Considering one in 10 people in the UK suffers from some form of dyslexia, Dyslexia Action has an important job to do. Formerly the Dyslexia Institute, the charity was established in 1972 and remains the only national dyslexia teaching body in the world. It runs 28 sites across the country and is involved in a variety of projects from primary schools to prisons. Employees say the charity is run on strong values, giving it an 82% positive score. The budget is tight, and staff at the Surrey headquarters are not there for their own financial gain. Human resources manager Carmel Collins epitomises this attitude. "We're very aware that we're spending parents' money, some who have two or three jobs to pay for their kids' dyslexia education. So we're very careful with it," she says. She and colleagues feel the organisation makes a positive difference to the world they live in (82%). Administrator Sue Mead has two dyslexic sons, but couldn't afford to pay for their assessments when they were young. With seven months at the organisation, she says: "On my first day, I had to put a call through to the chief executive, Shirley. As soon as she got off the phone, she came straight downstairs and introduced herself." Mead is a testament to the opportunity to progress within the company too. Having started on reception, she is already an administrator in the assessment centre. "You're encouraged by the HR department to move into new avenues, they don't hold you back," she says. This lack of stagnation means staff find the work stimulating (81%). Public awareness is key to the charity's success, helped immeasurably by its patron the Countess of Wessex and president Ken Follett, the author. Last year the Dyslexia Awards dinner at the Dorchester even made the pages of Hello!. Chief executive Shirley Cramer says: "We have a creative camaraderie with our volunteers. We have a group of 50-60, but we don't wholly rely on them. If they're near one of our centres, they'll always drop in." Cramer looks after her staff too. "We like to give people responsibility and recognise their talents," she says. Staff respond to this, with 80% saying she runs the charity on sound moral principles.
