DS Champions Programme
No Barriers were delighted to receive funding from Rethink Ireland to run a DS Champions Programme in 2024. This programme is a comprehensive physical and emotional wellbeing initiative specifically designed to address the unique health challenges faced by individuals living with Down syndrome (DS) in Ireland. This programme has been designed by a team of Allied Health Professionals and experts from the Fitness Industry, with the goal of improving the overall quality-of-life of individuals with DS through targeted interventions in physical activity, nutrition, emotional wellbeing, and community inclusion.
Individuals living with DS are more susceptible to various health conditions, namely, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and mental health problems. The purpose of the DS Champions programme is to improve overall physical and mental health and well-being of individuals who are living with DS. Additionally, this programme aims to reduce the risk of developing health conditions that are more prevalent among cohorts who are living with DS.
The DS Champions programme aims to ensure that individuals living with DS have equal opportunities to participate in positive lifestyle activities, such as:
- Engaging in regular physical activity through meaningful movement-based activities.
- Enhancing emotional wellbeing by empowering individuals to develop emotional awareness and employ appropriate strategies to support emotional and mental health.
- Providing education on nutrition to support healthy nutritional habits.
- Provide participants with autonomy and mastery to enable independent decision making in community activities.
- Promoting social inclusion, enabling individuals to become active members of their local communities.
Our vision
Our vision for the future is to diminish the health risks associated with DS through the successful implementation of the DS Champions Programme. By fostering a culture of health and wellbeing among individuals with DS, we aim to empower participants to lead healthier, more independent lives, while attempting to reduce the long-term healthcare costs associated with managing associated chronic conditions.
Aims & Objectives
This programme aims to firstly, increase the physical activity levels of individuals living with DS and consequently, enhance:
- Cardiovascular fitness and health
- Strength
- Balance and co-ordination
- Emotional wellbeing
- Social inclusion
Pilot Study Summary
The results from an in-house pilot study of the DS Champions Programme facilitated by the No Barriers Foundation highlighted that participants (adults) statistically significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved body mass, body mass index, balance parameters, six-minute walk test walking distance and speed, systolic blood pressure, and various elements of emotional wellbeing throughout the six-week intervention.
A social return on investment (SROI) analysis has been conducted based on the findings from our DS Champions pilot programme, which was rolled out from January to June 2024 and involved a total of 33 adult participants living with DS. The SROI analysis indicated that the DS Champions six-week programme generated total annual benefits of €33,000; which can be broken down into healthcare savings (€6,600), productivity gains (€9,900), quality-of-life improvements (€16,500), with a total SROI ratio of 2.376 for every €1 invested in the DS Champions programme.
Funded with thanks to Rethink Ireland
