The STRAVINSKY team is holding a free public webinar on Tuesday 6th May at 18.00-19.00 BST to provide an update on the project’s progress, as well as the current situation around COVID-19 for people with weakened immune systems.
STRAVINSKY (Stratification of Clinically Vulnerable People for COVID-19 Risk Using Antibody Testing) is a 2-year study, which aims to build our understanding of who is most clinically vulnerable to COVID-19 infection and identify individuals or disease groups at highest risk. Using the information, STRAVINSKY hopes to assess the effectiveness of COVID-19 booster vaccine programmes or new treatment strategies for these groups.
Free Public Webinar – Find out more and register
STRAVINSKY Study– Find out more about STRAVINSKY
Join Sibs in celebrating this year’s National Siblings Day on Thursday 10th April 2025.
Young siblings, adult siblings, parents/carers, organisations, charities, professionals and schools are encouraged to get involved in this global awareness day recognising brothers and sisters. Shine a light on the value of sibling relationships, highlight what an important role siblings play in the lives of their disabled brothers and sisters and to celebrate siblings in their own right too.
You can find a selection of FREE downloadable resources (activity packs, poster, leaflet) on the Sibs website to get involved – available here.
Sibs are a charity which supports children and adults throughout the UK who have a sibling(s) with a disability. You can learn more about them here.
Cameron Ord is celebrating World Down’s Syndrome Day this year by baking 21 loaves in 21 days and giving them to friends and family.
Cameron is hoping to raise awareness and raise funds for Down’s Syndrome Scotland. If you would like to support Cameron and the fantastic challenge he is taking on, you can make a donation to his JustGiving page Tracy Ord is fundraising for Down’s Syndrome Scotland
Thank you Cameron for all your effort and support
The Central Branch hosted an amazing tea party and managed to raise a fantastic £448.39.
So many of our families attended and had a great time eating cakes from the bake sale and trying to win a prize on the tombola.
Thank you to everyone who attend and to everyone who helped to make it such an amazing event.
This year’s Down Syndrome Research Forum will be online on the 17th, 18th and 19th March 2025.
Registrations are open to attend this regular international event which is hosted and sponsored by Down Syndrome Education International.
The Down Syndrome Research Forum is an international meeting of researchers and practitioners interested in advances in our understanding of how best to meet the developmental and educational needs of children with Down’s syndrome.
Presentations will cover a range of topics as detailed on the Event Programme.
The forum is aimed primarily at researchers, professionals and postgraduate students. Parents/carers and other family members who are interested in current and future research are also welcome.
A £75.00 fee is charged for this event and registrations close on 19th March. Sessions will be recorded and made available to registered participants to view one month after the event.
Click here for more information and to Register to Attend.
Scottish Golf want individuals with disabilities to know that golf is one of the most inclusive sports to play. Its natural classification system focuses on scores submitted, rather than functional ability and individuals with a disability can also play off any tee set they wish to in order to enhance their golfing experience. Whether someone is new to the game or an experienced golfer, they say it’s a fantastic sport to be a part of.
You can read about the benefits of golf, including inspiring stories from golfers with disabilities on the Scottish Golf dedicated webpage for Disability golf.
FREE Coaching sessions for participants with a disability
Over the coming months Scottish Golf will be offering coaching sessions across Scotland for participants with a disability to experience structured-based, interactive golf sessions led by club volunteers, Community Golf Instructors (CGIs) and PGA professionals.
Sessions will be held in Aberdeenshire, Inverness, St Andrews, Midlothian and Glasgow.
All sessions are free and will involve the following opportunities:
Get your EDGA Pass
This season Scottish Golf is encouraging all players who have a disability, who play golf regularly, to apply for an EDGA Pass.
This official accreditation (recognised and endorsed by The R&A), supports players’ participation, while improving awareness and integration within a golf club environment.
You can find out more and apply here.
Individual Bursary for golfers with a disability
In addition, Scottish Golf, in collaboration with the Scottish Golf Charitable Trust (the SGCT), are also delighted to have launched a new bursary for golfers with a disability, which forms part of their ongoing development and investment in disability golf pathways in Scotland.
The bursary will provide financial assistance to cover the expenses incurred in competing in domestic and/or international disability golf events. Successful applicants will receive up to a maximum value of £700 per person for the 2025 season.
Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) have released details about their Annual Conference for 2025, which will be held at the Radisson Blu, Glasgow on Wednesday 30th April 2025.
Key Themes:
-Bringing together individuals with lived experience, the third sector and health and social care professionals.
-Explore key issues, including human rights, prevention, social care reform, and community resilience.
-Engage in meaningful, open and honest discussions on health and social care reform in Scotland.
Please click on the links below for further information and to register.
ALLIANCE Annual Conference 2025
Booking Form
Our lovely Hazel Wilkinson created these fabulous Christmas Sign Along Videos
A couple of years ago Hazel Wilkinson, one of our members generously gifted some Signalong festive Christmas song videos to share with you and as it’s that time of year again we have popped these back on here for you to enjoy.
Here’s a short message from Hazel about the videos:
“When we received Liam‘s diagnosis after his birth in 2015 we took comfort that we had already used baby sign with our eldest son. Six years later and sign is still an important part of our lives. I now teach the same baby sign class that I attended with both of my sons and for Liam sign is an integral part of his communication. As well as allowing him to communicate without being able to speak it also helps us to recognise the words that he is attempting to say.
Here in Edinburgh, like some other areas in Scotland, we use Signalong. I know many families can feel daunted by the idea of using sign with their children. That there are a number of different systems must make it even more confusing. My advice is to embrace all of the resources that are available. As BSL is the foundation of keyword signing there is a vast amount of crossover. I was lucky to win some resources from Signalong as part of a Christmas giveaway a few years ago and I wish to share my luck by gifting these Signalong videos to Down Syndrome Scotland to share with families this Christmas.Wishing you a very Happy Christmas from the Wilkinson family.”
We hope you enjoy singing and signing along to these well-known festive tunes:
-Away in a Manger
-Jingle Bells
-We wish you a Merry Christmas
-Deck the Halls
-Oh Christmas Tree
The Makaton Charity are hosting an online Pop Party with Singing Hands on Wednesday 11th December from 6.30-7.30pm.
This session will be a fun festive sing along with Makaton signing for parents/carers, friends and family members with children or adults who use Makaton, support workers and anyone who wants to have fun and learn some festive songs in time for Christmas.
Location: Online via Zoom
Price: Free for paid Makaton Members as part of the Makaton Premium Membership Subscription or £6.50 per ticket* for Non-Members.
*Each ticket will allow one device to join the party, please do not share your login details. You will be emailed a link to join once payment is received.
Click here for event information and details of how to book. Spaces are limited. Register as soon as possible to reserve your space.
Join Carers UK and other organisations to mark this year’s Carers Rights Day on Thursday 21st November 2024 and help raise awareness about the important role and responsibilities of carers in the UK and signpost carers to information, advice and support.
Recognising Your Rights – Carers Right Day helps carers to understand their rights and empower them to feel confident when asking what they need and to challenge when their rights are not being met.
You can learn more about Carers UK and their work in campaigning for better rights for the UK’s unpaid carers by browsing their website.
For more details about Carers Rights Day, please click on the links below:
Carers Right Day
How to get involved