SMDSSG News
Monthly update from our CEO, Esther
I am writing this, riding high after our very special World Down’s Syndrome Day celebrations! After a busy time showcasing our fantastic members, raising awareness with some interesting facts, and holding a celebratory dance class with our adult members, we ended the week with our annual Singing Hands concert - and what a fabulous time was had by all, as always. It was wonderful to see so many families enjoying the music and dancing. Newsflash – Singing Hands 2025 is already booked in!
March also saw us visit another local DS support group - our friends at DS Cheshire (https://www.dscheshire.org.uk/). We went along to observe and learn from their user group, and we are getting one step closer to launching our own. This is a very important project for us, and our group will link in with the group from DS Cheshire and others across the North West. It will also feed into the National Policy Group - incredibly exciting. We’re so keen to have our members voices heard, loud and clear.
We have recently embedded a member database, thanks to a grant we received earlier this year. And we are now on a mission to ensure that all the member information we have on file is as up to date as possible. This will help us to support you in the best way we can and will ensure that you receive information that is relevant and timely. Please look out for emails or phone calls from Claire, Kayleigh or myself, and please do respond if you can so that we can get our records updated.
You will see that there are lots of exciting new things in the newsletter, including our first family summer social event at The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust (CAFT). We have seen other charities including the wonderful PADS (https://positiveaboutdownsyndrome.co.uk/) hold events there and thought it would be a great idea to work with another charity that many of our members love.
We can’t wait to see you all at an event soon and as ever, do get in touch with any comments, suggestions, or feedback. We love hearing from members.
A tribute to Jeffrey
A tribute from Jeffrey's Dad, Michael.
It’s hard to forget his beaming smile, the cheeky twinkle in his eye and his unstoppable energy, whether it was racing around the playground, playing with water, and splashing it everywhere, especially when having a bath or playing with his sister Victoria. Jeffrey liked playing with shoes and was always quick to the door to dash out. Jeffrey will always be remembered in our household for breaking TVs, we can count on both hands how many he broke, it was actually 7 TVs, which was quite expensive, nevertheless we continued buying new TVs. Jeffrey loved Paw patrol - his favourite characters where ‘Chase’ and ‘Rubble’ and he would sing along to the theme song in own little way.
Other News
The first ever Barbie Doll with Down's Syndrome
Model Ellie Goldstein who has featured on the cover of Vogue and Glamour talks about the importance of people with Down Syndrome being represented “people need to see more people like me out there in the world.”
Lloyd Martin
Lloyd Martin becomes the youngest person with Down's Syndrome to complete the London Marathon...
