Down's Syndrome Scotland

What Down's Syndrome Scotland does

Down's Syndrome Scotland is a Scottish charitable company limited by guarantee (registered 1982, Scottish Charity No. SC011012) that provides information, support, and advocacy services to people with Down's syndrome and their families across Scotland. The organization serves four primary beneficiary segments: expectant and new parents receiving a Down's syndrome diagnosis; families and carers of people with Down's syndrome; adults and children with Down's syndrome seeking community and opportunity; and healthcare, education, and social-care professionals. Service delivery is anchored by a network of ten regional branches, a national helpline (0300 030 2121), a Family Support Service, Choir 21 (a singing and Makaton programme for members aged 13+), and The HUG Collective (a rebranded Expert Advisors Group providing self-advocacy representation). A new 'Ready, Willing and Able' Inclusive Employment Programme is being launched for adults with Down's syndrome seeking employment.

The organization operates as a non-profit rather than a technology company, with no proprietary platform, app, or AI/ML capabilities. Its revenue model rests on donations, corporate partnerships, grant funding (Scottish Government, CORRA Foundation, Community Fund, National Lottery), fundraising events (Kiltwalk, community challenges), free membership, and a small online merchandise shop. Membership is free and open to all who connect to Down's syndrome, including families, carers, professionals, and individuals with Down's syndrome themselves. Go-to-market is direct-to-beneficiary through branches and the helpline, supplemented by earned media and awareness campaigns (World Down's Syndrome Day, Down's Syndrome Awareness Week, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 where it won Silver Gilt and People's Choice Awards).

In 2025 the charity experienced a high-visibility year: its RHS Chelsea show garden (sponsored by Project Giving Back, designed by Burton Hall Garden Design) won two awards and was relocated permanently to Watch Us Grow at Palacerigg Country Park in North Lanarkshire. Leadership transitioned with Eddie McConnell retiring at end-2025 after six years as Chief Executive and Emma Soanes (formerly CEO of Young Enterprise Scotland) taking over on 3 November 2025. The charity joined a five-charity coalition advocating for the Learning Disabilities, Autism & Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill in Scotland and secured a five-year corporate partnership with KAEFER UK & Ireland. Headcount stands at approximately 36 employees.

Name

Down's Syndrome Scotland

Legal name

Down's Syndrome Scotland

Website

https://dsscotland.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Down's Syndrome Scotland is a Scottish charity (founded 1982, 36 staff) supporting people with Down's syndrome and their families through ten regional branches, a Family Support Service, Choir 21, and The HUG Collective advocacy group, funded by donations, grants, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support and Advocacy Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Individual and Family Services (6241), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy services
• Family support services
• Down syndrome charity
• Community support networks
• Local branch support

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow, Scotland

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Charity relies on public donations, corporate partnerships, and fundraising events including Kiltwalk, abseiling events, bake sales, and community challenges to fund services and support.
2. Membership: Free membership offered to everyone connected to Down's syndrome, providing access to services, events, and advocacy opportunities.
3. Shop: Online shop selling merchandise and resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Down's Syndrome Scotland is a Scottish charity that provides information, support, and advocacy to people with Down's syndrome and their families across every life stage, from prenatal diagnosis through adulthood. Core services include a Family Support Service, a network of ten local branches delivering groups and activities across Scotland, the Choir 21 inclusive music and Makaton program, The HUG Collective advocacy group, training for professionals, an Inclusive Employment Programme, and a helpline (0300 030 2121), all funded by donations and grants.

Product overview

Down's Syndrome Scotland is a Scottish charity providing a portfolio of support services for people with Down's syndrome and their families. The organization operates through a network of ten local branches, a Family Support Service offering guidance at every life stage, Choir 21 music program combining singing with Makaton sign language, and The HUG Collective advocacy group. The charity also runs the Down's Syndrome Scotland Garden initiative, an award-winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden that has been relocated to a permanent community site. Membership is free to all.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Choir 21: A choir program for Down's Syndrome Scotland members aged 13+ that combines singing with Makaton signing.
• Family Support Service
• The HUG Collective

Products and services

• Family Support Service Provides information, advice, and connection to local branch services for families and carers of people with Down's syndrome across every stage of life, from prenatal diagnosis through adulthood. Accessible via [email protected] and helpline 0300 030 2121.
• Choir 21 An inclusive choir program for Down's Syndrome Scotland members aged 13 and above that combines singing with Makaton sign language, delivered via face-to-face workshops (including at The Glad Café, Glasgow) and online team sessions, providing musical expression and community connection.
• The HUG Collective An advocacy group of people with Down's syndrome (formerly known as the Experts Advisors Group) that ensures lived experience guides the charity's work and represents the Down's Syndrome community across Scotland, with HUG standing for "helping us grow."
• Local Branches Network A network of ten branches located throughout Scotland offering groups and activities to connect and support people with Down's syndrome and their families at the local level, with each branch chaired by a Branch Chair coordinating local support and engagement.
• Helpline (0300 030 2121) A dedicated helpline providing telephone-based information, signposting, and support to people with Down's syndrome, families, carers, and professionals across Scotland.
• "Ready, Willing and Able" Inclusive Employment Programme A developing inclusive employment programme supporting adults with Down's syndrome to secure and sustain meaningful employment, with planned staffing including a Programme Coordinator and Mentor Support Worker.
• Online Shop An online storefront selling merchandise and downloadable resources that generate revenue to support the charity's services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Won Silver Gilt Award and People's Choice Award at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KAEFER UK & IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner who signed a five-year partnership pledge to empower people with Down's syndrome.
• Burton Hall Garden DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGarden designers Nick Burton and Duncan Hall designed the award-winning 'Down's Syndrome Scotland Garden' for RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025. The garden celebrates the qualities people with Down's syndrome bring to society.
• Laurence McIntoshminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdinburgh-based master craftsmen who designed and built custom timber benches for the RHS Chelsea Garden, incorporating 21 slats and 3 legs to represent chromosome 21.
• The BluebellsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScottish band collaborated with Choir 21 to create 'Our Chelsea Anthem' for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden unveiling.
• NHS ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare Improvement Scotland partnership on pregnancy screening standards. NHS Golden Jubilee working on improving hospital experiences for patients with learning disabilities.
• Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Group (CIDDRG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to deliver webinars on Healthy Ageing in Down's Syndrome and ABC-DS Study research collaboration.
• YDanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering Beyond Horizons dance opportunities for members in North and South Lanarkshire.
• The Glad CaféminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner in Glasgow hosting Choir 21 face-to-face workshop sessions.
• Healthcare Improvement ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSS participated as stakeholder in Pregnancy Screening Standards Development and Editorial Groups to ensure standards are inclusive for the Down's syndrome community.
• Edinburgh Napier UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership on emergency ambulance healthcare for people with intellectual disability.
• CHIL (CoHousing for Independent Living)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCIO growing out of conversations between young adults with Down's syndrome and their families around need for person-centred homes supporting independence.
• Enable CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint advocacy partner calling for Learning Disabilities, Autism & Neurodivergence Bill in Scotland.
• National Autistic Society ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint advocacy partner calling for Learning Disabilities, Autism & Neurodivergence Bill in Scotland.
• PAMIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint advocacy partner calling for Learning Disabilities, Autism & Neurodivergence Bill in Scotland.
• Scottish AutismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint advocacy partner calling for Learning Disabilities, Autism & Neurodivergence Bill in Scotland.
• Scottish Commission for Learning DisabilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint advocacy partner calling for Learning Disabilities, Autism & Neurodivergence Bill in Scotland.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Scottish Autism: Scottish charity providing autism-specific support services and a current joint advocacy partner with DSS on the LDAN Bill. Operates a comparable Scottish branch and service-delivery model across a different but adjacent disability population.
• Enable Scotland (Enable Communities): Scottish charity supporting people with learning disabilities and their families, and a current joint advocacy partner with DSS on the LDAN Bill. Comparable member-based, branch-supported service model operating in the same Scottish geography.
• Down's Syndrome Association: UK-wide charity dedicated to supporting people with Down's syndrome and their families, providing information, advice, and advocacy. Operates the same mission as DSS at a national (England/Wales/Northern Ireland) scale, making it the closest like-for-like comparable.
• National Autistic Society Scotland: Scotland arm of the UK's largest autism charity and a current joint advocacy partner with DSS on the LDAN Bill. Comparable structure as a Scotland-focused disability charity with national policy influence.
• Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD): Scotland-wide commission advocating for people with learning disabilities, and a current joint advocacy partner with DSS on the LDAN Bill. Comparable Scottish policy/advocacy remit and beneficiary population overlap.
• Down's Heart Group: UK charity offering support to families of children with Down's syndrome who have heart conditions. Highly relevant health-focused Down's-syndrome peer, sharing the same family-support and information-provision model as DSS.
• PAMIS: Scottish charity supporting people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their families. Co-advocacy partner with DSS on the LDAN Bill and shares the Scotland-only, family-centred service model.
• Positive about Down Syndrome (PADS): UK charity focused specifically on Down's syndrome, providing support and training to families, schools, and professionals. Direct Down's-syndrome-specialist comparable to DSS with a UK rather than Scotland footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Mencap: UK's largest learning disability charity, serving people with Down's syndrome among many other conditions. Operates at a substantially larger scale than DSS with a broader disability remit but overlapping beneficiary base and family-support services.

Others

• Family Fund: UK charity providing grants to families raising disabled or seriously ill children, including through the Scottish Government-funded Take a Break programme that DSS connects families into. Ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/downs-syndrome-scotland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Down's Syndrome Scotland