EEAST becomes first ambulance trust to receive national award for commitment to dyslexia-friendly workplace

East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has been awarded the prestigious bronze level Dyslexia Friendly Quality Mark by the British Dyslexia Association.

The award is only issued to schools or organisations which demonstrate they provide high-quality education and/or practice for dyslexic individuals. 

EEAST is the first ambulance trust to achieve this award and is actively working towards the silver award as part of its Inclusivity Plan.

To celebrate the achievement alongside Dyslexia Awareness Week, which runs from 2-8 October, the Trust has also signed the British Dyslexia Association Workplace Pledge, reaffirming its commitment to learning more about Dyslexia and challenging stigma, discrimination, and prejudice.

Justin Honey-Jones, specialist lecturer practitioner (wellbeing and inclusion) and Dyslexia champion, said:

“Dyslexia is not a barrier to achieving ambition in our Trust and we are committed to inclusion and supporting our people to achieve their potential.

“The award also shows we are dyslexia friendly and encourage potential applicants to ask for reasonable adjustments in all our roles open for recruitment.

“This award compliments our commitment as a disability confident employer.”

To achieve the award, EEAST has raised awareness of dyslexia with its lecturer practitioners, managers and students, screened students for dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties and applied adjustments to assessments and during the recruitment process, to name just a few.