This workshop has been tailored to support people with Down’s Syndrome and their families to navigate toilet training. Join us to chat through practical methods and ideas and share your experiences with other parent/carers.
Event Details
Wednesday 9th September 2026
7pm – 8pm
Online via Zoom
When: Tuesday 18th August
Time: 7-8pm
Grab a cuppa and Join Donna Tomlin from Contact Scotland to explore the Talking about tomorrow resource which has been put together with parents, for parents, in Scotland, to answer questions about transition to adulthood. Transition simply means change. For young people with Down’s Syndrome, the transition into adulthood, growing up, is one of the biggest changes they face. It isn’t just about leaving school, it’s about building an adult life, and that takes time. This resource is packed with useful, practical information to help support your family and navigate the transition.
Get ready for an unforgettable evening at our Summer Prom! Open to young people and adults aged 13+, this is a chance to dress up, have fun, and celebrate together in a safe and welcoming environment.
The event will be held at the King Robert Hotel in Stirling, a venue that has warmly welcomed us many times before for our annual disco. For any room inquiries, please contact the hotel directly.
On the night, you can enjoy a dance at the disco, a delicious buffet, and a fun photo booth to capture special moments with friends. Tickets are available following the button below, with full details of costs available there. We recommend booking early to secure your place.
Please note that all members must be accompanied by a support person. Each member ticket includes a free additional ticket for their support person. If more than one support person is required, please get in touch with us in advance so we can discuss options and ensure we can best support your attendance.
For any questions or to discuss your needs, please contact us at: FriendZ@dsscotland.org.uk
We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
When: Tuesday 19th May
Time: 7-8.30pm
Transitions—whether big moments like graduating from high school or everyday changes like getting used to new shoes—can be especially challenging for individuals with Down syndrome. This presentation will offer families and caregivers practical, easy to-use strategies to help these changes go more smoothly, reduce stress, and build confidence. Attendees will also receive helpful resources to support loved ones through a variety of transitions
The Choir 21 tutors would like to invite you to take part in some Choir 21 workshops at Watch us Grow, the permanent home for our DSS Chelsea garden!
What does a Choir 21 workshop involve?
Where and when are the Choir 21 workshops?Who?: For DSS Members aged 13+
When?: Thursday 7th May 6-7.30pm AND Tuesday 26th May 6-7.30pm
Where?: Watch us Grow, Palacerigg Country Park, Cumbernauld
SandFest, our fundraising concert for everyone ages 12 and up featuring Choir 21 and The Bluebells, is back on 25 October. Doors open at 6.30pm, with Choir 21 on at 7pm.
SandFest has a special place for us: this concert curated by Katy Lironi and Douglas MacIntyre originated in their back garden in 2007 with the aim to fundraise for Down’s Syndrome Scotland (DSS). The Bluebells are great friends of Down’s Syndrome Scotland and Choir 21, with vocalist Ken McCluskey being a Down’s Syndrome Scotland ambassador and Ken and Douglas being patrons and regular performers with the Choir.
The concert ran at Sandford Village Hall for 10 years and in 2018 it moved to the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow to help DSS raise funds for the World Down Syndrome Congress.
After the Covid Pandemic, the concert moved to the Strathaven Hotel, a lovely country house hotel in the Lanarkshire town, where it will be hosted again in 2026.
It promises to be an unforgettable night of music – we hope you can join us there! Follow the link to secure your tickets!
Makaton version of the announcement: Amy from Choir 21
Morton in the community is offering a free come and try football session for young people aged 5 – 16. Morton in the community coaches have all undergone training with Down’s Syndrome Scotland.
Date, time and place:Tuesday 17th February 2026 at 3pm – 4pm, Toryglen Regional Football Centre.To find out more about Morton in the community, you can find their website here: mortoncommunity.netTo find out more about Toryglen Region football centre, you can visit: Toryglen Regional Football Centre – Glasgow LifeYou can book you interest with the button below.
When: Tuesday 19th May 2026
Time: 6:30-7:30pm
Grab a cuppa and join us to share your experiences of dual diagnosis of Down’s syndrome and Autism/ADHD etc – with other parents/carers. We know that every person is an individual however we know that sharing experiences can create a supportive network within our community and a place to feel understood and supported. It also helps us to better understand our communities needs and any information and support that is needed.
Towards the end of 2025 we set up Choir 21 for parents and carers on Zoom at the request of some parents. It proved popular and we are planning to continue with sessions resuming in April. This is open to any parent or carer who is a member of Down’s Syndrome Scotland. We are keeping the format the same with half hour sessions running every 2 weeks – details below.
This is a small time commitment for maximum fun and very useful learning! Please feel free to come along and join in as and when suits – there is no need to commit to coming to each session.
WHAT?: Choir 21 for Parents and Carers on Zoom
WHEN?: Every second Monday 8-8.30PM starting 27th April.
WHAT HAPPENS?: Learn the Makaton signs to a new song each week then sing and sign along to the song together–recordings of the tutorial and signed song are sent to attendees after each session. Lyrics are emailed prior to each session.
WHY?: Meet other parents of children and adults of all different ages and stages and have a lot of fun learning a very useful skill!
HOW DO I JOIN?: Sign up below and we will send you the recurring Zoom link and and information you need to know
There is no requirement to know Makaton to attend, just come along, learn and have fun. 😊
I look forward to singing and signing with you.
When: Thursday 19th March
Time: 10-11am
At this session we will be joined by Isla Ross, Additional Support for Learning Service with City of Edinburgh Council for a ‘Ready Steady School’ session.
Isla helps support staff in mainstream schools who have pupils with additional support needs in their class. Isla is also a Signalong Tutor as well as a teacher in the Forest School for Care Experienced Young People.
At this starting school session Isla will chat about what to expect going into Secondry school and provide some practical ideas to parents/carers to help make that transition to Secondary a positive experience for the whole family.
We are delighted that we can introduce some more in-person ABC Songs, Stories and Signs sessions for children aged 6-12 years (up to 12th birthday or older depending on communication stage)
Come along to our ABC Songs, Stories and Signs face-to-face event on Sunday 24th May at 11.00am in Seafield, West Lothian (session ends at 12noon).
Sessions take place at Cill Mhanach Wellness Studio, Redhouse Road, Seafield, West Lothian, EH47 7AL and will be hosted by June Flynn, ABC Tutor, from our Achieving Better Communication (ABC) team.
To attend this event please complete the form below. We will then email a reminder of the details of the event (usually a few days before from abc@dsscotland.org.uk).
Event information:
There is no additional cost for those who subscribe to our ABC programme as it includes monthly face-to-face sessions throughout the year. A £5.00 charge (per session) applies to families who aren’t signed up to the ABC Programme.
The sessions will take place once per month (usually last Sunday of the month) and will feature lots of familiar aspects of our ABC online sessions – songs, Makaton signs, stories and communication activities. Face-face sessions also provide a great opportunity for meeting other parents.
Face-to-face ABC Songs, Stories and Signs sessions will be in addition to weekly online ABC or ABC Anytime sessions, which will continue weekly throughout term time.
Each event can accommodate a maximum of 8 children plus a parent/carer and will be on a first come first served basis. Please book only one ticket per family.
Each event needs to be booked on an individual basis, but more than one session can be booked by each family.
Come along to our ABC Songs, Stories and Signs face-to-face event on Sunday 26th April at 11.00am in Seafield, West Lothian (session ends at 12noon).