Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity Celebrates 25 Years

Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity (DVLCC) is celebrating 25 years of providing life-changing support to babies and young children living with cerebral palsy and other motor learning impairments.

Since opening its doors in 2001, the charity has grown from a vision by the late Dame Vera Lynn (pictured below) into a vital service supporting families throughout the southeast. 

The charity is marking the milestone by setting an ambitious goal to support 25 more children this year - ensuring even more families can access the early intervention that can make all the difference. 

Supporting a child with the care and therapy they need to thrive costs £7,000 a year.

Dame Vera Lynn’s deep compassion for children facing difficult starts in life, coupled with her determination to ensure families never feel alone, continues to guide the charity today.

What began as a small, dedicated service has grown into a specialist centre offering physiotherapy, music therapy, speech and language therapy, swimming sessions, rebound therapy, outreach home-play, parent support, and a warm, family-centred approach.

Over the last 25 years, DVLCC has expanded its reach to support families from across the southeast, including West Sussex, East Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire, and beyond.

Each year, the charity provides tailored support programmes that help children build confidence, mobility, communication, and independence — always working in partnership with parents, who are central to each child’s progress.

“Reaching our 25th anniversary is a powerful reminder of the impact Dame Vera Lynn’s vision continues to have,” said Glenys Creese, CEO. 

“We are incredibly proud of the children and families we’ve supported, but we know the need continues to grow. Our aim for the next 25 years is simple: to reach even more children, earlier, and with even greater impact.” 

DVLCC receives no statutory funding and relies entirely on community support to provide its vital services. It costs over £600,000 per year to run the full service which is provided free of charge to families.

For more information about the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity or to support its 25th anniversary initiatives, please visit https://dvlcc.org.uk/25th-anniversary/