Salary: £19,000 (pro rata)

Contract type: Part-time, Permanent

Reporting to: Coaching & Education Manager

Closing Date: 12.00 midday Monday 25^th September 2017

Do you have a passion for cycling and want to work in one of the most exciting and fastest growing sports in the UK? Scottish Cycling is looking to appoint a dynamic individual to coordinate the Coaching Education and Coach Development programmes in Scotland.

In conjunction with the Coaching & Education Manager, the Coaching & Education Coordinator will work with the Scottish Cycling team and key partners to coordinate and implement the annual coaching plan.  Applicants should have knowledge and experience of coordinating projects and a working knowledge of coaching. They must have excellent interpersonal skills and be enthusiastic, self motivated and confident in coordinating and where required, driving areas of the Coach Education and Development programmes forward.

The role is based at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome so it’s likely the post holder will reside within traveling distance of Glasgow. The post is part time, 18.8 hours per week with the possibility of additional work opportunities for the right candidate.

Scottish Cycling is committed to selecting staff solely on the basis of their ability to do the job for which they are being recruited, and welcomes application from all sections of the community.

Full details and an application form can be found on our website www.scottishcycling.org.uk or by calling 0141 554 6021.

Read more at https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/scotland/article/20170830-scottish-cycling-news-Vacancy–Coaching-and-Education-Coordinator-0#iRDhxZdU2qwW66qR.99

Disability Sport Fife Chairman Paul Noble MBE and Enigma Gymnastics Club Head Coach Jenn Mann attended the Kingdom FM awards ceremony that celebrates the outstanding contribution made by individuals, organisations and local schools to communities across Fife.

Kingdom FM’s Local Hero Awards are now in their 10th year and were held at the Rothes Halls on Friday 25th February. The Awards recognise the incredible achievements of Fifers young and old over the past 12 months. Around 300 guests marked the selfless work of the region’s unsung Local Heroes during what was an emotional evening for all concerned. Fourteen awards in total were handed out after the organisers received thousands of entries from throughout Fife.

Provost Jim Leishman MBE presented the Provost Award (sponsored by Fife Council) to Disability Sport Fife, as the lead body for disability sport in the region for children, athletes and players of all ages and abilities with a physical, sensory or learning disability. The Provost is an enthusiastic supporter of Disability Sport Fife and each attends the DSF AGM and Awards Evening to present the DSF Annual Awards.

On this occasion it was Paul and Jenn who proudly accepted this most prestigious award from the Provost on behalf of the many athletes, players, coaches, administrators, volunteers and coach mentors who are the backbone of the Association. Thank you Provost, thank you Kingdom FM for considering Disability Sport Fife for such a major community award.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Disability Sport Fife (DSF) tries to maintain contact with athlete members as they progress in life following their career in Para sport. Lucy Walkup from Glenrothes and Carnegie Swimming Club ​was one of Scotland’s most successful high performance deaf swimmers and a GB international for several years. Lucy was recognised by Disability Sport Fife and Scottish Disability Sport​ for her commitment to each organisation and then achieved the highest accolade in her parent body by being selected for the Deaflympics.

Lucy learned to swim, became an enthusiastic swimmer in a DSF session, blossomed at Glenrothes ASC and excelled in national and international swimming as a member of Carnegie SC. The perfect swimming pathway progression and of course with the vital ingredient of an incredibly supportive family.

As well as being totally committed to swimming, Lucy worked hard at Auchmuty HS, progressed to the University of Stirling where she completed her outstanding swimming career. However Lucy was determined to remain in swimming and she quickly completed a number of Scottish Swimming swim teaching qualifications and secured employment. As a Stirling University undergraduate she teaches swimming for 13 hours per week at Wallace HS and for 3.5 hours at the Peak. Her learners span all levels of ability and she now has a session that includes learners with additional support needs. Lucy was delighted to inform me about this new weekend development.

Lucy has now entered her final year of Sports Studies, having successfully completed her third year. Lucy hopes to apply to pursue a Post Graduate Qualification in Secondary Teaching if all goes well in this final year and she graduates as planned. However further study is necessary this year for this ambitious career addition and Lucy is in the process of sorting out the logistics. Those of us who have had the privilege of working with this determined young woman will be confident that if she sets her mind on this diversion, she will be successful.

Walkup family members were very much a part of Disability Sport Fife and throughout Lucy’s school years in particular. Lucy and her family were amazingly loyal to DSF and SDS and Lucy represented Fife and Scotland over many years in galas throughout the UK. I was thrilled to hear that Lucy’s brother Greig is heading to Edinburgh University in September to study Biomedical Sciences. Well done Greig.

Well done to the Walkups and particularly Lucy who offered years of service to disability sport in Fife and is now giving back hours of her time to her sport as an establishes swim teacher. DSF is on the lookout for the next Lucy Walkup who has overcome the challenges of sensory impairment to become one of the best in her sport and a most competent swim teacher.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

For the past 40 years Rotary International has played a major role in supporting Disability Sport Fife (DSF) to develop sports opportunities for children, athletes and players with a physical, sensory or learning disability. Rotary clubs throughout Fife have financially supported Fife teams, funded individual sportsmen and women, enabled the purchase of adapted equipment or provided the necessary resources to host local events. DSF considers Rotary International a key partner and thanks to the efforts of Rotarians past and present, the organisation is as strong as it is today.

DSF and the Association of Fife Rotary clubs have signed up to a five year bursary programme. The bursary programme is designed to offer support to emerging performance sportsmen and women at a key stage of their development. Each year four Rotary bursaries of up to £250 are awarded to individuals or groups who have financial challenges. Since the programme was established twelve bursaries have been awarded to DSF members to assist them with their considerable expenses as committed sportsmen and women.

Representing the Association of Fife Rotary Clubs, Jim Slater (Dunfermline Carnegie), Derek Thomson (Burntisland) and Alan Farquarson (West Fife) met with the President of DSF at Pitreavie Athletics Centre to present the 2017 bursaries to the following:

Brad Stewart from Ladybank who was selected for Team GB for the first time for the Para archery world ranking tournament and European Cup in the Czech Republic. Brad was 6th in the individual event and won silver in team.

Michael Drever from Leven who is the only Scot in the Team GB Para trap team that will travel to Lonato in Italy in September for the a World Cup competition in September. This is the first time Mike has been selected for Team GB.

Skye and Finlay Davidson from Inverkething who were part of the British team that travelled to Canada for the 2017 World Dwarf Games and achieved considerable success across a range of sports.

Owen Miller from Dunfermline and Fife AC who is the leading Scottish athlete with a learning disability and who excels in international sport specifically over 1500m and 800m. Owen is the Scottish record holder and a medallist at successive INAS International Championships.

The four Rotary bursaries made a considerable difference to the five recipients this year in their efforts to address a shortfall in funding for their events programme. Only when athletes achieve at the highest level will UK funding come their way. DSF considers the Rotary bursary programme critical for emerging performers with talent.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

A total of 69 athletes travelled from all over the Lothian Special Olympics region to participate in this year’s Special Olympics GB’s National Summer Games, hosted in Sheffield from Monday 7^th to Friday 12^th August.  The event saw a total of around 2600 athletes, 800 volunteer coaches, 1000+ volunteers and 150 officials from across the United Kingdom descend on the city of steel for the country’s largest multi-sport event of 2017.  There were also around 50 broadcasters over the 20 sports offered.

The Summer Games, held every 4 years, invites athletes with intellectual disabilities of all sporting abilities to participate and compete in a wide range of sports including athletics, swimming, football and judo.  In total, there were 69 athletes and 31 coaches & volunteers who represented Lothian across 10 of the 20 sports offered during this year’s games.  Athletes participated superbly throughout whilst claiming 25 gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze medals and a host of 4^th-8^th place ribbons.

Notable achievements for the Lothian athletes included the success of the Boccia squad.  The all-female Lothian squad achieved considerable success claiming gold and silver medals in both the singles and pairs competitions whilst swimming, judo and badminton yielded a number of medals for experienced athletes as well individuals participating for the first time.  One athlete travelling to Sheffield for his first games experience was swimmer Callum Todd with the Fauldhouse Penguins club member securing medals in the Individual Medley (Bronze) as well as the 100m Backstroke (Gold).  Badminton made a welcome return after a hiatus and Ten Pin Bowling was included for the first time and athletes from the East of Scotland didn’t disappoint, with Michael McCraw (Badminton, Male Singles) claiming gold while team mates Daniel Strand and Jenni Gray finished 4^th and 5^th place respectively.  All sports were played in great spirits with fair play and professionalism at the forefront throughout, reflected by the officials overseeing the events as rules and regulations were strictly adhered to.  This ensured a level playing field for all athletes and players but also helped produce an extremely high level of performance, demonstrated by some of the times, distances and scores recorded over the week.

The week also incorporated the work that is being done throughout the East of Scotland in relation to the Play Unified Project, allowing school students from schools in the Lothian area to travel to Sheffield and be part of the Games.  The Play Unified project encourages schools to develop and deliver projects that provide an opportunity for mainstream school pupils to work alongside youngsters with a learning disability.

The Games is the culmination of months of training, commitment and dedication for the athletes and coaches involved and provides the pinnacle for many in terms of sporting achievements.  There is also a vast amount of work behind the scenes leading into the Games through the significant fundraising efforts which is essential in contributing towards kit, travel, and accommodation costs for the team of over 100 people.  Lothian Head of Delegation (HOD), Lynne Sturgeon, was key to the whole journey, overseeing and supporting athletes and coaches from all sports while coordinating the Games in the lead up and throughput the 6 day event.  Lynne states “It was amazing, the attitude and respect the Lothian athletes showed throughput the games.  The weekly dedication of the voluntary coaches and admin volunteers who create the training opportunities in the Lothians was repaid superbly by the athletes.  Without these volunteers the athletes would not have these opportunities to excel on and off the sports field.”

The event provides the platform for individuals to showcase their sporting talents, regardless of the level at which they compete, but also provides an opportunity to form relationships with their peers during a week that is packed from start to finish with competition, recreational activities, social opportunities and much more.  The week began with an all singing, all dancing opening ceremony and finished with a party evening with far more in between including a Q&A session with current England Head Coach Gareth Southgate.  This highlights the ever increasing profile of the SOGB National Games and the value it holds for participants as they build lifelong relationships, increase their confidence and achieve personal goals throughout the 6 day event.

If you are interested in learning more about the Games please follow the link below.  Additionally, if you would like to find out more about local opportunities associated to the Special Olympics, please contact solothian@gmail.com or visit www.lothianspecialolympics.org.

http://specialolympicsgb.org.uk/2017-sheffield-games

What is next?

Special Olympics GB 40^th Anniversary games hosted by Special Olympics Scotland to be held in Stirling 9 to 13^th August 2018 – further information to follow.