Vote for Foyle Down Syndrome Trust!

Members of the Foyle Down Syndrome Trust pictured with Ian Orr and other staff members of Brown's Restaurant as they launch the campaign for votes for their 'Recipe for Success' project.

The much loved local group is one of only five across the entire North shortlisted to be in with a chance of securing the major cash boost.

The group will feature on UTV’s local evening news on Friday coming, March 4, at 6pm. If it is successful the Derry charity will receive £49,710 from the Big Lottery Fund’s ‘People’s Projects’ fund for its ‘Recipe for Success’ initiative which will work with 20 young people aged 16-30 with learning disabilities in the Derry area to deliver a 36 week cookery course and other activities.

The course will include food hygiene, catering and menu planning and budgeting leading to NVQ qualifications.

The young people will also visit a number of cookery schools across Northern Ireland.

The activities and support will increase their health and wellbeing, skills, independence and confidence.

The group will compete for votes against Positive Futures with their Connecting Caring project in Bangor, the LILAC House project by Autonomie in Belfast, Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice’s New Multi-sensory equipment project in Newtownabbey, and the ‘Our World’ project by MAC (NI) in Rostrevor.

Voting closes at midday on Sunday March 13.

People can only vote once per region and will need an email address to vote.

To vote, visit, www.thepeoplesprojects.org.ukAlternatively, those who want to vote can send a postcard to FREEPOST The People’s Projects, including their name, address, telephone number and the name of the project ‘Foyle Down Syndrome Trust Recipe For Success.’

Foyle Down Syndrome Trust is a unique and user led local charity which was established in 1995 by parents, who felt that more could and should be done to help their children reach their full and individual potential.

The group supports children with Down Syndrome from birth to adulthood, who are disadvantaged by learning disability and associated medical conditions, to lead full, meaningful and productive lives.

The group strives to support all children and young people in the Foyle area, helping them integrate into their community whilst increasing their personal development, social awareness and functional life skills.