Discover Together
Inspiration Guides’ Guide
As part of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we invite you to join The October Experience Exchange: #DiscoverTogether
This October, in celebration of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Ups and Downs Southwest is excited to launch The October Experience Exchange: #DiscoverTogether, an annual campaign dedicated to creating unique and enriching opportunities for young people with Down Syndrome.
What is The October Experience Exchange?
In honour of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we’re inviting our community—including individuals, businesses, and companies—to come together and share their passions, hobbies, skills, or even a glimpse into their interesting work with young people who have Down Syndrome. Whether you’re a photographer, a baker, a car enthusiast, a gardener, or someone with a unique craft or talent—your passion could be the key to sparking a new interest or joy in a young person’s life during this important month of awareness and celebration.
We’re looking for opportunities for all age ranges—from babies to 25-year-olds—so there’s a chance for everyone to be involved. Each young person will be accompanied by their parent or carer, ensuring that the experience is safe, supportive, and enjoyable for everyone. Additionally, some experiences could involve a group of young people with Down Syndrome participating together, making it a shared and even more memorable event.
Why Get Involved?
- Make a Difference: In this special month dedicated to raising awareness, your time, expertise, or sponsorship can make a lasting impact on a young person’s life, helping them discover new interests and build confidence.
- Learn and Grow: Experience the joy of connecting with someone new and expanding your understanding of Down Syndrome during a month that celebrates diversity and inclusion.
- Celebrate Together: We’ll highlight all the wonderful opportunities and experiences in the following months, sharing the joy and success stories to celebrate the time spent together.
- Business Recognition: Companies that participate will be recognized as leaders in community engagement and inclusion, with opportunities for media exposure and public acknowledgment.
Ready to Get Involved?
Whether you’re an individual with a passion to share, a business looking to make a difference, or someone interested in hosting a group experience during Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we’d love to hear from you!
Together, let’s make this October—a month dedicated to raising awareness of Down Syndrome—a time of discovery, connection, and unforgettable experiences.
#DiscoverTogether with Ups and Downs Southwest!
#DiscoverTogether Interests
Our young people as Inspiration Explorers have shared with us a wide range of interests, we will be sharing more throughout September.
Please select those where you can help our young people explore your passion.
Inspiration Explorer Evie-Rose
Evie-Rose, at eight years old, is bursting with creativity and imagination. Her love for singing and dancing is more than play—it’s how she expresses her joy and emotions, bringing music and movement together magically. Whether she's singing her heart out or spinning...
Inspiration Explorer Jack
Jack’s Joyful Adventures Meet Jack! He’s six and loves having fun. One of his favourite things is playing in the water. Whether splashing in puddles or swimming in a pool, water always makes Jack smile. Jack also loves dancing! No matter the music, Jack’s feet start...
Inspiration Explorer Enrique
Enrique has been matched with Nikki Makaton, Tutor. As part of the fantastic #DiscoverTogether project, Nikki is excited to help Enrique learn Makaton, empowering him with a new communication method. It's set to be an eye-opening experience, perfect for an Inspiration...
Inspiration Explorer Arthur
Arthur is a Bundle of Joy and Energy Arthur is a lively 6-year-old who brings smiles to everyone he meets. Bursting with energy and joy, he has an infectious enthusiasm for life. Arthur communicates using Makaton, but he understands much more than he can express. His...
Inspiration Explorer Tess
Tess has been matched with Somerset Film. As part of the exciting project #DiscoverTogether, Somerset Film is thrilled to invite Tess to the Engine Room in Bridgwater for a unique, hands-on exploration of music and performance! This is a fantastic opportunity...
How The October Experience Exchange Will Work
This is an exciting project, and we are thrilled that you would like to be part of The October Experience Exchange: #DiscoverTogether. As an Inspiration Guide, you have the opportunity to connect with a young person and share your passions, skills, and hobbies. This campaign is about creating meaningful experiences, fostering community and discovery for young people with Down Syndrome.
Offer Your Passion
As part of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, if you have a hobby, skill, or special interest that you love, volunteer to share it with one or more of our young people. This could be anything from a photography session, a day in your workshop, a cooking lesson, or even a visit to your workplace. By signing up, you will become an Inspiration Guide for this campaign.
We’ll match you with a young person—or a group of young people—in the appropriate age range who are excited to learn about what you do. You’ll spend time together, sharing your passion and giving them a hands-on experience—all while raising awareness and understanding of Down Syndrome. The children or young people will be accompanied by their parents or carers to ensure a comfortable and supportive environment.
Create a Memorable Experience
Business Involvement
We also encourage businesses and companies to participate by offering unique experiences, such as behind-the-scenes tours, group workshops, or special events tailored to our young people. Additionally, your company can help sponsor the campaign, supporting the logistics and promotion, and in return, gain recognition as a champion for inclusion and diversity.
This isn’t just about teaching; it’s about discovery—for both you and the young people. During Down Syndrome Awareness Month, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Down Syndrome, and they’ll gain a unique experience that could ignite a lifelong interest.
Discover Together
Safety and Risk Assessment
The safety of the young people is our top priority. Before any experience occurs, we will conduct a thorough risk assessment to identify and mitigate potential hazards.
We will ensure that all Inspiration Explorers and their parents/carers are fully briefed on specific requirements or considerations, creating a safe and supportive environment.
We would love you to capture photos and/or videos during the experience. With your permission, we would be thrilled to document the event. This would allow us to celebrate and share the joy with our wider community. For some of the experience, we will be contracting the services of Somerset Film who will be creating a short documentary of our awareness raising mission.
After the event, we will invite you to write a short piece about your experience. This could be a few sentences about what you enjoyed, what you learned, or how the day went overall. These stories will help inspire others and highlight the positive impact of the campaign.
Capturing and Sharing the Experience
Assurance and Careful Planning
As an Inspiration Guide, we want you to know that we have carefully prepared every aspect of the #DiscoverTogether experience to ensure it is safe, enjoyable, and enriching for you and the young person.
Our team is available to support you every step of the way, ready to answer any questions or address your concerns.
We are excited to see how The October Experience Exchange: #DiscoverTogether will open new doors for you and the young people and help create lasting memories.
Thank you for your trust and participation in this special campaign.
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