DSA News

Fulham FC Kick off Down's Syndrome Awareness Week

Tuesday, 09 March 2010 15:12

FIRST EVER DOWN'S SYNDROME FOOTBALL Tournament

Down's syndrome football teams from across London will come together at the Fulham FC Training Ground to launch Down's Syndrome Awareness Week on Sunday, 14^th March at 11:00 a.m.

The tournament will bring together the four London-based DSActive teams: Fulham Badgers, QPR Tiger Cubs, Charlton Upbeats and West Ham United DS Team. Unlike traditional tournaments, the main focus is not on winning or losing, but just taking part.

To kick-off the festivities, coaches from each of the Clubs involved will engage the players in coaching sessions to help them learn new skills and techniques. The football coaches have learned on the job through the help of the Down's Syndrome Association (DSA) and sharing their experiences since there is no formal training available to coaches. Side by side the players and coaches will learn new skills and delivery methods together.

The seven-a-side tournament will officially kick-off at 1:00 p.m., with each game being modified to fit the needs of those with Down's syndrome and will be ten minutes in length with ten minute breaks.

DSA parent member and patron Kevin Kilbane offers his support:

"It is great to see all of the football clubs coming together in support of Down's syndrome." Kevin further explained, "This tournament is a fantastic opportunity for the players to showcase their skills. Having had the privilege of experiencing a couple DSActive training sessions, I know the tournament will be a success and an excellent opportunity to highlight to the outside world their true ability."

Steven Day, Chief Executive of the Fulham Football Club Foundation, said:

"I am delighted that Fulham Football Club is able to host the first ever Down's Syndrome Football Tournament. This tournament marks the continuation of the fantastic work carried out by Fulham FC Foundation in collaboration with the Down's Syndrome Association since June 2006 and, more recently, with some other London clubs. The Foundation's ethos is to help build better lives through sport and the tournament is a perfect example of a number of partners working together to help achieve this."

For more information of the Down's Syndrome Tournament, and Down Syndrome Awareness Week, please contact Patricia James at the Down's Syndrome Association at 0845 230 0372, mobile number 0781 359 1924, or via email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The Down's Syndrome Association's website is www.downs-syndrome.org.uk.

Notes to the Editor:

Down's Syndrome Association

The Down's Syndrome Association is a registered national charity that exists to provide information and support for people with Down's syndrome, their families, carers and those with a professional interest with a membership of more than 20,000.
There are around 60,000 people with the condition in the UK; around 1 in every 1,000 babies is born with Down's syndrome.
The DSActive programme began in 2006 as a pilot programme with the Fulham FC Foundation in partnership with the Down's Syndrome Association in response to a lack of footballing opportunities for people with Down's syndrome. The programme has grown to include seven teams with six respective professional football clubs. In total, more than 200 players engage in DSActive training weekly.
Down's Syndrome Awareness Week is held annually from Monday, 15^th March through Sunday, 21^st March which is World Down's Syndrome Day.
A photographic exhibition entitled Shifting Perspectives will be held at the gallery@oxo from Wednesday, 17^th March through Sunday, 28^th March which is free of charge and open to the public from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The Down's Syndrome Association will be hosting a reception at the House of Lords on Friday, 19^th March to celebrate its 40^th anniversary and present Life Time Service Awards.

Fulham FC Badgers

The Fulham v Manchester City fixture on Sunday 21 March is Fulham FC's nominated National Association of Disabled Supporters (NADS) match. The Fulham Badgers will be training in Bishops park, adjacent to Craven Cottage, prior to this match at 1pm and the team will be conducting a lap of honour before the game.
Fulham FC Foundation has also joined forces with The Down Syndrome Tennis project in January 2010, the first initiative of its kind nationally. The sessions, which the DSA helps to promote through their networks, highlights the opportunities available when the Foundation's spanning different sports join forces to develop physical activity, with this project already at capacity in terms of participants.
The Fulham Badgers Team will be travelling to Hong Kong in may, to play against Hong Kong's DS Team, The Hong Kong Dragons.

Job vacancy - Receptionist and Office Administrator

Thursday, 25 February 2010 12:37

Job Title: Receptionist and Office Administrator

Location: Teddington

The Down's Syndrome Association is the lead voluntary sector organisation providing information and support to all those with an interest in Down's syndrome. We are looking to recruit a Receptionist and Office Administrator, whose primary responsibilities will be to provide a reception service to the Down's Syndrome Association, and to undertake office administrative tasks to ensure the smooth running of the national office.

Candidates should have at least 2 years previous switchboard experience, with the ability to deal calmly and professionally with a variety of call, as well as strong administrative experience. Good communication and interpersonal skills are also essential for the role.

For an application pack or to discuss the role informally, please contact Lesley Alabaf on 0845 2300 372. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Closing Date for receipt of applications: 12th March 2010

The interview date will be 22nd March 2010

Recently published articles...

Friday, 29 January 2010 16:33

DSA Education Officer, Bob Black has been very busy contributing to several publications for the new year.

The SEN Magazine is featuring an article on Transitition, to read it click here. The other article highlights specialist computer software click here to read further.

Midwives support Tell it Right, Start it Right

Thursday, 10 December 2009 16:26

‘Tell It Right, Start it Right' campaign update

DSA talk to midwives at Royal College of Midwives conference

The Down's Syndrome Association (DSA) had a stand at the Royal College of Midwives annual conference in Manchester on 26-27 November 2009, where we exhibited a small selection of Shifting Perspectives photographs. During the two days we talked to nearly 300 midwives about Down's syndrome, all of whom agreed with the importance of providing accurate and up-to-date information about Down's syndrome to new parents prior to antenatal screening and when a diagnosis is made. Many of them agreed to sign up to the ‘Tell It Right' e-petition on the government website.

DSActive Charlton Upbeats Win People's Million

Friday, 27 November 2009 19:00

On Friday, 27th November on ITV's London Tonight, the DSActive's Charlton Upbeats won the People's Million receiving a total of £37,800!

The DSA would like to extend a massive thank you to everyone that voted - you really all made it happen.

As a result of winning the funding, Charlton Upbeats will continue the DSActive training on the pitch, as well as provide vital speech and language therapy, respite care for parents and programmes for siblings, and a chance to work hand in hand with members of our community on environmental projects.

Patricia James from the Down's Syndrome Association said, "We would like to send huge congratulations to everyone at Charlton, especially to the Charlton Upbeat players. This is a fantastic programme and we look forward to moving the DSActive programme forward in partnership with Charlton - thank you again to everyone who voted!"

The Charlton Upbeats are part of the DSActive programme, providing football opportunities for people with Down's syndrome in their local communities.

For more information about DSActive, please visit our website at http://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/news-and-media/dsactive.html or contact Patricia James at 0845 230 0372 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

"Can we get married?" BBC2 documentary featuring young couple from Devon

Thursday, 19 November 2009 16:40

One to watch, tonight at 21:50 on BBC2 watch the story of Ben and Emma...

Like many couples who have been together for six years and are in their late twenties, Emma Bishop and Ben Marshall are thinking of getting married. But for them, it is not entirely straightforward. Emma and Ben both have Down's syndrome and are residents of a supported-living community in Devon, where they have an active social life and part-time jobs. They live in a small house with their friend Cy Clench, who also has Down's syndrome.

If Emma and Ben were to get married, it could mean a completely different way of living. Through the high spirits of their dance nights to the tired conversations at the end of their working days, this film follows Emma and Ben as they decide whether married life would be an enormous stress they could do without, or the romantic dream they always imagined.

In recent years, the Down's Syndrome Association has regularly received news of people with Down's syndrome in fulfilling serious relationships. Several of these relationships have resulted in happy successful marriages. There is no reason why people with Down's syndrome cannot live successfully as committed couples. The charity, however, adds that it is really important that people with Down's syndrome are given good advice and education about relationships and sexuality. As in other areas of learning, they may need more support than some of their peers.

Young people and adults with Down's syndrome have the same dreams and aspirations as everyone else - "to love and be loved in return."

If you watch the programme and want to comment or send a message to Ben and Emma please visit the following website www.emmaandben.org.uk

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