My name is Peter Cherry and I am running the Brighton 10k run on 10th April 2022 to raise funds for the Dyscalculia Network. The Dyscalculia Network is a community interest company founded in 2019 that campaigns for greater awareness of maths learning difficulties and helps people with dyscalculia get the support they desperately need.

About me

When I was a child I was diagnosed with a learning difficulty in mathematics called dyscalculia. Due to my dyscalculia, I have always struggled with maths. I find anything involving numbers difficult and anxiety-inducing. I failed both my GCSE Maths and a GCSE equivalency exam in maths. It is something I’ve always felt ashamed of and feel a great deal of internalised shame about.

For most of my life, I compensated for my maths difficulties with my strong literacy skills. I have a PhD in Comparative Literature, have written an academic book, worked for several years in a university in Turkey and now work as a tutor in literature, film and ESOL.

Due in part to the pandemic, I made the decision last year to leave my job in Turkey and move back to the UK. I knew the job market was difficult (understatement) so realised that moving back would probably also entail retraining. With this in mind, I applied for PGCEs in order to retrain as a teacher but quickly found that my learning difficulty held me back from being accepted onto courses. I have subsequently found that a huge amount of jobs I applied for rejected me for not having a Maths GCSE. In short, I felt doors closing in my face.

My experience isn't an isolated one. Many people are unable to achieve their full potential because of their learning difficulties in maths. However, it doesn't have to be like this for me or any other person with dyscalculia.

It is time to speak up about the discrimination and lack of opportunities faced by people with dyscalculia. Dyscalculia has received none of the attention afforded to its more famous sibling, dyslexia, despite affecting around 3 to 6 per cent of the population. Things simply must change.

The Dyscalculia Network

Set up by maths teachers Cat Eadle and Rob Jennings, The Dyscalculia Network works to publicise dyscalculia and maths learning difficulties. They have big plans to bring dyscalculia into the national conversation by spreading the word about this long overlooked learning difficulty, providing training for maths teachers, supporting dyscalculics come to terms with their learning difficulties and advocating for the fair treatment of people with dyscalculia.

But the Dyscalculia Network needs your help. Inspired by a love of running I developed during the pandemic, I am taking part in the Brighton 10k run to raise funds for the Dyscalculia Network.

Your support could raise vital funds so the Dyscalculia Network can get the message out and help children and adults with dyscalculia get the support they need.

For more reading on the Dyscalculia Network and Dyscalculia, please visit their website: https://www.dyscalculianetwork.com and read Rob Jennings' recent article for the TES on Dyscalculia: https://www.tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/general/how-support-children-dyscalculia-maths-schools-teachers-SEND