Down's syndrome group to be honoured by the Queen

Swindon Down’s Syndrome Group will receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Run completely by volunteers – often those whose own children have Down’s syndrome – the group works with around 100 families in the area.

Treasurer Kim West said: “We are just totally honoured, as a charity this is just the biggest ‘thank you’ you can get.

“It just gives you a real feel-good factor that you are helping out other people.”

The group will receive a certificate signed by the Queen and a commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty’s representative in Wiltshire, John Bush, at a special ceremony.

Representatives for the group have also been invited to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on June 22.

The group, started in 1984, is run by a committee of 10 people with 140 members, who meet once a month.

In addition to providing support and information, it offers speech and language therapy sessions, resource packs for schools and pre-schools, training days, sports lessons with specialist coaches and coffee afternoons. It also funds group outings and trips for the young people with excursions to Chessington World of Adventures and Longleat Safari Park on July 3.

It needs to raise £17,500 in donations each year to run these services.

Ms West said the outings are designed to allow young people with Down’s syndrome to go out as a group and not be stared at as they might be on their own.

It is also an opportunity for their parents to get mutual support and advice.

Trips will often also involve other siblings, giving them a chance to talk about the pressures they feel having a disabled brother or sister.

Initial contact is made with many families through the group’s close relationship with the Great Western Hospital.

Ms West, whose eight-year-old daughter Sophie has Down’s syndrome, said: “When you have a child with Down’s you get the information from the doctors, you get leaflets, but you can’t speak to them about the progress of the child’s life, what they are going to go through.

“It’s better to speak to people that have been in that position and support each other through it.”

The group is among 15 winners in the south west selected from 341 groups nominated by members of the public.

More than 850 groups around the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man have now won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service since it was created to mark the occasion of the Queen’s golden jubilee in 2002.

Ms West said: “We do this in addition to full-time jobs and being full-time mums.

“We don’t get anything out of it, we just give back and it’s really good feeling.”

To find out more about the group visit www.swindondownsgroup.org.uk.