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Speech support charity 'helps social skills'

BBC Laura has dark hair and dark rimmed glasses and is wearing a black and white striped jumperBBC
Laura, who has been coming to sessions for 10 years, recently passed five GCSEs

A girl with Down's syndrome who has been supported by a speech and language charity for ten years says it has helped her socially.

Laura attends Chatterbox, a regular session run by the South Manchester Down’s Syndrome Support Group, which provides four speech and language therapists and occupational therapy.

The 16-year-old, who has recently passed five GCSEs, said: "I enjoy it and it really improves my social development, communicating with other people."

Her mum said the charity, which gets BBC Children in Need funding, had helped Laura "tremendously".

BBC Children In Need Pudsey the bear hugging two children at the charity centre
The South Manchester Down’s Syndrome Support Group receives Children in Need funding

Some children with Down's syndrome have trouble with speech due to the low muscle tone in their mouths and cheeks and tongues.

Esther Whitaker from the charity said Children in Need funding was "vital" to keep the service running for children.

"When a family finds out that their baby has Down syndrome it might be a surprise and that's where our charity exists to provide an instant support network," she said.

"We support our families from birth right up to adulthood and we do this in a variety of ways, including events, training and therapy."

Laura has been attending every month, going along to the 10-16s social events and is now attending college.

Three babies sat on their parents' knees at a table where they are engaging with a yellow teddy bear
Chatterbox is a language and speech development service

Lizzie, whose baby son Orin recently started Chatterbox sessions, said: "He's getting to that point where he is wanting to communicate with us.

"He's going to be able to do that a lot better because he has got that targeted intervention for him and other children his age.

She said if Chatterbox did not exist, it would be "a huge loss to all of us here".

"We're such a big community, such a close community and they offer speech, occupational therapy and just having a chat with people," she added

Esther Whitaker has long blonde hair and is stood in a children's playground
Esther Whitaker said Children in Need funding was "vital"

Ms Whitaker added: "Children In Need funding is incredibly important to our charity.

"We rely solely on donations. We have 250 members relying on us to provide these vital services and we simply couldn't do that without Children in Need.

"We're here to support them to shine and that is so rewarding."

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