South Manchester Down's Syndrome Support Group
Social Inclusion
We want to continue our successful WorkFit project, supporting local candidates who have Down's syndrome into work.
About this cause
SMDSSG is a local parent-led charity, established in November 2004. We support children and adults who have Down's syndrome and their families. We provide activities, social events, speech and language therapy, information, employment opportunities and training to enable children and young people who have Down's syndrome to fulfill their potential. We share information via our monthly newsletter, website, Facebook page and Twitter. We provide environments for families to meet, socialise and provide mutual support. We provide training days for parents and professionals who work with our youngsters that focus on how best to support people who have Down's syndrome. Our Workfit Local Network Lead is successfully promoting employment opportunities for people with Down’s syndrome locally.
How this cause brings people in the community together
We work closely with individual candidates to identify types of employment they are interested in, then approach relevant businesses in the local community, with the aim of matching candidates and employers. Essential ongoing support and guidance is provided to both candidate (e.g. CVs, interview preparation) and employer (e.g. information about Down's syndrome) throughout the work placement.