Our community - young people with Down’s syndrome, learning difficulties, and special educational needs - are at higher risk of being harmed online than their typical peers.

  • Compared to their typical peers.

  • 27%, compared to 17% of their typical peers.

  • 36%, compared to 25% of their typical peers, experience frequent bullying.

As parents and educators of this community, the fears around the harms of the internet are constantly at the forefront of our minds.

We see the increasing reliance on technology and the internet, and the many benefits it can bring to our young people, and all we want is for them to be able to grab this opportunity with both hands - safely and independently.

Harms online are extensive - from cyberbullying, to viewing self-harm content, to scams and fraud, and so much more.

But the benefits can be enormous - staying in touch with friends, learning new skills, enjoying leisure time.

So what are we doing about it?

Learn and Thrive are producing a brand new series in the FREE Learning for Life project - videos and resources to teach our community how to safely make use of the internet and harness all the wonderful things out there. But we need YOU!

You can directly impact thousands of young people within our community by providing them with these key skills. Donating just £5 helps us get one step closer to our goal of everyone in our community thriving throughout life.

Safe and independent use of the internet is the next step for our community to gain access to more education and employment opportunities.

  • Enhancing connections within communities

  • Reducing viewing of harmful content and increased independence when using the internet

  • Feeling equal with typical peers

You can reduce risks for our young people.

You can ensure they feel empowered.

You can help them thrive!