Celebrating an extraordinary year: Down syndrome UK’s 2023/24 achievements

As we reflect on our fifth year as a registered charity, we’re filled with immense pride at what we’ve accomplished together. From expanding our educational support to reaching thousands of families across the UK, 2023/24 has been a year of remarkable growth and impact.

Expanding our educational reach

One of our biggest milestones was welcoming Dr Becky Baxter as our Director of Education and Speech & Language in January 2024. Becky, one of the UK’s most experienced speech and language therapists, brought a wealth of expertise that has already transformed hundreds of families’ experiences.

Under Becky’s leadership, we launched our Early Years Development Programme in summer 2024, and developed our comprehensive Primary Education Programme (PEP) – an extensive resource now available to primary schools across the UK. This programme includes regular expert-led support, CPD-accredited training, and practical guidance that’s making a real difference in classrooms nationwide.

We also began delivering monthly webinars with Twinkl, reaching thousands of schools with Down syndrome-specific expertise. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, showing just how much this support was needed.

Supporting families through key transitions

Understanding the challenges families face when navigating education systems, we launched a new EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) support service in September. To date, we’ve supported over 400 families through our closed Facebook groups, with expert guidance available for individual EHCP reviews.

Our Heart Buddies programme continued to provide vital support, helping nearly 50 families whose children underwent heart surgery. The care and compassion shown through this programme exemplifies everything we stand for.

Breaking down barriers in healthcare

We’ve continued our crucial work in maternity care, distributing over 400 maternity packs to nearly 200 settings. We’re proud to now supply every maternity unit in Wales and nearly two-thirds of England’s 231 units.

Our collaboration with the Royal College of Midwives resulted in new i-learning modules, while our research with the University of Warwick highlighted critical gaps in mental health support. The findings were stark: while 85% of women in the general population felt they received adequate mental health support during pregnancy, only 38.1% of mothers expecting babies with Down syndrome said the same.

Building community and celebrating success

Our Celebratory Ball in October brought together over 80 people for an evening of connection and celebration. Meanwhile, our regular PADS Party in the Park events continued to strengthen our community bonds.

World Down syndrome Day was particularly special, with our community raising over £60,000 to support our work. From our growing Sunflower Challenge in early years settings to countless individual fundraising efforts, the generosity of our families continues to amaze us.

Training and professional development

We delivered 89 training sessions to almost 2,000 professionals across education and healthcare. Our lunchtime maternity webinars reached 675 professionals directly, with many more accessing recordings.

For families, we ran 37 information-sharing sessions for nearly 1,500 parents, covering everything from dysphagia to will writing. These sessions have become increasingly popular, filling a vital gap in accessible, expert guidance.

What our community says

The feedback from families speaks volumes about our impact:

“Thanks to PADS for everything you do to support us parents and children. From getting all the support and giving us access to resources to advice on how to navigate our journey including educating us on knowing our rights!” – Parent, Anoushka

“Without PADS there are genuinely times where my son would have had poorer health outcomes, wouldn’t have the EHCP he has, etc. The way the charity connects parents across the country is second to none” – Parent, PADS survey 2024

Looking forward

As we move into 2024/25, we’re not slowing down. We’re continuing to expand our reach to universities and maternity units, extending support to families of older children and young people, and working tirelessly to create a more inclusive society.

Our success this year – with income reaching £378,974 and supporting thousands of families – wouldn’t be possible without our incredible community. From challenge participants to corporate partners, from dedicated volunteers to generous donors, every contribution brings us closer to our vision: a world where everyone with Down syndrome lives their best life.

The numbers that matter

While finances tell only part of our story, they reflect our growing impact:

• 2,106 preschool families supported
• 104 expectant parents guided through our pregnancy groups
• 49 babies supported through heart surgery
• 1,545 people reached across our information-sharing sessions
• 5,165 healthcare professionals trained through 89 events

Thank you

To everyone who has supported us this year – whether through fundraising, volunteering, sharing your experiences, or simply being part of our community – thank you. Your commitment to championing people with Down syndrome is what makes everything we do possible.

Here’s to another year of breaking down barriers, celebrating achievements, and ensuring every person with Down syndrome has the opportunity to thrive.

Want to be part of our story? Visit our website to learn more about how you can get involved.