South Manchester Down's Syndrome Support Group
Other
We want to fund our Chatterbox Club - a family social occasion where children can attend speech and language groups with their parents.
About this cause
South Manchester Down’s Syndrome Support Group (SMDSSG) is a local parent-led charity, which supports children and adults who have Down’s syndrome and their families, from south Manchester, Greater Manchester and beyond. We provide activities, social events, speech and language therapy, information and training to enable our young people to fulfill their potential. Membership is open to families with a child who has Down’s syndrome, as well as other relatives, friends, teachers, teaching assistants, therapists, medical professionals or anyone with an interest in supporting people who have Down’s syndrome. Parent quote: "This group was a life saver – it made me and my family feel far less isolated, and put us in touch with professional services we couldn’t have done without."
How this cause brings people in the community together
Chatterbox provides the opportunity for children and their families to meet once a month, have fun, learn together and make supportive friendships. Families gain from meeting others in a similar position, so all the children involved benefit. The club allows families to access affordable expert professional advice. The wider community benefits as families build skills and resilience. Chatterbox is in its tenth year and we would spend the money to continue to subsidise this club. Our children all have speech and language difficulties and communication is a lifelong challenge. For parents, the group offers an environment of mutual support with the opportunity to share information, tips and ideas and to gain the knowledge and confidence to be proactive in their child’s development.