The Include Duchenne project was one of seven winners selected from hundreds of projects from across the UK to win the prestigious title of the UK’s favourite Lottery projects. The project helps children with a serious and progressive muscle wasting condition.

Janet researched and developed the project which focuses on the behavioural and learning difficulties that often affect children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Children with the condition are at risk of Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism.

The programme which Janet developed takes a fresh child centred approach to learning and which teaches to the child’s strengths as well as addressing their weaknesses.

The project features specialist learning assessments affected by DMD. They follow a new custom-built online literacy programme called ‘Decipha’ that’s based on the theme of time travel and is delivered in partnership between home and school.

National Lottery funding has paid for specialist dyslexia teachers to assess children with Duchenne, as well as train parents and schools how to deliver the Decipha programme.

Speaking about the Award Janet said: “ As a special needs teacher and parent of a boy with DMD I know at first hand the difficulties which teachers, parents and schools face in educating children with this condition.

“ I am absolutely delighted that the Include Duchenne project has won this prestigious award and that the hard work that the Decipha team does in working with children, families, schools and local authorities all over the country in supporting new methods of learning has been recognised.”

The winners of The National Lottery Awards 2011 are:

• Best Arts Project: Northern Ballet and Phoenix Dance Theatre, Leeds

• Best Education Project (in association with Best magazine): Include Duchenne, UK-wide

• Best Environment Project: The Green Valley Centre, Bryncynon

• Best Health Project (in association with iVillage.co.uk): Sense Scotland, Scotland-wide

• Best Heritage Project: We Were Brothers: WW1 A Shared Heritage, Derry

• Best Sport Project: The Bluebird Care Hampshire Disability Cricket Programme

• Best Voluntary/Charity Project: Hands That Talk, Derry

For more information on the Decipha programme visit: http://www.decipha.org/home.aspx

First picture caption: Janet Hoskins and Celine Barry, Include Duchenne Assessor, with the National Lottery Award at the ceremony.

Second picture caption: Janet Hoskins and son Saul at home with the Award.  

This news item has been posted by Janis Pickwick, Swansea University Public Relations Office, Tel: 01792 513245 or email: j.m.pickwick@swansea.ac.uk