A FUNDRAISER set up to help a young woman from Flintshire with Down Syndrome secure her dream job and live independently is gathering pace.

Lucy Harkin, from Nannerch, has set up the GoFundMe page in the hope of helping sister Arianna.

In the UK, most students get a government loan to cover thousands of pounds worth of higher education.

Lucy says Arianna, 20, has worked so hard to get GCSE's and work experience, but sadly cannot access funding to get specialist education which could potentially help her secure her dream job of working in hospitality.

Arianna came across Foxes Academy in Minehead, Somerset.

She successfully passed an assessment to be accepted onto a two-year course which matches her career interests and will develop her skills to live independently.

The quality and range of support offered at Foxes will cover the qualifications, life skills, and other important skills such as Speech and Language Therapy and Maths and English support.

But that, of course, comes at a hefty price - and Lucy adds that the family has done 'all it can to make this happen, but we can't do it alone', even using most of their savings to fund Arianna's dream.

As a result, the fundraiser has been set up to help fund the rest of the cost and help Arianna access this life-changing opportunity.

The GoFundMe page - called 'Arianna's journey to independence' - has so far collected just over £4,000 of its £20,000 target.

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Lucy said: "Arianna is a very sociable, loving person who enjoys dancing and sport. She has always wanted to go away to university/college to meet new friends and learn to live independently, whilst gaining qualifications to work in hospitality in a front-of-house job.

"Since finishing school at 16, Arianna’s education and training path has been poorly designed with no real choices offered to her. She does not seem to have the same rights or opportunities as students without Additional Learning Needs."

Arianna herself said: “I need to learn to look after myself, use public transport to get to places and learn skills to get myself a job that I enjoy. I would like to live with friends of my own age in a town so I can easily go to places to shop, work and meet friends”.

Lucy added: "Foxes is where Arianna wants to go and aligns with her aspirations for her future. Unfortunately, the Welsh Government Education Department will not fund this course and has told Arianna she can only take a different local course which will certainly not allow her to become independent.

"We have tried to appeal their decision for around two years now, all of which has taken its toll on my sister and my parents who have spent hours and hours contacting everyone they can think of to try and get them to support Arianna.

"My parents are using all of their savings and taking on additional jobs to raise as much as they can themselves, as we truly believe this is what Arianna needs for the next phase of her life.

"Although the cost of funding this seems like a lot of money in the short term, the savings in future taxpayer-funded social care costs will be paid back in just a few years, as Arianna will be able to positively contribute to society the way she wants to.

"Arianna is capable of achieving so much with the right opportunities and we believe that Foxes will give her the best chance of doing so.

"I am so passionate about giving her the future she deserves."