Welcome to Downright Special

Downright Special is a charity supporting children with Down syndrome in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.  We assist families and professionals in all aspects of the care and education of children with the condition.

Who we are

Originally started in 2007 by a group of parents, we set out to provide support to each other and any other parents who had children with Down syndrome. This quickly developed into an organised group giving emotional, practical and educational support to families.  Downright Special has been a registered charity since 2009 and is run by a small team of professionally trained volunteers and staff. Our aim is simple: to build a brighter future for children with Down syndrome, supporting them to achieve their full potential and promoting successful inclusion in all aspects of life.

What we do

Downright Special offers a range of services for children from birth and onwards throughout their school years.  We do this through:

• Visits to new parents or parents with an antenatal diagnosis.
• A weekly fun and education session (Downright Special Fridays), providing education, fun and play as well as support to parents and carers.
• A sensory and signing group for babies.
• Social events for the whole family. 
• Lending useful resources to parents.
• Sharing best practice teaching techniques with teaching assistants.
• Specialist resource packs for children starting school.
• Conferences and training for parents and professionals.
• Working closely with local health and education services to improve the care pathway and educational outcomes for our children.
• Promoting the awareness of Down syndrome and encouraging successful inclusion. 

Downright Special – Lauren’s story from rradar legal on Vimeo.

Where we are

You will find us at:

Bodmin Road Church Office, Padstow Close, Bransholme, Hull, HU7 4HE

​Our offices are based here and we run our Friday play and education sessions here too. For details how to find us visit our Contact Us page