indigo@dyslexics.com www.4dyslexic.com

For media information contact Val Jefferys, Ultimedia Public Relations
Tel: 01767 601470 E-mail: val@ultimediapr.co.uk

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