OUR COMMUNITY

We believe enjoying a broad range of

activities with friends & family is an

important part of life. At DSC, we strive to provide support services and opportunities  for social interaction and friendship for

people with Down syndrome.

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WE'RE HERE FOR YOU

We offer family support and activities, educational advocacy and training, professional services and therapies, life skills and employability.


With continued support, children with Down syndrome will make good progress and achieve things that were thought impossible in the past. They will have jobs, get married, run park runs, achieve qualifications and set and achieve their own personal ambition...just like everyone else!



Sharing some family stories

Home visits

For a new or expectant parent of a child with Down syndrome things can sometimes seem daunting and uncertain. We have a family support team who will meet with either expectant or new parents, at a place of their choice, to share their experiences. Please contact us here to arrange a meeting. 


Our Regular Activity Groups

Making friends and taking part in new activities is very important for the children and young people that we support. We run regular activity groups like Cheeky Monkey playgroup, DS football training, DS dance, DS yoga, DS rugby, forest school and Friends Together Group. For more information and to book onto one of our groups, see our interactive calendar of events.

Family Days

Our family support calendar provides fun family days out and training for the whole family. Whether it’s a day at Chester zoo, trip to a soft play centre or a meal for our teenage members we aim to provide a range of experiences in a supportive environment where the child with Down syndrome is one of many rather than one of a few. To see what’s on offer and book your place see our events calendar 

Training

We aim to provide parents/carers with up-to-date information to give them the confidence support their child with Down syndrome. We offer free evening and online workshops on a variety of topics such as Encouraging Speech & Language through Play, Introduction to Numeracy & Literacy for Children with DS & many more. Parents are also welcome to attend our training days which are primarily aimed at best practice in education. Visit our dedicated training page for more information.


Parent support

We recognise that it’s important for parents to talk and share their experiences to support one another. Whilst our activity days are great fun they can get busy and hectic so we aim to provide parents with an opportunity to meet away from the children, enjoy some tasty food in great company and have a catch up. Please check in regularly with our events to confirm future dates.

Holiday Clubs

We believe that it’s important that learning continues for children with Down syndrome outside of school, so we regularly offer holiday activities at our community hub as well as forest school days and residentials. For more information, please see our events page or email us here

Community Support FAQs

  • Can I access help before my child with Down syndrome is born?

    Yes, you can. We are always happy to meet with expectant parents to discuss any questions you may have. We will also signpost you to services and resources that can help you on your journey.

  • How will Down syndrome affect my child’s development?

    Your child is unique so they will develop in their own time. Children with Down syndrome may all have a third copy of chromosome 21 but each will walk, talk, eat, potty train and learn to live independently at different times. All children with Down syndrome experience some degree of learning disability and will make progress in most areas - in their own time.

  • What are the characteristic strengths of people with Down syndrome?

    Reading ability, gesture and mime, visual learning and social interaction are all characteristic strengths. When learning is tailored to these strengths then the potential of children with Down syndrome can be unlocked.

  • How can I help my child with Down syndrome to make friends?

    Depending on your child’s own unique personality they could show you the way when it comes to making friends! However, not all children feel comfortable making new friendships and there are ways you can help. Providing opportunities for social interaction based on their likes and interests, providing choices about what they would like to do and who they would like to spend time with as well as modelling appropriate social behaviour will all help.   

  • How does physical activity benefit people with Down syndrome?

    As with everyone who takes part in sport the benefits include health, fitness, friendships and the satisfaction that comes from learning a new skill. DSActive carried out research and found that, since joining one of their sessions 27% of participants had lost weight, 68% improved their fitness, 78% improved their physical ability and 91% improved their social skills. They also found evidence that social interactions, team work, non-verbal and verbal communications skills all improved.

  • How can peer support events help my family?

    Peer support events and days out are a chance for people with Down syndrome and their parents/ carers, siblings and grandparents to catch up with other families who have shared experiences to enjoy themselves together. Friendships grow through these events and families are able to enjoy experiences in a risk free environment. This means that if the day doesn’t go entirely to plan then there are supportive, like-minded individuals there to support one another. We find that these events are valuable for the whole family.

  • What does the future hold for my child with Down syndrome?

    Generally, people with Down syndrome are living longer and achieving more than ever before. With the right support, people with Down syndrome are living independently, forming relationships, becoming role models and gaining employment.