Downside Up supports families, government and non-government organisations in educating, bringing up and integration in society of children with Down syndrome. Downside Up also works towards changing the society’s attitude to individuals with special needs.

 

Downside Up’s mission is to improve the life of children with Down syndrome in the Russian Federation. The long-term goals of Downside are the following:

-          tо increase the number of children with Down syndrome raised in their families;

-          to foster the government early intervention service for children with Down syndrome so that each family could receive support locally;

-          to facilitate social adaptation and integration in society of children with Down syndrome.

-          Please read the detailed strategy on http://www.downsideup.org/strateg.php

 

DSU has a team of unique specialists and people who care. Many of them have been with us for more then 10 years.

We have 49 specialists, including

- 33 high-class professionals specialising in early development and motor development, speech therapists, psychologists, medical consultants. They work with the families, special teachers, medical and social workers,

- 4 team members are responsible for awareness raising and knowledge dissemination projects;

- 2 team members are in charge of management and development issues;

- 5 employees are in charge of fundraising issues;

- 5 employees are responsible for accounting and finances, administrative and office management issues.

 

All Downside Up expenses are documented and reflected in book keeping. The Fund practices a triple expense control system. At the first stage the expenses are recorded by the accounting department and allocated for various programmes and projects. The Fundraising Department and General Director monitor compliance of expenses with the project budget approved by the donor. General Director keeps separate internal records and sends quarterly consolidated reports on such records to the trustee for final review. Activity reports supported by financial statements are provided to donors.

 

Downside Up is willing to provide the reports in electronic format or hard copies in keeping with a donor’s preferences. The report contains a description of the work on the project and a chart of expenses. The frequency of reporting is determined by the donor. Upon the donor’s request we can also provide him/her with Downside Up financial audit report.

 

No, the money goes for the organisation of educational, psychological and social support to families raising children with Down syndrome, for training of specialists and for awareness raising projects.

 

Thus, the following programmes are financed by our donors:

- Home visits and special teachers consultations for children from birth to 2 years;

- Social adaptation groups that prepare children for kindergartens;

- Individual speech, thinking, memory and attention developing sessions;

- Medical consultations;

- Psychological support for parents;

- Training programmes for special teachers, medical professionals, social workers and students of medical and teacher training colleges in Russia and CIS countries;

- Publishing and dissemination of books, magazines and films relating to social and psychological support of and learning assistance to children with Down syndrome;

- Raising public awareness about Down syndrome.

 

Downside Up welcomes the aid by way of in-kind goods and services. You can also join Downside Up Friends Club and subscribe for our information (see the main page of our site), in order to find out and tell your friends about Downside Up and people with Down syndrome. It will be your contribution to improving the public attitude to people with special needs.

 

Yes, you can subscribe for our publications on the main page– link. You can take part in our events subject to compliance with the participation terms published on our website.

 

Any donor can at his/her choice remain anonymous. With a corporate donor’s permission, the company name will be published in We Are Grateful to section on our website.

 

A donor, depending on the amount of his/her donation and wishes, may receive informational support, as follows:

- subscription for the Fund’s informational materials

- invitation to the Fund’s events;

- publication of the information about a corporate donor on the website;

- mention of corporate donors in press-releases;

- participation in press-conferences;

- a corporate banner at the site of the event;

- involvement of corporate donors’ employees in charity work which promotes the social responsibility image of the donor;

- contacts with other donors that may result in mutually advantageous cooperation.

Downside Up welcomes and respects everybody’s willingness to help. Each potential donor may take a look at the list of the Fund’s partners on our website and make a decision on whether or not to participate in Downside Up’s work. The Fund will understand the potential donor’s wish to avoid a conflict of interest. Any form of participation helps to improve the life of children with Down syndrome, and most of our corporate donors see charity as a competition-free sphere.

 

Downside Up’ accounts are audited by the Russian company “Audit Profit” and the UK company “Morley and Scott” (a 'Top 50' practice). Upon the donor’s request we can also provide him/her with a financial audit report.

 

Services that DSU provides to families depend on the specific situation and place of residence of the family. Families from Moscow and Moscow region receive the most diversified support. Children and parents attend weekly sessions at Downside Up Early Intervention Centre and participate in awareness raising and charity events. The annual cost of such services to one family could be estimated at 30000 – 35000 rubles.

The families residing in other regions belong to a different category. As a rule they come to the Centre once or twice a year toattendconsultations and receive information packages. They may also receive distant support via phone, e-mail and forum on our website. The annual cost of such services could be estimated at 10000 – 14000 rubles.

 

The budget of Downside Up for 2010 is about 36 000 000 rubles. Sources of income is presented in the by diagram below. Distribution of Downside Up expenses is presented in the Annual report (pdf, 900kb).

If you have other questions, please write to us.