CHESHIRE DOWN’S SYNDROME CHARITY EDUCATION TEAM UP FOR NATIONAL AWARD

A team of Cheshire advocates who have provided outstanding support to children with Down’s syndrome, their families and teachers with their learning are in the running for a national award.

Sarah Larkin, Becky Harris and Yvonne Edwardson have been shortlisted in the Advice and Guidance category of the Children and Young People Now awards. The trio are the first education advocates in the country to work specifically with children who have Down’s syndrome which is a learning disability caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 in most or all cells.

The advocates, funded by the Steve Morgan foundation and National Lottery Community Fund, work with local nurseries, schools and parents across Cheshire to identify the individual educational needs of each child with Down’s syndrome and make learning more accessible to unlock their potential. They train teachers and TAs on the learning profile of children with Down’s syndrome as well as Makaton which is a language programme that uses signs together with speech and symbols to communicate.

During the first Covid-19 pandemic lockdown in which many children with disabilities were advised to shield, the team helped children and parents emotionally and practically through regular phone contact and by providing resources and advice. The Disabled Children’s Partnership, a coalition of more than 70 charities, has found that 72% of parent carers were under increased strain to care for children and their siblings as the country moved out of the first lockdown. Nearly half said their children’s physical health had declined, according to the Left in Lockdown report, with many feeling ‘exhausted, stressed, anxious and abandoned by society’.

Cheshire Down’s Syndrome Support Group CEO, Lawrence Caygill comments:

“All children with Down’s syndrome have potential which is why the work of our education advocates is so important. They have worked tirelessly throughout lockdown to provide regular support to around 170 families and provide resources and advice that have been vital at this time of national crisis. Lockdown has been, and remains, tough for many parents and carers for lots of different reasons and the challenge of teaching a child with additional needs has put immense strain on families. I am so pleased that Sarah, Becky and Yvonne are getting the recognition they deserve.”

Cheshire Down’s Syndrome Support Group is a small local charity dedicated to supporting families, children and young adults with Down’s syndrome throughout the Cheshire region. The winners of the award will be announced during a digital ceremony on 4^th March.

If anyone would like to access the Education Advocate service or for more information, please email schools@cdssgroup.org.uk or see the charity website www.cheshiredownssyndrome.com.

Follow Cheshire Downs Syndrome Support Group on Facebook @CDSSGroup and Twitter @cdssgroup. For press enquiries please contact Lucy Liddiard on 07999 360222 or email lucy.liddiard@cdssgroup.org.uk. To donate to CDSSG via JustGiving please see https://www.justgiving.com/cheshiredownssyndrome

Pictured - Education Advocate Yvonne Edwardson and Libby.