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We Have Been Shortlisted for a National Award – Community Voting Open!

Posted on March 11, 2026 by - News

Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity (DVLCC) has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award as part of the Lifelites 25 campaign — and is now calling on the local community to help secure vital support by casting their vote. 

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, DVLCC has been selected as one of only 10 organisations across the UK in the running to receive specialist assistive and sensory technology from Lifelites. The award would provide life-enhancing interactive technology to support children with complex disabilities and communication needs. 

Lifelites believes that every child with a life-limiting condition should be able to engage and interact with the people they love and enjoy the world they live in. This powerful vision closely reflects the mission of Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity, which is dedicated to helping young children with cerebral palsy and other motor learning impairments reach their fullest potential through specialist early intervention. 

A young girl plays with maracas during an outreach session. She is wearing a pink top and holding the red and green maracas up high.

Based near Haywards Heath, DVLCC supports more than 100 children each week from across Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Kent and South London. It provides life-changing physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, music therapy, swim sessions and rebound therapy, giving children the best possible start in life. 

Glenys Creese, CEO of Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity, said: 

“Being shortlisted for Lifelites 25 in our 25th anniversary year feels incredibly special. For 25 years, we have supported children with complex motor learning impairments to engage with the world around them and achieve milestones many families were once told might not be possible. 

Lifelites’ belief that every child should be able to interact with the people they love and enjoy the world they live in resonates deeply with our own values. This opportunity could make a life-changing difference to the children and families we support every day. We are asking our wonderful community to take just a couple of minutes to vote and help us secure this life-changing support.”

A young boy uses a communication book to express his thoughts and feelings.

Holly Cahill, Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist at the charity, said: 

“Early intervention is vital and is often a child’s first step on a journey to communicate. With Lifelites pioneering technology for our Speech and language therapy service we will be able to give a voice to a child who cannot speak. Whether through activating a switch or using their eyes with an eye gaze device – one moment of connection between a parent and their child can change their lives forever. “ 

Voting opens on 12 March and closes on 23 March. Members of the public are encouraged to vote and share the link with friends, family and colleagues to maximise the charity’s chances. 

Every vote will help bring innovative, accessible technology to children who need it most — helping them connect, communicate and experience joy. 

Vote for us here!