A fundraising success

MORE than 250 families of babies and young children with Down syndrome have been directly supported thanks to funds raised from a major fundraising event which took place earlier this year. 

A total of €251,648 was raised as part of the 2019 HB Fundays Campaign, with HB Ice-cream. 

The funds raised has allowed the charity to accelerate funding for the roll out of a vital language development programme for young children with Down syndrome called See and Learn, and Parent-Link, a local support service for new parents of babies with Down syndrome. 

The Parent-Link service is provided by parent volunteers who will be trained and supported by Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI).

Down Syndrome Ireland member Tara Lundberg, from Donabate, whose daughter is Siún (5), said: “Learning to talk is a particular challenge for most children with Down syndrome. 

“The See and Learn programme is, put simply, life-changing as it helps children with Down syndrome like Siún develop their language and communication skills from a very young age.”

The charity has provided 220 See and Learn kits and delivered See and Learn training across 15 sites to more than 600 parents and early years educators.

It has supported approximately 250 children with Down syndrome in early years’ settings to increase language development.  

Parent-Link training has been also been piloted and will be rolled out to the charity’s network of 25 branches around the country over the coming months.

Speaking about the 2019 Fundays campaign, Down Syndrome Ireland chief executive Gary Owens said: “We are so grateful to all the ice cream lovers out there who held a HB Fundays party this year – you are helping young children with Down syndrome develop vital speech and language skills and also helping new parents receive the support they need directly from other parents who are sharing the same journey. Thank you.”