WHEN a parent discovers their child has Down's Syndrome it can feel like their world is falling apart.

But Swindon Down's Syndrome Group - a parent led support service - aims to help those coming to terms with their child's condition.

Swindon Down's Syndrome Group (SDSG) is a charity affiliated with the UK's National Down's Syndrome Association.

Set up in 1984 the group organises activities and outings for children with Down's and their families.

It also raises money to fund speech and language groups.

All children who are members of the SDSG and those children whose home or school is within the SN postcode are eligible to attend.

The aim of the language groups is to give children an opportunity to practice their speech and language skills in a structured and fun situation.

Most groups run weekly during school term times for an hour where children can practice skills such as understanding, sentence building, sound recognition and production, listening skills, attention and memory skills as well as conversational and interaction skills.

Group chairwoman Nicky Parker, who has two sons with Down's, says that the condition isn't the end of the world.

She said: "Most parents don't know where to turn when their child is diagnosed so we want to be here for them to help answer their questions, lend a listening ear or just offer them support as and when they need it."

Nicky's sons Luke, 17, and Zachary, 12, have thrived in the group making friends with other children in the same position as them as well as mixing with children with other disabilities.

Nicky said: "We welcome siblings to all our activities except football sessions we hold with the boys - that's their special time.

"But it is important for children to mix with other children of their own age with Down's Syndrome because it helps break down those barriers about the condition."

The group spends a lot of its time fundraising for outings for the children, holding sponsored events and fetes.

The group held a charity jumble sale at St Barnabas Church Hall in Gorse Hill on Saturday to help raise funds.

To contact the charity write to Swindon Down's Syndrome Group, 94 North Home Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1DT.