Learning disability charity Mencap has teamed up with British sock company Stand Out Socks for its annual ‘Rock Your Socks’ campaign.
With World Down’s Syndrome Day taking place later this month (21 March), the charity is encouraging people to wear their funkiest socks throughout March to support people with a learning disability across the UK.
Down’s syndrome is just one of many different types of learning disability and is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. According to Mencap, when you look very closely chromosomes are shaped like little socks. This is why Mencap will raise awareness of Down’s syndrome in March by wearing funky socks.
The Stand Out Socks brand was inspired by Ross Laing, a young man with Down’s syndrome. Like many people with a learning disability, Ross, 35, had struggled to find work so his brother Christian, 39, wanted to create a company where Ross would not only have a job, but be the most integral part of the business. The pair wanted to create their own unique range to raise awareness, give back and ‘make people smile’. Stand Out Socks is now the only British sock company with a co-founder who has a learning disability.
The company has chosen two bright and colourful designs, ‘Clouds’ and ‘Top of the Socks’, to raise vital funds for the charity. From each sale, £3.21 per adult sock and 50p per child sock will be donated to Mencap.
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“We believe that Down’s syndrome and other disabilities should be celebrated” Stand Out Socks founders Ross and Christian Laing said. “People with Down’s syndrome have varied abilities, but, like everyone, they also have their own personalities, things they like and dislike, things that make them who they are! We want to raise awareness and spread the word of disability inclusion so others can be accepted and included for who they are.
“Partnering with a charity that shares so many of our values this World Down’s Syndrome Day is an absolute honour for us both. We can’t wait to see everybody ”Standing Out” in our socks and celebrating a very special day for the Down Syndrome community.”
Mencap ‘Myth Busters’, model Ellie Goldstein and Greatest Dancer star Andrew Self, are also supporting the campaign and rocking their socks this March.
Mencap chief executive of learning disability charity, Edel Harris OBE, added: “We are thrilled that Stand Out Socks are Mencap’s official sock partner for our Rock Your Socks campaign. World Down’s Syndrome Day is an inclusive day for everyone and is a chance for us all to celebrate and support people with Down Syndrome and people with other learning disabilities.
“With this partnership, we will be raising vital funds to help us continue providing essential support for the 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK. At Mencap we want everyone with a learning disability to have the chance to lead a happy and healthy life.”
