Down Syndrome Centre
The Down Syndrome Centre is Ireland's only charity providing clinical, educational and wellbeing services for children with Down syndrome (birth to 18) and their families, delivered through Dublin centres in Sandyford and Swords plus affiliates in Cork, Portlaoise and Carrickmacross, and funded primarily through donations and subsidised service fees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSandyford, Ireland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Down Syndrome Centre does
The Down Syndrome Centre is an Irish registered charity (Company Limited by Guarantee, Company No. 376345; Charity No. 20055158, CHY 15750) founded in October 2014 by Peter and Mary Gaw. It operates as Ireland's only charity dedicated to clinical, educational and wellbeing services for children with Down syndrome from birth to 18 years and their families, delivered through full-service centres in Sandyford and Swords (Dublin), affiliate centres in Cork, Portlaoise and Carrickmacross, and the Together Academy training and employment centre in Ballsbridge for young adults.
The organisation is not a technology company but a clinical and educational service provider. Its core delivery comprises a coordinated suite of therapies — Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Music Therapy and Baby Massage — alongside structured early intervention programmes (SKIP, Stepping Stones, Team 21 Tots), educational offerings (Maths for Life, Typewiz typing in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin, school visits), social and developmental groups (Youth Club, SibShops, Pre-Teen and Teen groups), and family support services (Parent Seminars, Parents Plus, Counselling, New Parents Programme). Technology is limited to transactional tools: a Shopify online shop, Mailchimp for newsletters, and Enthuse for donation processing.
The business model is a community-led charity hybrid. Funding is primarily from charitable donations, fundraising events, corporate partnerships (Central Bank, Tesco, AIB, Smurfit Kappa, Dublin Airport, ESB Networks, Dublin Bus, National Lottery, among others), legacy gifts and the Wedding Favour card programme, supplemented by heavily subsidised service fees (€35 standard therapy sessions, from €15 for other services, with full cost coverage available for families in hardship). The organisation is Triple-Lock certified by Charities Institute Ireland, registered with the Charities Regulator, and a member of Down Syndrome International and The Wheel. In March 2026 it joined the Glór – Voices for Life national partnership with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, Down Syndrome Ireland, the HSE and Hub 21, signalling a shift from Dublin-centric delivery to national specialist therapy provision.
Down Syndrome Centre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Down Syndrome Centre
- Legal name
- The Down Syndrome Centre - Company Limited by Guarantee
- Website
- https://downsyndromecentre.ie
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Down Syndrome Centre is Ireland's only charity providing clinical, educational and wellbeing services for children with Down syndrome (birth to 18) and their families, delivered through Dublin centres in Sandyford and Swords plus affiliates in Cork, Portlaoise and Carrickmacross, and funded primarily through donations and subsidised service fees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Down Syndrome Centre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Services / Paediatric Therapy and Special Needs Education
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC), Benefits Counseling & Financial Literacy for Transition-Age Youth (EDAKANAJ), Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)
Keywords
Where Down Syndrome Centre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sandyford
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Down Syndrome Centre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Charitable Donations and Fundraising: Primary funding source is charitable giving from families connected to the DSC, the general public, and the business community. This includes donations, fundraising events, corporate partnerships, wedding favour card programmes, and legacy gifts in wills.
- Service Fees: Small fees are charged to cover running costs, subsidised by charitable funds. Standard therapy sessions cost €35 while other services cost €15. These charges are approximately 75% cheaper than private services. Financial assistance is available for families who cannot afford the standard fee.
- Government Partnership - Glór Voices for Life: New partnership with Department of Children, Disability and Equality, Down Syndrome Ireland, HSE and others to deliver expanded specialist therapeutic services nationally. This includes investment in expansion of services provided in the Dublin region by The Down Syndrome Centre.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard therapy sessions (Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech & Language Therapy) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Other services |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Baby Massage - Northside (Sandyford) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Baby Massage - Northside (Swords) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Leslie's Tots |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | SKIP Programme |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Counselling for Parents |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Self-Care Evenings |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Team 21 Tots |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | I'm Able 2 Calendar |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels9 records
Down Syndrome Centre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Down Syndrome Centre is a registered Irish charity providing clinical, educational, and wellbeing services to children with Down syndrome (birth to 18 years) and their families. Services are delivered in-person by qualified speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and teachers across centres in Dublin (Sandyford and Swords), with affiliates in Cork, Portlaoise and Carrickmacross, plus the Together Academy training and employment programme for young adults in Ballsbridge. The offering is heavily subsidised by charitable donations, with families charged approximately €35 per standard therapy session and €15 for other services (~75% below private rates).
Product overview
The Down Syndrome Centre is Ireland's only charity dedicated to clinical, educational, and wellbeing services for children with Down syndrome from birth to 18 years. The organisation operates full-service centres in Sandyford and Swords (Dublin) with affiliate centres in Cork, Carrickmacross, and Portlaoise. Its service portfolio comprises a coordinated suite of early intervention and ongoing therapy offerings: core therapeutic services (Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Music Therapy, Baby Massage); structured early intervention programmes (SKIP, Stepping Stones, Team 21 Tots, Early Intervention Pathway); educational programmes (Maths for Life, Typing Classes, School Visits); social and developmental groups (Pre-Teen and Teen Groups, Youth Club, Group Therapy, Seasonal Workshops, SibShops); parent and family support (Parent Seminars, Parents Plus, New Parents Programme, Counselling); and Together Academy for young adults (certified QQI training and employment pathways). Additional revenue-generating merchandise includes the I'm Able 2 Calendar and Communication Diaries, sold through the integrated Shopify online store.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Together Academy: A unique training and employment initiative providing personalised training in culinary and service skills, occupational therapy, and a support network to young adults with Down syndrome. Students learn at a fully-supported training café in Ballsbridge, graduating with QQI Level 2 & 3 in Employability Skills. Also offers paid employment through partnership with Happy Out café in Dun Laoghaire.
Products and services
- Physiotherapy
Companies that use Down Syndrome Centre
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Down Syndrome Centre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Down Syndrome Centre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Glór – Voices for Life PartnershipcoreNew partnership with Department of Children, Disability and Equality, Down Syndrome Ireland, The Down Syndrome Centre Dublin, Down Syndrome Centre Cork, Hub 21 and the HSE to deliver expanded specialist therapeutic services nationally. Includes Early Intervention, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy. Investment in expansion of current services in Dublin region and nationally through Down Syndrome Ireland.
- Happy Out caféminorTogether Academy offers paid employment opportunities through partnership with Happy Out café in Dun Laoghaire for graduates of the training programme.
- Trinity College DublinminorThe Typewiz typing programme was developed in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin to deliver engaging and concise typing lessons for children with Down syndrome.
- Re-TurncoreInclusion Matters Re-Turn Campaign: collaboration with Re-Turn (government-appointed organisation managing Ireland's recycling efforts) to place Inclusion Matters bins in businesses. Proceeds from recycling donations fund therapy services.
- Corporate PartnersminorCorporate partners include Central Bank, Tesco, AIB, Smurfit Kappa, Dublin Airport, ESB Networks, Enterprise, Siol Foundation, Classic Hits, Dublin Bus, National Lottery, Wikid, K2 Alpacas, Monkstown Hockey, Rethink Ireland, Hospital Saturday Fund, Department of Children, RTÉ, Fingal County Council, Lucozade, DWF Group, and Difference Days.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Down Syndrome Centre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Rehab Group: Leading Irish non-profit providing health and social services, training and employment supports for people with disabilities; comparable as a multi-site disability services charity but with a significantly broader remit.
- Enable Ireland: Major Irish disability services provider delivering therapy, education and training across multiple disability categories; overlaps with DSC on disability therapy services but serves a much broader population.
- Irish Wheelchair Association: Large Irish disability charity providing essential services to people with physical disabilities; comparable multi-site charity model and donor-funded funding structure but focused on physical rather than intellectual disability.
Direct peers
- Central Remedial Clinic: Dublin-based organisation providing specialist therapy, education and disability services to children and adults with physical disabilities; directly comparable clinical therapy model for children with disabilities.
- Down's Syndrome Association (UK): UK national organisation providing information, support and services for people with Down syndrome; the closest cross-border peer in terms of condition-specific mission and family support orientation.
- Down Syndrome Ireland: National voluntary organisation for people with Down syndrome in Ireland; directly comparable mission and beneficiary population, though larger national footprint and broader advocacy remit than DSC's clinical-services focus.
- Cheshire Ireland: Irish disability service provider offering person-centred supports to people with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities; comparable delivery model of community-based therapy and supported services.
Others
- Inclusion Ireland: National umbrella organisation advocating for people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland; comparable in serving the same intellectual-disability community but operating primarily in advocacy rather than direct clinical service delivery.
- Special Olympics Ireland: Irish arm of Special Olympics providing sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities including Down syndrome; comparable community-led fundraising model and overlapping beneficiary base.
Regional players
- Camphill Communities of Ireland: Provider of intentional community living and day services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ireland; comparable IDD beneficiary base and life-stage support philosophy.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Down Syndrome Centre social profiles
Digital presenceDown Syndrome Centre compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Down Syndrome Centre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Down Syndrome Centre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Down Syndrome Centre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Down Syndrome Centre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Down Syndrome Centre
What does Down Syndrome Centre do?
The Down Syndrome Centre is a registered Irish charity providing clinical, educational, and wellbeing services to children with Down syndrome (birth to 18 years) and their families. Services are delivered in-person by qualified speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and teachers across centres in Dublin (Sandyford and Swords), with affiliates in Cork, Portlaoise and Carrickmacross, plus the Together Academy training and employment programme for young adults in Ballsbridge. The offering is heavily subsidised by charitable donations, with families charged approximately €35 per standard therapy session and €15 for other services (~75% below private rates).
Is Down Syndrome Centre a public or private company?
Down Syndrome Centre is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Down Syndrome Centre founded?
Down Syndrome Centre was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Down Syndrome Centre based?
Down Syndrome Centre is headquartered in Sandyford, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does Down Syndrome Centre make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Charitable Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are service Fees and government Partnership - Glór Voices for Life.
Who are Down Syndrome Centre's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Rehab Group, Enable Ireland and Irish Wheelchair Association. Direct peers are Central Remedial Clinic, Down's Syndrome Association (UK), Down Syndrome Ireland and Cheshire Ireland. Others are Inclusion Ireland and Special Olympics Ireland. Camphill Communities of Ireland is listed as a regional player.
Does Down Syndrome Centre have an API?
No public API is recorded for Down Syndrome Centre.
What industry is Down Syndrome Centre in?
Down Syndrome Centre's product category is Disability Services / Paediatric Therapy and Special Needs Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support, with a secondary code of HSAAAIAC, Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare. Its NAICS code is 62412 and its SIC code is 8300.