Creator: Down’s Syndrome Scotland
Revealed: 2026/02/04
Publication Kind: Announcement
Class Subject: Occasions – Public Notices – Associated Publications
Web page Content material: Synopsis – Introduction – Most important – Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This text highlights a significant musical collaboration the place Down’s Syndrome Scotland’s Choir 21 groups up with Ken McCluskey and Douglas MacIntyre from The Bluebells to launch their rendition of the hit Younger at Coronary heart on Final Night time from Glasgow, timed to have fun World Down’s Syndrome Day on March twenty first, 2026. The Makaton signing choir, based by Down’s Syndrome Scotland’s ABC Lead Katy Lironi, has advanced from its show-stealing debut at Glasgow’s Royal Live performance Corridor in 2018 right into a thriving weekly on-line neighborhood that brings collectively members aged 12 and older for singing, signing, and socializing. Latest efficiency highlights embrace appearances on the Paisley E-book Pageant, RHS Chelsea Flower Present in London, and the Scottish Parliament’s Pageant of Politics, demonstrating how accessible music packages can create real alternatives for social connection and public engagement. All proceeds from the one assist Down’s Syndrome Scotland’s complete packages, together with communication assist for 150 people throughout Scotland, social wellbeing teams that fight isolation, and household assist providers that help dad and mom from being pregnant onward – sources notably precious for households navigating the extra assist wants that always accompany Down’s syndrome – Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Down’s Syndrome Scotland’s Choir 21 in collaboration with Ken McCluskey and Douglas MacIntyre (The Bluebells) launch their model of primary hit single, Younger at Coronary heart, on Final Night time from Glasgow to have fun World Down’s Syndrome Day – twenty first March 2026 to lift consciousness and funds.
Choir 21 is a Makaton signing choir conceived by Down’s Syndrome Scotland’s ABC Lead and Makaton Tutor, Katy Lironi.
Most important Content material
Choir 21 first attracted public consideration with their inaugural efficiency on the Royal Live performance Corridor, Glasgow in 2018 as a part of Sandfest’s tenth anniversary celebrations which helped increase funds for the World Down’s Syndrome Congress being hosted by Down’s Syndrome Scotland that yr. Choir 21 opened the evening and regardless of having a stellar line up – together with Clare Grogan from Altered Photos, Justin Currie from del Amitri, The Bluebells, James Grant from Love and Cash and Pores and skin from Hipsway – BBC Radio Scotland DJ Billy Sloan, said that Choir 21 stole the present.
Sandfest is a fundraising live performance organised by Katy and Douglas to have fun World Down’s Syndrome Day which falls on twenty first March annually. The date denotes the third copy of chromosome 21 which causes Down’s syndrome. Katy and Douglas are additionally dad and mom to Matilda, a 22-year-old younger lady with Down’s syndrome who likes to sing and carry out.
After their 2018 debut the choir regrouped, materialising as a web-based choir in the course of the first lockdown of 2020. Choir 21 has continued weekly since then, with two choirs made up of Down’s Syndrome Scotland members aged 12+ assembly weekly on-line to sing, signal, socialise, write songs and carry out collectively.
In 2022 Choir 21 reprised their Sandfest efficiency, this time taking to the stage backed by their patrons, the Bluebells, on the Strathaven Lodge in South Lanarkshire. That efficiency has led to a gradual stream of efficiency alternatives which culminated in 2025 with a couple of highlights:
- March noticed the choir carry out as a part of the Paisley E-book Pageant in assist of Katy’s musical memoir about life together with her daughter Matilda, titled ‘Matilda within the Center’, printed by Into Inventive in 2024.
- In Could the choir travelled to London to carry out on the Down’s Syndrome Scotland Backyard on the RHS Chelsea Flower Present. They have been accompanied by Ken, Douglas and Clare Grogan and caught the attention and coronary heart of celebrities like Invoice Bailey and Mel Giedroyc who have been lured onto our backyard by the star high quality of the superb Choir 21!
- In August the choir carried out for the second yr operating at The Scottish Parliament at Holyrood as a part of the Pageant of Politics, bringing pleasure and a very inclusive efficiency to the guts of Scottish authorities.
Choir 21 is ceaselessly rising, evolving and searching for new methods to unfold pleasure whereas elevating consciousness of what it means to reside with Down’s syndrome in Scotland in the present day. All proceeds from the sale of Younger at Coronary heart by Choir 21 will go on to Down’s Syndrome Scotland to permit them to proceed supporting folks with Down’s syndrome and their households throughout Scotland at all ages and stage of life and allow them to profit from a variety of programmes and assist which embrace:
- Choir 21 – weekly Makaton choirs for folks with Down’s syndrome aged 12+
- Reaching Higher Communication ABC Programme – on-line and face-face weekly communication teams for folks of all ages with Down’s syndrome – at present supporting 150 infants, youngsters and adults all through Scotland – donations from this single might assist us attain much more.
- TeenZ House and FriendZ House Social Well being & Wellbeing Programmes – on-line and face-face social teams for youngsters and adults with Down’s syndrome and FriendZ Meetups – a social neighborhood programme all serving to to cut back loneliness and isolation and assist connectedness and friendships.
- Household Assist Service – supporting households from being pregnant all through parenthood, at all ages and stage of life – donations from the sale of this single would assist us present extra child welcome baskets for brand spanking new dad and mom, extra assist and coaching and sources for households and professionals to extend information, sort out misconceptions and unfold higher consciousness.
- Supporting our native branches to make sure that entry to info and assist is obtainable wherever you reside in Scotland.
Please assist us be sure that each individual with Down’s syndrome can obtain their fullest potential and reside in a society wherein they’re totally valued and included with out stigma or discrimination.
To E-book Choir 21 for a efficiency please contact Katy Lironi at katy@dsscotland.org.uk
For extra details about Choir 21 and the work of Down’s Syndrome Scotland please go to https://dsscotland.org.uk/about/about-us/
Editorial Word: Music’s capability to construct bridges turns into tangible whenever you watch Choir 21 take the stage – not as a charitable gesture or consciousness train, however as reputable performers whose Makaton-signed renditions resonate with audiences exactly as a result of they’re executed with talent, pleasure, and authenticity. What started as a one-night fundraiser in 2018 has matured right into a sustainable mannequin the place weekly rehearsals double as social infrastructure, combating the isolation that disproportionately impacts folks with Down’s syndrome whereas concurrently making a pipeline of assured performers prepared for Scotland’s most prestigious levels. The actual story right here is not nearly a canopy single elevating funds; it is about how constant, accessible inventive programming can reshape each particular person lives and public notion when given the sources and respect to flourish – Disabled World (DW).
Attribution/Supply(s): This quality-reviewed publication was chosen for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) resulting from its relevance to the incapacity neighborhood. Initially authored by Down’s Syndrome Scotland and printed on 2026/02/04, this content material might have been edited for model, readability, or brevity.