The Cascade Foundation meeting
The Cascade Foundation was to have their first meeting at Sue’s Blackburn house in Leigh-on-Sea on 17 January 2020.
It started off a really cloudy dull day but by 11 o’clock the sun was shining. We had a great turn out of 17 people, some offered to become volunteers, all with a range of skills to offer, such as tutoring in literacy skills, bid writing, or dealing with helping people back into work. They were keen to hear what Cascade had achieved and what we had to offer.
We opened the discussion on the divide between the north and south. I spoke of the 10-mile radius within the north which consisted of 4 prisons and 5,000 prisoners we set out to help. The pre-entry levels of education within the prisons, schools and community were astounding.
We then discussed funding, which had become the main issue, leaving us working on a shoestring. We could not give up on those who could not read, write or understand their neurodiversity.
We spoke about the new TV project with Sandi Toksvig and hoping that this experiment with 8 learners will show what it is like to live with poor literacy skills. Our beautiful poem written about Christmas at the Cascade Hub by Matt Abbott was read by Ann Vann. Rebecca Harris MP wrote an article in our local paper saying ’She was so proud to be our patron’. This was brought in by Fred.
Our first meeting was a success and I was filled with relief after eight years of fighting for this project, knowing I was now going to get help with so many caring people.
At the time people were asking what was going to happen at this meeting and I was unsure at this point what was the next step for Cascade. The Trustees decided that it was time to come back to Essex to refuel, to write our report ‘Dyslexia Behind Bars II‘ Final report of the co-production Teaching Mentoring and Coaching within Doncaster prison and community – covering the last 6 years of our work.
I have taken the decision to find employment within the care system, and our research showed that 45% of our prisoners and ex-prisoners had come through this system. The research has also shown that there are many new companies taking on the challenge of trying to help youngsters with Neurodiversity. In the new review by Lord Laming it states that ‘Children in care are six times more likely to be cautioned or convicted of a crime than other young people.’
Since the move I have been shown so much kindness and love in keeping me focused on the job in hand. Fred and his son Paul spent two arduous weekends travelling backwards and forwards to Doncaster to bring my home and belongings back here to Essex, for which I truly thank them so much.
The object of the charity constitution is to promote the public benefit in education, support and those who are deemed to be at risk of offending as well as families with learning difficulties related to dyslexia or head-injuries in such a way as the Charity Trustees think fit.
The program with Channel 4 with Sandi Toksvig, will been shown in April/May. Our task is to share with everyone, to show awareness of the 8.5 million people with low literacy. Be ready to get involved.
I would like to thank everyone that has supported our charity and joined us for a cuppa on our first meeting, the response was fantastic. Moving on in the future something so wonderful is taking place…
Kind regards
Jackie xxx
