We are 2 years old!
Learn and Thrive is 2 years old!
We have had an incredible two years so far, and we have been busy! We have released 2 series each for Teach Me Too and Learning for Life, as well as, fostering partnerships with other organisations, including Symbol UK, Special iApps, Inclusively Down, and so many more. There is so much we could share about the last two years, so let’s dive in...
During the pandemic, we saw a gap in the learning support for young people with Down’s syndrome. The support systems provided by schools and other professionals weren’t as readily available as they had been before, and we wanted to find a way to bring specialised teaching into the home. Teach Me Too was developed as part of 21 Together, a Kent-based charity providing direct intervention support for those with Down’s syndrome.
As Teach Me Too began to grow, it was quickly realised that the resource should be available nationally and not just for those in Kent, so the decision was made to separate the project from 21 Together. Therein, Learn and Thrive was born; providing online tools to empower people with Down’s syndrome and other learning difficulties. As we looked at the needs of the community once again, we discovered a gap in the learning resources surrounding the Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum. Subsequently, the Learning for Life project was created.
Resources from both projects are still used at 21 Together, giving us a great basis for direct feedback, and enabling us to constantly better develop our resources for the benefit of all our users. It also binds us to our roots! These humble beginnings have developed into a rapidly growing group of users; no longer limited to just parents and guardians. Two years on, and we have seen our resources used across the world, in homes, schools, and other support groups. This is incredible for us to see, and we are delighted that our resources are providing much-valued support.
Like most things, there have been some challenges along the way, and there still are! But our small team are constantly looking at ways to develop and evolve, to try to reach those who need our projects the most and to continue to grow. Receiving feedback from our users is the best way for us to identify problems and see how we can improve. We are lucky that so many users help us by giving us in-depth feedback. Other organisations have also been invaluable in helping us reach those that need it; including Widgit, Makaton, and Numicon. We are also constantly trying to connect with other in-person support groups to partner with to help provide enhanced curriculums and save time for small and new groups.
Funding has been very generously provided to us by several different groups of supporters. We are lucky enough to receive funding from The National Lottery, Arnold Clark, The Lawson Trust, Phillip and Connie Philips Foundation, and Kent Community Foundation, to name a few. We also receive donations from individuals who use and love our videos. It’s amazing that we can keep our resources free, and that is how we want them to stay. Funding is the only way for us to do this, so we are very grateful to each of our donors. Our Trustees have been a huge part of fundraising for us, with access to larger corporate donors and individual networks. Their Strictly Makaton Challenge raised nearly £17,000 in May 2022. Their next challenge is the Race for Friendship, a dragon boat race taking place on 16th July in Kingston upon Thames. We’ve already raised almost £7,000, and with 10 days to go, we are hoping for even more. These sorts of fundraisers are great fun, and they contribute invaluable funds to a small charity like ours.
Looking forward, there is so much more to come! Not only is the Race for Friendship not too far away, but we’ve also been filming for our newest Learning for Life series - Caring Friendships and Being Healthy. These will work alongside Growing Up & Keeping Safe and Emotions to enhance our RSE curriculum for children and young people with Down’s syndrome and other learning difficulties. Our team is also growing, as we take on a Digital Marketing Officer this summer. Being a small charity, all these changes and developments can make a massive difference, giving us all more time to understand what our users want and need, and help streamline our processes – which, in turn, helps our users! And with more funding, we can deliver even more!
If you’d like to help us celebrate our birthday, there are a few ways you can do so, all of which are linked below. Firstly, you could donate to our Race for Friendship! As it is nearing, the members of our boats are getting more and more excited, and they are racing to fundraise. Help a team of your choice or donate to the overall event. Secondly, why not attend? The Race for Friendship doesn’t just involve Learn and Thrive, it’s a huge event with lots of different groups getting involved. There are also market stalls, fairground attractions, and more for all the family to enjoy. Lastly, (and most importantly!) sign up to use our resources and share them far and wide. The more people we reach, the more people we can help, and the more resources we can make.