Now that you know all about Chatterbox, we thought it about time that we introduced you to our VIC’s (very important Chatterboxes!).

Archie

My name is Archie, I am 7 years old.  I live with my Mummy and Daddy in Windsor.  I have 2 cats (Pippin & Waffles) which I quite like, but don’t like when they jump on me while I am on my ipad!

My ipad is probably my favourite thing in the World, as well as my puppet, Dylan, who comes everywhere with me, even to school.

I go to a mainstream primary school and have a lovely Teaching Assistant called Mrs Wellstead.  I have lots of friends at school and lots of nice teachers too.  My favourite part of the day is lunchtime, because I love food.  My favourite food is sausages, jacket potatoes, bread and chocolate.  I don’t like biscuits of rice crispies because I don’t like the texture in my mouth – it feels horrible and I have to spit it out.

I also like dancing and horse riding, which I am getting better at and now only need 1 helper (I used to need 2).  I am hoping I can enter some competitions soon.  I also love Justin Fletcher / Mr Tumble.

This is me at horse riding (my horse is called Forrester)

I LOVE this picture – for many reasons.

The first is just because its gorgeous.  The models are pretty cute too.  The setting (Cliveden, Berkshire) is simply stunning and the photographic skills (and patience) of the lovely Tasha from (Ikon Works Photography) were amazing.

This was one of the images we used for a fundraising calendar a few years ago.

It am always curious about how most (not all!) children with Downs Syndrome love unconditionally.  They are not afraid to express their feelings and show their emotions.  They are not subject to any prejudice and do not see difference.  They have huge reserves of empathy and are very aware of when someone is feeling sad, lonely or upset.  They radiate love and kindness and this is a quality to ADORE about Downs Syndrome.

Happy Thursday!

Wow ….. 2018 already!!??!! How did that happen?

We had a really full, busy, fun packed “chatty” year in 2017 and unfortunately our lovely website had to take a side step to allow for all the fundraising.

We have been slightly overwhelmed by the love and support shown by both organisations and individuals alike.  Your generosity has allowed us to continue to provide invaluable, one to one speech therapy for our children on an on-going basis.

Cuts within the NHS and Local Government made during 2017 had a devastating effect on some of our children with several receiving a mere 6 hours of speech therapy a year! As delayed speech development is common for children with Downs Syndrome, the fact the the NHS offer such a minimal amount leaves me stuck for words and also grateful to Chatterbox for being able to step in and put our children first, making sure speech therapy is up there – important and critical to development.

With this in mind, we would like to publicly thank the following organisations for their continued support:

The Lions Club of Maidenhead

St Marks Crescent Methodist Church, Maidenhead

Stoke Park Country Club, Hotel & Spa

Heathrow Community Fund

St Pirans School, Maidenhead

Waitrose, Maidenhead

All have kindly supported Chatterbox in 2017 and many have become personally interested in the growth and viability of our Group – so for this we THANK YOU!

Sue Arnold – the proud winner of the Mulberry Bag

A massive thank you to everyone who has bought a square to support Chatterbox.  We have thoroughly enjoyed this particular fundraiser and it was with delight that Fergus (one of our little Chatterboxes) pulled the lucky ticket last night (see the Chatterbox facebook page for a video of this!).

Your generosity has once again been incredible and we were able to raise enough money to fund almost 1 month’s worth of speech therapy for our entire Group and for this we thank you all very much.

Chatterbox would like to wish everyone a very happy World Downs Syndrome day 2017!

What is World Downs Syndrome Day?

taken from Wikipedia:

WDSD was first observed in 2006 in many countries around the world and Down Syndrome Association Singapore launched and hosted the World Down Syndrome Day website from 2006-2010, on behalf of Down Syndrome International, for global activities to be recorded.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon said on 21 March 2012 “On this day, let us reaffirm that persons with Down syndrome are entitled to the full and effective enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. Let us each do our part to enable children and persons with Down syndrome to participate fully in the development and life of their societies on an equal basis with others. Let us build an inclusive society for all.”^[4]

Since 2011, Down Syndrome International (DSi) has co-ordinated the World Down Syndrome Day website and the WDSD Global Video Event “Let Us In!” (see 2013 Event “Let Us In – I Want to Work!”). In 2012, DSi organized the first WDSD Conference held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA on 21 March which was sponsored by the Brazilian Mission and Polish Mission to the United Nations, UN Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and UNICEF. In 2013, DSi organized the second WDSD Conference (called “Right To Work”), held again at the United Nations Headquarters on 21 March, and sponsored by the Missions of Australia, Brazil, India, Japan and Poland to the United Nations, UN Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and UNICEF. DSi also announces the World Down Syndrome Day Awards every year on 21 March and co-ordinated the WDSD Lots of Socks campaign in 2013.

Spread the message, raise awareness and celebrate that extra chromosome!!

We are very pleased (and VERY excited) to announce our next fundraising initiative.  If you already follow our activity on Facebook, you will already know all about it, but if not, please log on to find out how to be in with a chance of having your very own Mulberry Chester Handbag.

All details can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/Chatterbox

After a little time out – we are back!

Chatterbox has been running weekly speech therapy sessions as usual, but with one thing and another, the website updates have not happened.

We are back now though and decided that we needed to come back in the BIG way!

Therefore, I am going to give you some small clues over the next few days as to what we will be doing.

Clue One:

_”UNDERSTATED ELEGANCE OF A VINTAGE STYLE WITH A SLEEK AND SIMPLE STRUCTURE”_

hmmmmmmm – any ideas? Watch this space …….

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!

A lovely team from St Pirans school in Maidenhead are running in the Santa Fun Run in Marlow this Saturday, raising funds for Chatterbox!

A team of children and parents will be dressed as Santa and will be dashing through the streets of Marlow, aiming to complete a 5k course.  This will be the first ‘race’ many will have completed and it is fabulous that they have chosen our Group to support.

They are already over 1/2 way to there target of £1,500 – which is incredible.

If you are able to support us we would be grateful for any donation, not matter how small.

Go Team Chatterbox!

Santa Fun Run Just Giving page

Chatterbox are proud to announce a very special screening of My Feral Heart.

DATE: Sunday 13 November 2016

TIME: 5.00pm

VENUE: Regal Picture House, Henley on Thames

Simply click on the link below to go directly to our page.  Here you will be able to ‘Reserve a Ticket’ to the film.  Each ticket costs £11.50, however if you wish to support Chatterbox, please add the word ‘chatterbox’ in the ‘Promotional Code’ field when booking.  This will donate £3.50 directly to Chatterbox and will automatically put you in to the prize draw (which will be drawn at the screening).

My Feral Heart features a lead actor called Luke (played by Steven Brandon) who has Downs Syndrome and struggles with daily life after his Mother passes away. This film has been premiered in Los Angeles (LA Lift Off Film Festival), San Jose (Cinequest Film Festival – where it won Audience Award), Asia (Singapore Minds Film Festival), London (East End Film Festival 2016), Edinburgh (Edinburgh Film Festival), France (Cannes Film Festival) and now you have the chance to watch it in Henley!!

Please tell you family, friends, neighbours, work colleagues and encourage everyone to come along.

NB: Word of warning – I have seen the trailer and you WILL need tissues.

My Feral Heart

#Notsodifferent

Is it really that easy when you have a child with additional needs?

The school holidays can sometimes be very stressful for a child with Downs Syndrome. The ‘routine’ that school life brings, makes a child with DS feel secure, knowing that they can anticipate what is going to happen next (the next hour / day / week etc).  When this structure is removed and what usually happens on a Wednesday is suddenly completely different, this can be very unsettling.

It can also be quite a challenging time for parents and carers.  You are never fully relaxed when you are looking after a child with DS and always need to have your eyes on them (as I recently discovered when I took my eyes off my son for literally 5 seconds when in a large department store and in that time he saw his opportunity to run off, get into a lift, go down to the ground floor, run around a bit more, then go back to the 1st floor via the stairs! Leaving me is full, 100% state of panic mode – his explanation for doing this was ‘he wanted to go in the lift’!!!!

Most children with DS are also very sociable and given half the chance will talk to anyone (which is quite charming most of the time).  School works with our children to help them understand the concept of ‘Stranger Danger’ however its a very difficult concept to accept, when you are wired to be naturally inquisitive and friendly.

Having said all of this, our children can help us relax.

They have a truly amazing way of appreciating the smallest things.  Things we may miss in our normal, busy lives – a tiny spec of glitter on the pavement, a cloud in the shape of a butterfly, a funny picture in a newspaper.  For this we should be grateful.

Enjoy your Summer.

Relax.

Appreciate the small things.