Being part of Sparkles is to be part of something incredibly rewarding and satisfying. Not only is your child getting the specialist therapy that only comes with sound experience of Down’s Syndrome, but as a parent you get tremendous support and guidance.
As a charity it is funded by the parents of the children attending the sessions with additional contributions coming from fundraising activities.
All parents of Sparkles attendees become members of the charity and are encouraged to assist with various aspects of the group. Over recent years we have funded and organised conferences for local support agencies and parents, created a well-equipped resources library and offered a ‘buddy system’ for new families coming to terms with a new arrival in the family with Down’s Syndrome.
Sparkles is based in High Wycombe, South Bucks. It began with the parents of three children with Down Syndrome, concerned that their children would be on a long NHS waiting list for Speech Therapy. In May 1999, a group formed and together, with the help of their local Portage Worker, began to provide the essential therapy they need pre-school.
By September 1999, other families joined the group and they funded an independent Speech & Language Therapist through Symbol UK Ltd. Symbol is a non-profit organisation, who provides specialised speech and language therapy for clients of all ages. It also has links with The Downs Ed Trust in Portsmouth.