Midlands-based logistics, transport and shipping specialist LTS Global Solutions is spearheading a fundraising campaign to help secondary school students with Down syndrome receive the best possible education for a bright and successful future.
The company has partnered with national parent-led charity Down Syndrome UK to ensure secondary schools with students with Down Syndrome are fully equipped with the right knowledge, skills and resources to provide the best possible setting for inclusive education.
Launching the campaign on World Down Syndrome Day (21st March 2025) LTS Global Solutions is seeking support to raise £40,000 to support the cause in readiness for a September 2026 launch.
The money will fund the development of a comprehensive Secondary Education Programme, equipping schools across the country with the right resources and expertise to help unlock the potential of every student with Down syndrome.
Managing Director Dave Hands and his wife Rachel, who is Head of HR and Communications at the Coleshill-based firm, were inspired to do something through their own experience in trying to find a secondary school for their 10-year-old daughter Ella, who has Down syndrome.
With a highly positive experience throughout her mainstream primary education the couple had naturally anticipated the secondary education offering would be on a par.
But having visited a selection of secondary schools ready for Ella’s transition in September 2026 the couple say on most visits they were met with a look of fear.
“We want Ella to be able to flourish and have the same quality of mainstream education as her older brother Connor,” said Dave. “And she is one of thousands who would be positively impacted by this UK-wide education programme.”
The programme will offer accredited training modules, resources and ongoing support in a wide range of subjects and areas including numeracy, literacy, communication and social engagement.
It will be devised by Dr Becky Baxter, DSUK’s Director of Education and Speech and Language Therapy, who has almost two decades of experience in working with children and young people with Down syndrome. Last year DSUK launched an Early Years Development Programme and a Primary Education Programme which have proven successful.
Nationally, secondary schools have relatively little experience and expertise of supporting students with Down syndrome, so this pioneering comprehensive programme will have a significant impact and is aimed at every member of staff within schools, from teachers and teaching assistants to lunch time supervisors.
For a nominal annual subscription fee an online portal will provide practical insight and guides on working with students with Down syndrome. There will be accredited training modules, practical resources, downloadable information, as well as regular online drop-in sessions and seminars from experts.
Rachel added: “Children with Down syndrome have a range of needs which can prohibit their learning. If they are not properly engaged they can become disruptive. They cannot cope. But with the right support from teachers they can go on to achieve greatly. And this programme from Down Syndrome UK gives them the best chance to do so.”
Dave added: “We really want to give something back and by partnering with Down Syndrome UK on this initiative we can work towards ensuring quality education and support not only for children with Down syndrome but their teachers, families and indeed their future work colleagues.”
Nicola Enoch is the Founder and CEO of Down Syndrome UK.
She said: “The Down syndrome community is relatively small. With 800 babies born with Down syndrome each year there are about 4,000 in secondary education in the UK at any one time. With the right skills and knowledge in place schools can play a major part in helping pupils with Down syndrome thrive, giving them every opportunity to flourish in their education and in their future employment opportunities and potentially in independent living. With Dave, Rachel and the LTS Global Solutions team and supporters on board, secondary schools will have a much greater chance of helping their staff broaden their skills and to give every one of their students with Down syndrome the best secondary education.”
Source: LTS GLOBAL SOLUTIONS
