London Maternity & Midwifery Festival 2026
Wednesday 11 February 2026 | Royal National Hotel, 38-51 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0DG
Lucienne Cooper
Training Manager, Down Syndrome UK
Lucienne Cooper – Down Syndrome UK(DSUK) /Positive About Down Syndrome (PADS)
Lucienne Cooper is the parent of a teenager with Down syndrome, runs a local support group, is the Training Manager for Down Syndrome UK (DSUK), and is a trustee of the National Down Syndrome Policy Group.
When her son was born, she received a booklet which included information on life expectancy, dementia and leukaemia, which left her terrified. This experience drives her work with Positive About Down Syndrome (PADS), the DSUK maternity initiative that supports families from early pregnancy through preschool and beyond. Many expectant and new parents still report limited information and a lack of positivity when learning their baby has Down syndrome. PADS partners with hospitals and universities to provide up-to-date literature and training, helping to ensure new and expectant parents are not exposed to outdated stereotypes but are fully supported in their early journey.
