Downs Syndrome charity stage exhibition to break down stereotypes - The Leamington Observer

Downs Syndrome charity stage exhibition to break down stereotypes

Leamington Editorial 15th Mar, 2017 Updated: 17th Mar, 2017   0

THE FOCUS will be on showing youngsters with Down Syndrome living life to the full at a photography exhibition in Leamington next week.

The Ups of Downs charity, which works to raise awareness and offer support and advice to children with Down Syndrome and their families, are staging a photography exhibition featuring images of 27 children with the learning disability.

The #ThisChildCan show will take place on World Down Syndrome Day on Tuesday (March 21) at the Royal Spa Centre, in a bid to break down stereotypes and change peoples perception of the condition.

Down’s Syndrome is a genetic condition that typically causes some level of learning disability and characteristic physical features. Around 775 babies are born with the condition each year in England and Wales.




Nicola Enoch, the Leamington charity’s founder said: “We want to demystify Down Syndrome and by showcasing our children taking part in various everyday activities, we are showing that they can live a normal life, like any other child.”

Nicola set up the The Ups of Downs in 2006 just after her son Tom was born with the condition. As well as weekly pre-school and Saturday groups for school age children, the group holds regular training events for parents and professionals. They also provide monthly speech and language therapy for the children.


The charity were finalists in the Pride of Warwick District Awards and in the Leamington Business Awards. Nicola herself has just been nominated for a Networking Mummies Award.

She added: “I didn’t want Tom to change for the world; I want the world to change for Tom.”

The exhibition will be touring, and can be seen at Warwick Arts Centre from May to June and at Leamington’s Royal Priors Shopping Centre on the weekend of May 27 and 28.

Following the exhibition a selection of the portraits will also be displayed at Warwick Hospital and University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire.

Search Twitter for the show’s hashtag #This Child Can for further details.

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