With our Apprentice Awards coming soon, we thought it would be a great opportunity to shine the spotlight on our chosen charity: Hands Up For Downs.
The charity has been our chosen charity for 2 years and will once again be the recipient of the proceeds raised at our Apprentice Awards. Our previous two awards have raised a total of £2,000 and £2,500 respectively.
Hands Up For Downs is a registered charity affiliated to the Down’s Syndrome Association. Founded in May 2014, this parent-run support group brings families, parents, carers and children with Down Syndrome together to share advice and support, and as a group ensure that children living with Down Syndrome are given access to the services they need.
It was founded by a group of parents whose children were born with Down’s Syndrome between 2011 and 2012. They met at the Action for Children Centre in Killay, Swansea and developed a strong bond. Realising there was no existing support group for children with Down’s Syndrome in the Swansea Bay area, they decided to create their own.
The objective of the charity was to provide support for those families with children with Down’s Syndrome and to ensure that their children received the necessary services. Since then, the group has grown to include more than fifty families.
At last year’s Awards, Hands Up For Down received a donation of £2,500, raised through an auction and raffle which was hosted and compared by Swansea legend Kev Johns, at the ceremony, held at the Village Hotel, Swansea.
The aim of the awards is to highlight the achievements of apprentices and future talent within the construction industry in the South Wales region. It is also part of an overall objective to promote the construction industry’s image and showcase the benefits of considering the construction industry as a career path, and what skills individuals can gain from this profession.
Gemma Mineur, our Training Manager, said:
“We are honored to continue our support for this amazing charity this year. It brings me great joy to contribute to their meaningful cause and make a difference in our community.”