Dravet Syndrome UK has launched the Little Moments Matter Awards, a new programme that celebrates the healthcare, social care and education professionals whose dedication provides vital support to families living with Dravet syndrome. Nominations are open until 31 August 2025, and the winners will be announced at DSUK’s Professionals Conference in November.
Why the awards matter
Galia Wilson, Chair of Trustees at DSUK, emphasized the spirit of the awards:
“We know that families living with Dravet syndrome face challenges every day and it is often the compassion, dedication and small acts of kindness from professionals that make the biggest difference. With the Little Moments Matter Awards, we want to shine a light on those unsung heroes whose support helps families feel seen and empowered.”
How to nominate
Nominations are now open and welcome from:
- Families affected by Dravet syndrome
- Friends and supporters
- Professionals can nominate deserving colleagues
- Wider community networks
If you know a professional who has made an extraordinary difference, you can submit a nomination via DSUK’s online nomination form before Sunday, 31 August 2025.
Finalists will be announced in September 2025, and the winners will be celebrated at the
DSUK Professionals Conference on Friday, 14 November 2025.
Award categories
The award categories are designed to reflect the breadth of support needed by families:
- Health Professional of the Year: Recognising excellence in medical care.
- Social Care Professional of the Year: For outstanding contributions to social wellbeing.
- Education Professional of the Year: Celebrating those who help make learning accessible and inclusive.
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Honouring a career dedicated to supporting the Dravet community.
- Special Recognition for Empowering Families: Acknowledging exceptional acts of kindness and support.
About Dravet syndrome
Dravet syndrome is a rare, severe and lifelong form of epilepsy presenting with treatment-resistant seizures, alongside a range of associated conditions such as intellectual disability, autism, ADHD, challenging behaviour, and difficulties with speech, mobility, feeding and sleep. It affects around 1 in 15,000 children in the UK. It usually starts in the first year of life, often around six months. Babies usually show normal development before they start getting seizures associated with Dravet syndrome.1
In 85-90% of cases, Dravet syndrome is linked to a mutation in the SCN1A gene, which impacts the function of sodium channels in the brain, contributing to the neurological symptoms of the syndrome.2
Families affected by Dravet syndrome must navigate complex care needs, interacting regularly with healthcare providers, social services and education systems.
About Dravet Syndrome UK
DSUK is an independent charity that improves the lives of those affected by Dravet syndrome through:
- Support: Offering emotional, practical and financial assistance to families.
- Education: Providing information to families, healthcare professionals and educators.
- Research: Funding studies focused on the unmet needs of families living with Dravet syndrome.
DSUK is guided by a world-class Medical Advisory Board, chaired by Professor Helen Cross, President of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and Prince of Wales’s Chair of Childhood Epilepsy at the UCL Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London.
The Little Moments Matter Awards highlight the profound difference that compassion, expertise and dedication make in the lives of families living with Dravet syndrome. As nominations open, DSUK invites the community to shine a spotlight on those professionals whose daily acts of kindness often go unnoticed but are deeply cherished.
For more information, visit www.dravet.org.uk or contact Katherine Raven (katherine.r@dravet.org.uk, 07979 383157).
References:
- Epilepsy Action. Dravet syndrome. 2023. Available at: https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/syndromes/dravet-syndrome (accessed 01 July 2025).
- Dravet Syndrome UK. Which genes cause Dravet syndrome? 2023. Available at: https://www.dravet.org.uk/about-dravet-syndrome/which-genes-cause-dravet-syndrome/ (accessed 01 July 2025).
Editor: Katey Gabrysch, Editorial Director.
Disclosures: No funding was received in the publication of this article.
Cite: Celebrating unsung heroes: Dravet Syndrome UK launch Little Moments Matter Awards. touchNEUROLOGY. 03 July 2025.
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