A charity has called on Matt Hancock to renew his efforts to raise awareness about dyslexia after apparently only fleetingly addressing the issue on I’m a Celebrity.
The former health secretary defended his decision to take a break from Westminster and sign up for the ITV reality show in the Australian jungle by claiming he wanted to use it as a platform to raise the profile of his dyslexia campaign.
In the end it was mentioned three or four times, according to Kate Griggs, the founder and CEO of Made By Dyslexia, who said it was “a shame” there was not more about dyslexia in the show.
“For us, yes, it would have been fantastic if there had been a really big focus on dyslexia,” said Griggs. “What matters most is what he does now he is out of the jungle.”
Viewers claimed it was not until two weeks into the show that Hancock finally raised the issue of dyslexia, when he discussed being diagnosed at university while in conversation with the comedians Seann Walsh and Babatunde Aléshé.
On Friday (1), there will be a second reading of the dyslexia screening and teacher training bill, a private member’s bill tabled by Hancock to provide universal screening for dyslexia in primary schools and improve teacher training on the issue.
Griggs said: “This bill is way, way overdue. It’s crazy we are not screening every child. It’s quite frankly a disgrace every teacher is not given the skills they need to help and empower these children. Now Matt is not tied to a party, I hope he is really, really able to champion the cause and put things right for dyslexic children. Let’s see what Matt does now (2).”
(1) Today in Parliament.
(2) Quite … 