Starting 2018 in our new centre has been a major bonus for the charity and despite the recent avalanche of snow that surprised us all we are looking forward to another productive and exciting year.

With two new centres up and running under the DSC umbrella; Cork and Portlaoise (Midlands) we are now eagerly awaiting the opening of a third centre in Carrickmacross (North East) in the next few months. It’s so encouraging to see the ethos of DSC spread across the country and facilitating so many more families in the local communities.

Over the coming weeks we will be communicating with you all individually in relation to implementing the new data base regulations that will come into effect on May 25th, where we will be asking you to confirm an ‘opt in’ for future communications and your preferred channel, or alternatively It will give you the option to ‘opt out’ if you do not wish to receive further information on the charity.

World Down Syndrome Day is coming up soon and we have lots to celebrate this year, read on about our ‘Same as our Sibling’s’ campaign to be launched in conjunction with 21st March and our special coffee morning for service users and locals on that special day.

With our new improved centre we will be placing a strong focus on fundraising to sustain the running of our services and maintaining low costs, so we would really appreciate your help in looking at supporting some of our events coming up over the next few months, alternatively if you have any contacts in the Corporate sector that could look favourably at us becoming a charity partner we would love to hear from you.

In the meantime please keep in touch with our active Facebook pages and website and wishing you all a Happy World Down Syndrome Day on 21st March.

Sharon Dagg
CEO

To celebrate World Down Syndrome Day we’re having a special coffee morning in the centre on March 21st and you're all welcome to attend!

Everyone is welcome to this event where we'll be throwing the doors open to our well known supporters, local businesses and our fantastic parents!

So pop in, if you're free, any time between 10am and 12pm and we'll have the kettle on!

Can your Crèche, Montessori or Junior School join the Bunny Hop this Easter and raise funds for The Down Syndrome Centre?

The Dublin Circus Project and junior Bunny Hop ambassadors, Lydia, Elliot and Alesha are asking children to bunny up and get involved in a simple walk, skip or hop around their local area, in their local park or simply around their Pre-School or School yard to support children with Down syndrome.

There’s also a chance to win a circus workshop with the Dublin Circus Project for their entire class through our bunny ear decorating competition!

The Bunny Hop is our brand new fundraising event and the funds raised will go directly to our SKIP programme (Special Kids Intervention Programme) which prepares young children with Down syndrome for mainstream school.

Simply log onto www.downsyndromecentre.ie/bunny-hop to register for your Bunny Hop pack and download tonnes of Easter-themed activities and games!

We are celebrating Siblings this World Down Syndrome Day (21st March) with a new campaign that features 9 sets of siblings each doing something they enjoy together, from playing hurling in their back garden to dancing around their kitchen!

Same as our Siblings aims to show that children with Down syndrome are the same as all children. They have the same interests, hobbies, likes and dislikes as their siblings and their friends.

The video will be available to view on our website on Monday 19th March for the week, so be sure to catch a glimpse of all these fantastic kids in action.

We hope the campaign will help break down stereotypes, promote inclusion and celebrate abilities and of course celebrate the special bond between siblings. There’s nothing like it.

Year after year our Mini Marathon gang keeps getting bigger and we think we know why.

The women who join our team know that this is not just another 10km run. It’s an event where their participation will make a real difference. They will have an impact in the lives of the children and families who use our services. (And the fabulous fiesta we have on the day doesn’t hurt either!).

This year's Mini Marathon takes place on Sunday, June 3rd and registration is now open! Why not drop your gang a message now to remind them to join our fantastic team?! Last year, 167 amazing women joined our gang and raised €43,700. This year, I’d love to get 250 ladies on our team with an aim of raising €50,000. That works out at each person raising €200 each.

Visit www.downsyndromecentre.ie/mini-marathon-2018 for more details or contact Aileen on (01) 661 8000 / aileen@downsyndromecentre.ie.

Every year we’re approached by parents and supporters asking if we have plans to bring out gifts or presents they could buy that would benefit the centre. And – finally – we’re thrilled to say that we do!

We’ve worked with luxury Irish candle company, Brooke and Shoals to create a special version of their two best selling scents (which are to die for!); an invigorating Grapefruit and Lemongrass and a relaxing Neroli Blossom and Lavender. Each scent is going to come in two sizes; a travel size with a 20 hour burn time and a larger size candle with a 45 hour burn time.

The smaller sized candle will be on sale for €10 and the larger candle for €20. The prices are the same as you’d pay in any shop but with the added bonus of proceeds going to our centre. They will make a perfect present for teachers, SNAs, babysitters, friends and family!

The candles are sent to make their aromatic arrival to the centre by mid-March when they’ll be available to buy. Pictured are the draft boxes that the candles will be packaged up in – the final versions will obviously have a more elegant look!
For more information about the candles contact Aileen on (01) 661 8000 / aileen@downsyndromecentre.ie

We’ve partnered up with the Hell and Back organisers again and are delighted that we have a special DSC wave at 1.40pm in their 7km event on in the Kilruddery Estate on Saturday, June 16th. Our Hellraisers will get a reduced entry fee and (most importantly) delicious finish line food on the day, along with a goody bag and support on the day from our team! It’s a team building day that you will never forget!

Our 2017 Hellraisers made it through 7km of swamps, high ropes, ice baths, tire jumps and many other crazy challenges for our centre. Our two teams from Permanent TSB and Central Bank raised just under €21k which is incredible. And everyone said they’d love to do again which is even more incredible! It really is a great team-building day – and easily the muddiest one your staff will ever enjoy!
For more information about this fantastic day out visit www.downsyndromecentre.ie/hell-and-back-2018/ or contact Aileen on (01) 661 8000 / aileen@downsyndromecentre.ie

We’re very excited to say that we’re launching a brand new campaign this May called Host Afternoon Tea for the DSC.
Dreamt up by the seventh Duchess of Bedford in 1840 to combat her afternoon peckishness, afternoon tea is the easiest and most enjoyable way to get the girls (or guys!) together for a few hours of fabulousness! This May, we’re asking you to Host Afternoon Tea for The DSC on any day that suits you!

We’ll give you everything you need to set the tone; invites, bunting and a specially designed cake stand where your sandwiches, scones and cakes can proudly sit. After that you just need to boil the kettle (and pop a cork, if it’s that kind of event!) and ask your guests to make a donation to our centre.

More details will be announced when we officially launch the event but, at the moment, for more information contact Aileen on (01) 661 8000 / aileen@downsyndromecentre.ie

As you all know, our centre receives no government funding whatsoever. All our income comes from the generosity, hard work and support of our fantastic fundraisers.

With an increase in our costs as we expand our services, we need the support of outside fundraisers more this year than ever before. If you are in a position to host a fundraising event for us, we would appreciate it so much.

Already this year fantastic people around Ireland have contacted us to say they are running quiz nights, baking up a storm and pushing themselves to the limits of fitness for us. So if you’ve always thought you’d like to run a marathon, organise a gig or really anything at all – we’re here to support you every step of the way.

For fundraising ideas and guidelines visit www.downsyndromecentre.ie/support-fundraise/organise-your-own-event/ or contact our Supporter Events coordinator, Aileen on (01) 661 8000.

 

Join us for an evening of Racing, Dining and Live Music on Thursday 19th July2018  in aid of The Down Syndrome Centre. The event takes place at the stunning Panoramic Suite at the Leopardstown Race Course. This is an ideal event to entertain clients and colleagues or simply an opportunity to get together with some friends to enjoy the fun and lively atmosphere! Enjoy welcome drinks, a 3 course meal, private bar and tote facilities and entry into the Bulmers Live Concert at the end of the evening. The cost is €100 per person or €1,000 per table of ten. For more information or to book your spot please contact Nuala on 01 661 8000 or nuala@downsyndromecentre.ie

We would firstly like to thank everyone that subscribes to our Newsletter and hope that you enjoy all our news.  However with the new data protection rules coming into effect on May 25th we would just like to ask anyone that does not want to receive our Newsletter any more to please click the unscribe link at the bottom of the Newsletter.