An 11-year-old girl from Salford has received a surprise message from Richard Branson after her invention designed to help people with dyslexia captured attention across the UK.

Millie, who is dyslexic herself, created a pair of colour-changing glasses aimed at making reading easier and more comfortable. She first developed the idea at just eight years old and later went on to win a Gold Award in the Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal.

After hearing about her innovation, Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, reached out personally with a handwritten note and a video message, praising her creativity and determination.

In his message, he 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 part of the surprise, Millie and her mum, Sarah, were invited to London for a special weekend. They stayed at Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch and were given a Virgin Experience Days voucher to enjoy during the May half-term.

The trip highlighted Millie’s achievement and the growing recognition of young innovators using personal experiences to create meaningful solutions. Her invention demonstrates how creative thinking can lead to practical tools that improve everyday life for others.

Speaking about the experience, 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.”