Together 21 spread Christmas joy on Sunday 9 December, welcoming customers at Tesco, Newton Aycliffe by singing and signing a selection of Christmas Carols and their rendition of “This is Me” from the popular film ‘The Greatest Showman’. The children, their families and PCP staff and volunteers were keen to show their gratitude to the local community for their continued support that enables this vital service to flourish. Thanks to the community vote, the service was recently awarded £4000 under the Tesco Bags of Help scheme.

Jo Walker, Together 21 Development Worker said “We thought, as a community based project, it was important to show our community our appreciation for their support. We are keen to work closely with Community groups and businesses to both raise awareness of the need for such a project and to raise the vital funds to ensure that we can continue to support our current families and allow us to expand our services.”

Together 21, a parent led project based at the Pioneering Care Centre in Newton Aycliffe, serves families from throughout the North East and offers Learning, Fun and Friendship to children with Down syndrome and their families. It provides access to a comprehensive programme of tailored learning and life skills for children from birth to 18 years old, helping them acquire the essential skills that will equip them to meet the future with confidence.

The service provides access to;

• Communication / Makaton Signing

• Speech & Language,

• Numeracy

• Fine & Gross Motor Skills

• Behaviour & Social skills

• Family support

Maggie Hart, Together 21 Educational Consultant said “It is important that this support gets to our families as early as possible, to give our beautiful children the best start in life and allows the families to both learn alongside their child and gain confidence themselves. All at Together 21 are very proud of the work we do and feel it is important to spread awareness of what early intervention can achieve.”

Thanks to the generosity of shoppers and the friends and family of Together 21 the event raised a further £397.40 to support the service activities.

For more information about Together 21, contact us at the Pioneering Care Centre, Carer’s Way, Newton Aycliffe, DL5 4SF tel: 01325 321234 email: enquiries@pcp.uk.net website: www.pcp.uk.net or follow them facebook www.facebook.com/Together21PCP/

Photo: Together 21 Children and their Families, and PCP Staff, Volunteers .