An 11-year-old from Salford received a surprise from Virgin Group founder, Sir Richard Branson, after her invention designed to help people with dyslexia captured attention across the UK.
Millie, who is dyslexic herself, designed a pair of colour-changing glasses to help make reading easier and more comfortable. She first came up with the idea at just eight years old, later winning a Gold Award in the Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal for her invention.
After hearing Millie’s story, Richard Branson, who has spoken openly about how dyslexia has shaped his own journey, reached out personally with a handwritten note and a video message, praising her creativity and encouraging her to keep innovating.
Sir Richard Branson said: “Dear Millie, it takes a lot of courage and imagination to turn your own challenges into something that can help others. You should be incredibly proud of yourself. Keep going and keep believing in your ideas.”
As a further surprise, Millie and her mum, Sarah, were invited to London for a special weekend,
staying at Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch and receiving a Virgin Experience Days voucher to enjoy during May half term.
The visit shines a light on Millie’s creativity and the growing impact of young innovators who are using their own experiences to drive meaningful change. Her idea demonstrates how fresh thinking and personal insight can lead to solutions that help others in a real and tangible way.
Millie said: “I had such a special weekend in London, and I still can’t believe I received a message from Sir Richard Branson. It’s made me feel really proud and more confident in myself and my design. I’m so thankful to Virgin for such an amazing experience.”
