May & Co supports QPR ‘Tiger Cubs’ Down’s syndrome football
QPR are one of six football clubs in England who run teams for children with Down’s syndrome. Their aim is to provide children and young people with Down’s syndrome the same benefits of being on a team as their able-bodied peers.
Through football, this project aims to create a multi-tier learning environment that will improve the participants’ overall physical, social and emotional health. As a lifelong fan of QPR John Yianni, the managing director at May & Co, first came into contact with the work of QPR In The Community Trust and DS Active after seeing the Tiger Cubs play before a home game. John and his father were regular visitors to Loftus Road and after John’s father recently passed away he decided to make the Tiger Cubs May & Co’s dedicated charity. Since then, May & Co have raised over £3000 through clients, family and friends.
Further information about the Tiger Cubs
- The project has been running weekly on Monday night’s for an hour and a half for children and young people with Down's syndrome aged 5 to 25.
- There have been between 20 and 30 participants at each session, which focus on developing the core fundamentals of football.
- While participants are learning physical skills, they are simultaneously increasing their own social and emotional abilities.
- For many of the Tiger Cubs, this was one of the few times (other than school) where they were interacting with adults other than their parents, and interacting with other people with Down’s syndrome.
- Approximately 85% of people with Down’s syndrome attend mainstream school. Having the ability to train and play at a similar level increases their ability to reap all of the potential benefits.
The Down’s Syndrome Association(DSA) has been a key partner in making this project work. The DSA is the only organisation in the UK solely dedicated to living successfully with Down’s syndrome with an aim of helping people with Down’s syndrome live full and rewarding lives.
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