Every one of the predicted 775 children who will be born with Down’s syndrome this year will be affected differently by the genetic condition.

When Billy Cooper was born with Down’s in 2010, his mum Lucienne found there was lots of written advice available, but no one with first-hand experience she could talk to.

Last year the 47-year-old launched Get on Downs, a support group for affected families, with the help of disability charity Portage.

They group hosts a drop-in session from 9.30am to 11am every Wednesday at Cedar Lodge, Metcalfe Avenue, in Carshalton.

And this week has been holding additional events as part of Down’s syndrome awareness week and its first anniversary.

Former laboratory manager Mrs Cooper, of Carshalton, believes that progress can be made to help these children reach their full potential.

She said: “We’re working on it. It is through awareness that our needs get heard.”

On Wednesday the group held a party at Cedar Lodge to coincide with the awareness week.

She said: “We’re encouraging everyone to wear odd socks to illustrate that not everyone is the same, as well as raising money for local Down’s syndrome charity PSDS.”

PSDS runs pre-school development groups for Down’s syndrome children at Lloyd Hall, in Brickfield Road, near Horley, Surrey.

Mrs Cooper said: “There has been research to show if these children are given speech therapy it improves the way they learn.”

Down’s syndrome is a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra chromosome in the body, something that occurs by chance at conception.

Little is known about the syndrome, and it affects each person differently, so it can be difficult to treat.

Find out more about Down’s by emailing geton downs@btinternet.com.