Education ● Inclusion ● Development
Registered Charity 1130994
Company registered in England and Wales 6915555
New families
When a new family contacts us they are offered a home visit.
New babies are then invited to the second hour of our youngest Early
Development Group where they can meet other new parents and begin to learn about early intervention.
Every new baby in the area should receive one of our New Parent Packs from their midwife or maternity unit.
Family Saturday Session
A monthly informal gathering for all the family
Our Saturday sessions are for families with children aged birth to around 11 years of age.
Siblings are welcome, whatever age. These meetings are usually on the 2nd Saturday of the month 10.00 until 12.00 at Bingley Methodist Church Hall, BD16 4JU
During this time we provide learning activities for the children, these include singing, signing, Numicon, magic bag, parachute, instruments and snack time.
Each month we aim to provide either an informal discussion on a relevant topic, a craft session for parents or a visitor that is both exciting and beneficial for the children.
Helpers are present to play with and mind your child giving you the chance to join in any discussions. If you have problems with getting to our meetings we can provide transport.
Sibz Zone
For brothers and sisters of a child with Down syndrome
Our siblings group runs monthly in a separate room at Bingley Methodist Church. It is timed to coincide with our family Saturday session and is for siblings aged 6+.
We play board games; a firm favourite and create lots of crafts - for example we’ve painted eco bags.
We also aim to encourage the children to share thoughts and feelings through interactive games and a ‘worry’ box.
Early Development Groups
Our Early development Groups, based at our Centre in Bingley are for babies and young children with Down syndrome aged birth to 5/6 years and their parents and carers.
The intervention uses fun activities over a two hour period to work on sitting, interacting, looking & listening skills, feeding, drinking, early number skills and speech & language development using lots of singing and signing.
Twirly21s
Our younger dance group is a lovely extension to our Early Development Groups providing families with an opportunity to meet, chat and share experiences while their child is dancing.
The weekly classes are for younger children with Down syndrome aged 5 to around 12 years and run every Saturday, 2.30 to 3.30pm at Footsteps Theatre School, Westfield Lane, Idle, BD10 8PY with Claire King.
Speech & Language Groups
Monthly speech and language sessions take place at our Centre on either a Saturday or Sunday and need to be booked in advance.
Two independent therapists run group sessions and some one to one sessions catering for up to 50 children and young people with Down syndrome.
WisH Club
Our youth club, Weekend is Here - WisH Club, is full of equipment - pool table, X box, large Connect 4, TV, DVD player, football table, air hockey, exercise bikes, chill out area with bean bags and comfy couches.
The club runs at our centre every Friday, 6 to 9pm for young people aged 11 to 25. Young people are welcome to bring along a friend or sibling age 11+ to the club.
All members have a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) in place and a care plan in place should they require support with personal care.
We work on personal targets for the young people across self care skills, friendship skills and appropriate social behaviours. The setting is an ideal place to work on these skills as it is a safe and supportive environment.
SUBS - £5 on entry (we do not wish to exclude anyone due to cost however; this fee is a donation)
dance21
Our amazing dance troupe
Weekly dance sessions take place for young people with Down syndrome aged 12+, Thursdays 6 to 7pm at Footsteps Theatre School, Idle with Claire King.
The dancers often perform at external events.
Would you like Dance21 to perform at your function?
Every half term our Going Out Club goes out somewhere exciting - dancing at a local night club, eating curry at the Shama, bowling, watching a show at Bingley Theatre. No upper age limit.
Details are always on our monthly newsletter.
I Can Work
Our ’I can work’ employment project aims to help young adults with Down syndrome gain employability skills through direct input from ourselves and ‘real life’ work experience.
Initially each young person involved will gain experience by working at our centre for two days each week.
This work will involve specific tasks aimed at developing various work related skills.
Once ready, we will aim to find progression into local employment or another work related scheme, for example, a Supported Internship.
Independent Living Skills
I can shop, cook and clean
Our Independent Living Skills course is based at our centre and runs one day a week over a minimum of 10 weeks.
It covers a range of skills needed in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room, for example, what is the difference between toilet cleaner and body wash? How to use a microwave, wash, iron, shop for and cook a meal.
Counselling
If a parent or an adult with Down syndrome would like one to one counselling please contact the office.
Sessions are available online or face to face with our counsellor Gill Iley.
