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The DSActive DSEngage Project

Helping to transform the lives of children and adults who have Down’s syndrome.

The project encompasses the DSActive and DSEngage programmes which both aim to improve the physical and mental health of people who have Down’s syndrome and have a positive impact on their well-being. Benefits are gained by people who have Down’s syndrome and their families, resulting in positive outcomes for society as a whole.

The DSActive Programme increases the participation of people who have Down’s syndrome in leisure, recreational and sporting activities. Its aim is to support as many opportunities for successful participation and inclusion in activity as possible.
The DSEngage Programme offers a wide range of free online activity sessions, ranging from discos and exercise sessions through to art and craft and gardening activities. The programme enables access to participation in activity for anyone who has Down’s syndrome regardless of age, level of physical ability, mental health, where they live or who with, or their financial circumstances.

DSActive Programme

The unique and innovative DSActive Programme supports the successful participation and inclusion of children and adults who have Down’s syndrome in leisure, recreational and sporting activities at all levels of ability from local community participation through to national and international level participation.

Good physical and mental health is important for everyone and impacts on our overall wellbeing.

Taking part in an activity, whether it is a leisure, recreational or sporting activity, can benefit the individual’s physical and mental health, and therefore benefits all aspects of the individual’s life and everyone they have contact with.

It is important that as early in life as possible, a positive relationship with taking part in activity is developed, especially physical activity. This is no less true for children and adults who have Down’s syndrome and, for some individuals with additional health conditions, it can be even more impactful.

Leading a healthy lifestyle based around a positive relationship with physical activity, alongside a balanced diet will help us keep our body healthy and this, as well as looking after our mental health, will improve our general health and well being and make us less likely to develop unhealthy habits.

There are also all the social, emotional and communication benefits that are gained through participation in an activity. For example:

  • making new friends and forming new relationships,
  • learning to manage emotions,
  • increasing the range of situations to use speech, language and communication skills,
  • increasing confidence and self esteem.

All of these can benefit numerous life situations including expressing opinions, making decisions and seeking employment.

Proudly supporting the participation of people who have Down’s syndrome in organised sport since 2006, the 2022 review of DSActive concluded that the DSA’s hope to widen the reach of the DSActive programme (away from mainly Down’s syndrome specific football, tennis and sailing sessions) was valid, and an exciting evolution of the programme began.

DSActive now partners not only with Down’s syndrome specific session providers but with providers of any type of session in order that the individual can participate in the session best suited to their needs and other influencing factors such as family participation and geographical limitations. DSActive now works with non-disability, pan-disability, learning disability and Down’s syndrome specific session providers to increase and maximise the opportunities for successful participation and inclusion. In addition, the range of session activity that the DSActive Programme will now support is enormous, with support available for providers of leisure and recreational activities as well as sporting activities. This includes activities such as art and craft clubs, walking clubs, dance sessions and swimming sessions. These changes reflect the core values and principles of the DSA; supporting and facilitating the right of people with Down’s syndrome to be included on a full and equal basis with others.

DSActive provides bespoke support for leisure, recreational and sports activity providers. DSA DSActive support varies and can include:

  • DSActive training and support with access to high quality information and training events provided by the DSA Information and Training Team;
  • Opportunities for financial assistance which are passed on to partners through funds raised for the DSA DSActive Programme;
  • Partner organisations benefiting from collaboration between the DSA and its members/supporters.
  • Access to the Our Voice network, a national network of people who have Down’s syndrome who assist the work of the DSA.
  • Networking and promotion opportunities with sporting governing bodies and national organisations.

 

 

If you are part of an organisation providing activity sessions and you would like to know more about the work of the Down’s Syndrome Association’s DSActive Programme please email us at dsactive@downs-syndrome.org.uk.