Charity leader receives honorary degree from University

A champion for families of children with special needs has received an honorary degree from the University of Reading.

Ruth Pearse, founder and CEO of Reading-based charity Parenting Special Children (PSC), received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in a ceremony on Friday 25 July.

Pearse established PSC in 2006 after her own experience of receiving her daughter's diagnosis of global developmental delay in 2002. Faced with no post-diagnostic support and mounting feelings of frustration and isolation, she started the charity with like-minded friends around her kitchen table.

Under Pearse's leadership, the charity has grown to employ 20 staff members, supported by 15 volunteers and 5 trustees, most of whom are parents of children with special needs themselves. By adopting an empathetic and non-judgemental approach, the organisation has positively impacted the lives of over 15,000 families in Berkshire and beyond, while also offering training to around 2,000 local health, education, and social care professionals.

PSC's extensive services include a parent-carer helpline and workshops covering autism, ADHD, trauma and attachment, and sleep, as well as a wide range of activities and opportunities for children and young people.

Pearse has guided the charity through significant challenges over nearly two decades, from supporting families experiencing increasing hardship to rapidly shifting to online services during the pandemic, all while maintaining financial stability and a family-first approach.

Her work has received official recognition on multiple occasions. In December 2020, PSC was recognised by HM The Queen as one of four charities in Berkshire that made a significant contribution to society during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, the Duchess of Edinburgh attended PSC's 15th anniversary celebration, and this year Pearse was nominated to represent PSC at HM The King's garden party at Buckingham Palace.

As a University of Reading alumna, graduating with a BA in Education in 1993, Ruth Pearse has built strong and lasting connections across the University. She has actively supported a range of inclusion-focused initiatives which have supported staff, students and the wider community alike.

As well as providing vital placement opportunities to students, PSC has recently played a key role in shaping several joint activities with the Centre for Autism’s Wellbeing Hub. These have included a parent support course, monthly meet-ups for parents and carers, and a dedicated event to help young people with special educational needs navigate the transition to university.

Dr Jo Billington, from the Centre for Autism Wellbeing Hub at the University of Reading, said: “Ruth Pearse is a powerful example of how personal challenges can be transformed into meaningful, lasting change.

“Through her vision and leadership, she has built not just a charity, but a thriving, compassionate community that makes a real difference to the lives of thousands of families and professionals. We are proud to strengthen our partnership with Ruth and Parenting Special Children as we work together to create a more inclusive future for autistic young people and their families."