Born with hearing defects, they could have struggled to learn.

But thanks to a local children's charity, the brothers can enjoy a full sense of life and will start school this September on a par with their classmates.

The Elizabeth Foundation has supported thousands of children like the Hankins since its conception almost 30 years ago.

Now it needs your vote to secure success and win £2,000 and attention in the national spotlight. It has been shortlisted as one of 10 finalists in the National Lottery Awards 2008 best education project.

Oliver and Ben's mother, Angela Hankin, said she could not have coped with her twin's impairment without the foundation's help.

Oliver has mild to moderate hearing loss, while Ben has moderate to severe deafness.

At just 13 days old, the twins, now four, failed their new-born screening tests and were referred.

Angela, of Pinewood Avenue, Bedhampton, said: 'At first it was a pretty tough experience, especially having twins – I was struggling to manage.

'At the time I saw that I had two beautiful baby boys and four ugly hearing aids, but the foundation gave me the opportunity to approach things in the right way.'

The foundation, based at Southwick Hill Road, Cosham, is committed to encouraging the development of speech, language and listening skills by using all of a child's senses in a natural, fun environment.

Ben and Oliver visit the centre twice a week separately. They also attend a mainstream nursery two days a week, and will soon start school.

It costs some £500,000 each year to run the Hampshire base which relies on a small amount of local government and NHS income, the rest being raised by the public – through donations, fund-raising events, grant-making trust projects and support from local companies.

The charity was presented with a £2,500 lottery grant in 2001, helping to pay for vital radio aids to assist deaf children like Oliver and Ben.