Who we are
In 1953 Dame Vera Lynn DBE LLD and the late Wilfred Pickles persuaded a group of their celebrity friends to join them to form The Stars Organisation for Spastics. Known as SOS they raised money under the umbrella of the Spastics Society, which subsequently became Scope, until the SOS became an independent registered charity in 2001. In early 2008 the charity changed its name to Stars Foundation for Cerebral Palsy.
The idea was unique. The stars held regular meetings at which they discussed ways to use their celebrity status to raise funds. These events included dinners, golf tournaments, balls and film premieres. The stars not only ran raffles and sold programmes, but also enjoyed “hands on” involvement in the charity by sitting on the management committees for the residential and holiday homes for people with cerebral palsy that the charity supported. The list of people who have chaired the charity over the years include Leslie Crowther, Noel Edmonds, Dickie Henderson, David Jacobs, Sir John Mills, Bob Monkhouse, Sir Roger Moore, Sir Anthony Quayle, Sir Tim Rice, Sir Brian Rix and Sir Harry Secombe.
The entire Royal Family (except for HM The Queen, who was suffering from chickenpox and so had to stay at home) attended the first major fund raising event – the film premiere of Nicholas and Alexandra. Since then, the charity has been responsible for the premieres of many films including Live and Let Die and Breaker Morant. The stage shows Chess and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. The film premiere and the stage premiere of Jesus Christ Superstar and, most recently, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium. Other events have included a series of hugely successful pop concerts in the 60s and 70s at Wembley Stadium; an Annual Ball at The Grosvenor House Hotel, a banquet held at Wembley in 1991 to celebrate the Silver Anniversary of England’s win in the World Cup; dog racing evenings; gala fetes; fashion shows celebrity golf classics and numerous Sunday concerts in the provinces.
The charity’s first venture into practical help was in the early sixties. The committee purchased and converted a school in Bexhill, which became known as Colwall Court, a holiday home for children with cerebral palsy. The centre remained open until 1989. It closed because a more enlightened society was able to accept the fact that disabled people could enjoy the same holiday destinations as able-bodied people.
In the late sixties sufficient funds had been raised to purchase a farm house in its own grounds called Wakes Hall which was converted into a residential centre for 17 cerebral palsied people. Over the next few years the buildings were extended to house a total of 35 residents, many in their own flat accommodation. The facilities were also extended. Greenhouses were installed and the produce was sold on site. This development gave work to some residents and also an increased income for amenities - holidays etc.
When interviewing applicants for Wakes Hall it soon became evident that not all cerebral palsied people wished to live in the country. So after research a site was rented from the Camberwell Authority in South London. A major fund-raising appeal was launched and Good Neighbours House was built in the late 70's for 35 residents. Today these two centres are managed by Scope but the Stars Foundation still maintains an interest in the centres and makes grants to assist Good Neighbours House residents from time to time.
Continuing its work for children the charity built and helped support The Dame Vera Lynn School For Parents at Ingfield Manor, Billingshurst, Sussex. This innovative and essential establishment provides Conductive Education for the parents of children with cerebral palsy to help them teach their pre-school children the skills required to eat, walk, dress, communicate, and even play, independently. There is no government grant for this school for under 5 year olds.
In 2001 SOS became an independent registered charity and in early 2008 the name of the charity was changed to Stars Foundation for Cerebral Palsy. Stars Foundation is constantly evolving to meet the ever-changing needs and aspirations of disabled people, and is pledged to adapt its role in order to meet new challenges head on. The Charity’s aim is to promote awareness of the condition and raise money to buy mobility and educational aids for people with cerebral palsy, who are unable to gain help through statutory means. The Stars Foundation for Cerebral Palsy is run by volunteers and only survives with the continued help and generosity of its supporters.
