Nicola Enoch

Nicola (she/her) aims to help create a world where people with Down Syndrome can live their lives as fully included and valued members of society, and to ensure every expectant and new parent receives the care and support they deserve.

As the CEO of DSUK and Positive About Down Syndrome, Nicola leads a national charity that provides information, support, and advocacy for families and individuals with Down Syndrome.

She’s passionate about promoting the rights, opportunities, and potential of people with Down Syndrome, and challenging the stigma and discrimination they face in society.

Nicola has been involved in the Down Syndrome community since 2006 when she founded The Ups of Downs, a local support group in Warwickshire that offers activities, events, and training for children and young adults with Down Syndrome and their parents.

In 2017, she founded Positive About Down Syndrome (PADS), which was initially a website sharing everyday stories and experiences of people with Down Syndrome and their families.

In 2019, Nicola gave a moving TEDx talk: “How I Nearly Terminated My Son Through Ignorance”, where she shared her journey of learning to accept and celebrate her son’s diagnosis.

PADS has expanded to provide phenomenal support, information, resources and training to parents and professionals working with our children and young people.

Down Syndrome UK was formed as a national platform, under which PADS and their other initiatives sit, such as Award Nominated #pants4school, our national Network of more than 100 regional support groups and ST&R, where they support training and resources for primary aged children and the professionals working with them.

Education

• Lady Eleanor Holles
  
• Notting Hill & Ealing High School GDST

Experience

• Chief Executive Officer, DSUK | Positive About Down Syndrome, since July 2021
  
• Managing Trustee, Positive About Down Syndrome, September 2017 - Jul 2021