On 14 – 16 of April I’ll be cycling 250 miles/400 km from Glasgow to Harrogate. I’ll be leaving behind my laptop and packing my lightest conference friendly clothes to raise money for education for children in difficult circumstances.

In 2018, I cycled to Liverpool, raising money for Code your Future. A charity which trains people from refugee backgrounds in computer coding. Last year, I cycled to Belfast for Amala, who provide education in refugee camps. 

This year, I’d like to keep the PedaLgogy alive (thanks, Rob Howard, for this new word). 

I’ll be cycling for the Hands Up Project. HUP provide online learning for children who really need it, for example in Palestine. They find innovative ways to give students a voice. 

I chose HUP because I’ve heard so many wonderful things about their use of storytelling, creative writing and remote theatre. Susan Piper, one of my awesome alumni, has shown me tons of her cool hand drawn activities. I am so inspired by her work.! 

It’s also one of the charities which features frequently in National Geographic Learning’s Teaching through Crisis series. Paul Dummett and Efi Tzouri have both volunteered with them and share their experiences in the teacher development videos. 

Once at IATEFL, I’ll be speaking at the IPSEN SIG PCE on Monday 17th about doodling for wellbeing, on Tuesday 18th 10.35am (King’s Suite) for the National Geographic Learning Teaching through Crisis series and on Saturday 22nd at the Hands Up Project conference. I’d love to see you at each.