WDSC 2024: Australia


Update: our Crowdfunder was successful – thank you!

Next steps: we’ll be using the donations from the crowdfunder to host three community events that’ll help get us to the World Down Syndrome Congress in Australia.

  1. Live music charity gig on Friday 22 March 2024: 45 Spread with support from Pete Shaw’s MOTH

Help get our inclusive theatre company to the World Down Syndrome Congress in Australia!

Headway Arts has been invited to attend the World Down Syndrome Congress 2024 in Brisbane, Australia.

This international conference brings together people with Down’s Syndrome, and the people who support us, from all around the world to share, learn, teach, network and grow.

This is an incredible opportunity for us to spread our work far and wide; to show people what we can do, share our ideas and learn from others. We’re unbelievably excited!

But Brisbane is 10,000 miles from Blyth… so we need YOUR help to get us there!

We’re not talking piggy backs or private planes – we’re asking you to help us raise funds to help us raise even more funds, and share some fun along the way!

What does that mean? Well, we want to organise three community events at our venue in the heart of Blyth: a big live music event, a comedy night, and a buskers evening. We’ll use these three events to raise money (tickets sales, donations, sponsorship,) as well as increase the profile of learning disability and arts & inclusion.

Donating to our crowdfunder will enable us to deliver these three fantastic events; and these three fantastic events will get us to the World Down Syndrome Congress.

So, please help us help ourselves.


We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of all our funders which recently includes:

  • Architectural Heritage Fund
  • Arts Council England
  • Blyth Town Council
  • Community Foundation
  • Edward Gostling Foundation – RW Mann Trust – Shears Foundation
  • Erasmus+
  • Hadrian Trust – High Sheriff of Northumberland – Rothley Trust
  • Henry Smith
  • Heritage Fund
  • National Lottery Community Fund
  • Northumberland County Council
  • Postcode Community Trust
  • Scope
  • Sir James Knott Trust
  • The 1989 Willan Trust – Wellesley Trust
  • the Coalfields Regeneration Trust
  • This project is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
  • This project is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund – North of Tyne Combined Authority