Dame Vera Lynn Children's Charity

General information

For 15 years Dame Vera’s Charity has been supporting families of young children with cerebral palsy and other motor learning difficulties from across the South East. The Charity has recently moved into new premises - Dame Vera Lynn Children's Centre in Cuckfield – in honour of the veteran entertainer’s 100th year – and to expand its work.

Dame Vera, whose songs kept spirits up during World War Two – and who was recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours in 2016 - said: “Establishing the charity was one of my proudest moments and I am now so pleased to see it grow to help more children and their parents. The new centre will be a wonderful haven of fun, activity and learning.”

Alongside weekly conductive education sessions, in which children are taught movement through play and daily life with support from parents, the Children's centre will also offer a raft of extra services including respite care, holiday clubs and field trips. Children will have access to assistive interactive technology, such as white boards, tablets and ‘magic carpets’ – which project games and images onto floors – alongside physical, speech and language therapy. Help and advice will be on offer to parents, who will be able to hire equipment and toys, and staff will run outreach services to help mums and dads at home.