Dame Vera Lynn's birthday celebrations help ensure more children with cerebral palsy achieve their maximum potential

Posted: 22/03/2017

Dame Vera Lynn, who notably entertained the troops with her singing during World War Two, celebrated her 100^th birthday this week. The occasion was marked with the release of a new album, ‘Vera Lynn 100’, and a concert at the London Palladium on 18 March 2017, which raised funds for the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity. This was established in 2001 to offer an early intervention service for families of children with cerebral palsy and other motor learning impairments.

Earlier this year, the charity moved to new premises in Cuckfield, West Sussex, known as the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy. Since February, it has offered a number of sessions throughout the week for the under fives with cerebral palsy and other motor learning difficulties. The charity also provides an outreach service.

The sessions at the centre are based on the principles of conductive education, which focuses on developing a child’s muscle control, purposeful movement and posture as well as promoting independence, confidence and self-esteem in daily life.

Alison Appelboam Meadows, a partner at Penningtons Manches, who heads up the cerebral palsy team, comments: “Over the years, many of our clients and their families have benefited from the support provided by charities such as the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity. Conductive education sessions enable the children and their families to engage in purposeful activities aimed at improving their physical function, independence and esteem and also provide the families with a valuable support network.”

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