Charity & Patronages
Thanks to Theo’s profile in the media and his success in business he counts himself lucky that he is in unique position to help the projects and causes that he is passionate about.
Theo hopes that you enjoy reading about the projects that are particularly close to his heart as you read on.
Theo Paphitis Charitable Trust
Theo Paphitis Dyslexia Bursary
Dyslexia Empowerment Patron
Comic Relief
HideOut Onside
Starlight Children’s Foundation
Shooting Star Hospice
Retail TRUST
Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital
Theo Paphitis Charitable Trust
Theo Paphitis Charitable Trust distributes Theo’s fees from TV appearances, speeches and his book to causes close to his heart, especially children’s charities. Funds received are then distributed by a panel of trustees to a variety of registered charities.
Theo Paphitis Charitable Trust typically assists smaller UK charities that have difficulty in gaining funds from other organisations. Recipients range from charities helping children to hospices providing children’s palliative care.
If you would like to contact the Trust please email charitabletrust@tprg.com
Theo Paphitis Dyslexia Bursary
In November 2023, Theo Paphitis and the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity launched the Theo Paphitis Dyslexia Bursary to provide funding for schools to offer free training to teachers and teaching assistants around the UK.
The Theo Paphitis Dyslexia Bursary aims to particularly support state schools where there are young people from low-income families, by giving them access to the expertise and guidance of Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity regarding the best ways to support young people with dyslexia.
Dyslexia empowerment patron
In October 2023, Theo Paphitis joined forces with the British Dyslexia Association, a leading voice for dyslexic people whose mission is to change society by removing barriers so that everyone with dyslexia can reach their full potential. The ‘Dyslexia Empowerment Patron’ role is a first for the British Dyslexia Association, focusing on the opportunities that can be created around dyslexia.
The British Dyslexia Association’s vision is to create a world where people with dyslexia can flourish. The charity campaigns for an inclusive society that acknowledges, accepts and empowers individuals with dyslexia.
Comic Relief
Theo was a Director of Comic Relief between 2012-2018, and along with Ryman and Robert Dyas, has proudly been a key contributor to the Comic Relief and Sport Relief cause.
Theo has personally visited projects funded by Comic Relief in both Africa in the UK and continues to be driven by the fantastic work that they carry out. In 2013 Robert Dyas joined the cause and over the years Ryman and Robert Dyas have arranged some great, and often wacky, events and fundraisers. From the store colleagues right up to the Board of Directors everyone has joined in to raise well over £4.7 million to date!
The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital
Theo was a patron for the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Many Hands Campaign since the launch of the first campaign in 2008 and is a cause which is extremely close to his heart. He helped to launch the Many Hands campaign, that encouraged North West businesses to support the charity by signing up to manageable fundraising targets, as Many Hands make light work!
The Many Hands initiative has raised over £300,000.
Hideout Youth Zone (part of Onside youth zones)
OnSide was founded in 2008 as a boys and girls club based in Bolton, Greater Manchester. Since then, the charity has set up various “Youth Zones” across the country, designed to give young people aged 8-19 from deprived areas (up to 25 for those with a disability), somewhere to go after school, something to do and someone to talk to - occupying them with engaging activities, helping them to develop new skills and socialise in a safe, positive and accessible environment. Activities involve sports, dance, arts & crafts, boxing, climbing walls, cookery lessons, and much more. The Zones are visited by over 500,000 young people each year.
One of the latest sites is the Hideout Youth zone, based in Gorton, East Manchester. The Zone is expected to reach over 3,000 young people from central and east Manchester within its first year of operation. Having grown up in the area, Theo is supporting the development of the site as one of its Founder Patrons.
Starlight Children’s Foundation
Starlight Children’s Foundation was founded in 1982 and has become the national children’s charity which provides hospital play & distraction services, wish granting and family escapes for seriously ill children. Their services are available in over 800 hospitals across the UK, enabling children to grow and develop, experiencing childhood as it should be, and supporting the health professionals along the way.
Starlight partner, Ryman, and its suppliers have stepped in to ensure the charity can reach more children by providing additional items for isolation packs, packs made up of single use items to help stop cross infection. Starlight delivers to nurses and health play specialists caring for children throughout the NHS across the UK. Last year, Ryman also supported Starlight during their annual celebration of ‘Play in Hospital Week’, an awareness week to shine a light on the importance of play for children in hospital.
Theo Paphitis, Ryman Chairman says “As we all face new and different challenges, we look to where we can help, and that is why, Ryman, along with our suppliers, is pleased to be supporting children’s charity, Starlight, helping to fill their isolation packs and bring some relief to isolated children in hospitals. We all now have a small understanding of the positive impact a little distraction and entertainment can have when we are isolated, separated from family and facing a worrying time.”
