"I am the mother of Charlotte who is 11 and has Down syndrome. We have been members of Stepping Stones DS (SSDS) since Charlotte was in junior school. Before SSDS, there was no local support group for us to attend, no easy way to meet other families to share experiences and we knew that as Charlotte grew older, we would need help and support for all the family. SSDS gives Charlotte some amazing opportunities whilst providing training and support for us. Charlotte (and her brothers) recently took part in a week`s cycling course through SSDS. It was a huge success for all involved and there were tears from the parents when they saw the sheer pride and enjoyment on their children`s faces as they rode their bikes without stabilisers for the first time ever, something they thought they would never be able to do!! The children also did half an hour trampolining and half an hour of trying new sports - street surfing, air gliding, curling, and parachute games. Charlotte gained so much confidence, making progress over the week despite tears and falls. Her brothers had a ball too and benefitted not only from the coaching but also from the friendships that developed during the week. It`s so important for them to have other siblings to talk to who understand what it`s like having a brother or sister with Down syndrome. Something like this would never have been possible for Charlotte and her friends without SSDS. We cannot thank them enough for the friendship, support and guidance they provide us all with."