Month: February 2018

Fife AC a very special DSF partner

Disability Sport Fife (DSF) enjoys a very special relationship with Fife Athletic Club. Over the years DSF members have improved their skills significantly as club members and some have gone on to become Paralympians. Colin Keay from Kirkcaldy and Caroline Baird (nee Innes) from Cupar are icons from the past who blossomed as Fife AC members. Derek Rae (Kirkcaldy), Owen Miller (Dunfermline), Sam Fernando (Gateside) and Carter Taylor (Dunfermline) are four Para sport athletes who are benefitting from high quality coaching from Fife AC coaches. Fife AC is a truly inclusive sports club.

On Thursday 1st February at the Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy, Fife AC officials joined forces with Disability Sport Fife personnel to deliver round 3 of the 2017/2018 East Cross country series on behalf of Scottish Athletics and Scottish Disability Sport. 150 athletes registered from Fife, Lothian and Perth HS but on the day because of extremely cold conditions 112 started. Fife AC officials turned out in significant numbers to lay out the course and provide a finishing time for every participant. Conditions were extreme for everybody involved but the event went ahead as planned thanks to the efficiency and expertise of the officials involved. Many thanks Fife AC from all athletes who experienced cross country in Scottish conditions.

Disability Sport Fife on behalf of GOGA in Fife delivered the first stage of the “walk in the park” programme geared towards encouraging less active individuals to be active and often. “Walk in the park” events will be held throughout the year and tagged on to established DSF events. Potential participants must register with GOGA in Fife and participate in a programme of training walks. Walks are non competitive and participants will receive GOGA in Fife certificates. Contact the DSF office for further information or visit the DSF Facebook page for more details.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

 

Scottish Disability Sport Communications Officer Internship

Scottish Disability Sports are seeking to recruit a Communications Officer to undertake an internship.

An exciting opportunity has risen for an ambitious communications officer with Scottish Disability Sport (SDS). This would be an ideal role for a current university student or someone who has just completed their degree and looking to gain experience in a challenging and dynamic charitable sector.

This is a flexible position and working hours would be agreed with the successful candidate to accommodate their studies or other commitments. Although this is an unpaid role, reasonable expenses will be paid and the successful candidate will be offered mentoring and additional developmental and training opportunities.

To find out more about SDS and the work we do, visit the website and Facebook page. To find out about the role, please ring 0131 317 1150.

To apply, simply send your CV and a cover letter to:

Gavin Macleod, CEO, Scottish Disability Sport, Caledonia House, South Gyle, Edinburgh, EH12 9DQ

Tel: 0131 317 1150

 E-mail: gavin.macleod@scottishdisabilitysport.com

 

Closing date 12 noon Friday 23rd February 2018.

SDS Communications Intern – Job Description

St Mirren Warriors Edge Out Lothian Phoenix

The showcase event in the 2018 Scottish Wheelchair Basketball calendar saw St Mirren Warriors go head to head with Lothian Phoenix on Saturday 27th January at Oriam, Edinburgh.  The day saw a true feast of top class basketball as a number of National finals were played successively, including the men and woman seniors.   The Wheelchair Scottish Cup Final, presented by CliniMed, was the third game of the day and highlighted how dynamic, exciting and competitive wheelchair basketball is with the two top teams in Scotland battling out a thrilling encounter.

St Mirren got off to a lightning start as they flew out to a 17-4 lead to close out the first quarter behind some stellar play from the inside. The second quarter told a different story as Lothian grew from the ashes of defeat as they closed the gap 27-23 behind some great mid-range shooting and half-court offence.

The second-half began with St Mirren regaining their command on the game as they went almost perfect from mid-range shots, Abdul Rahman Bin Shaylan hitting shot after shot to give him 17pts through 3 quarters. Gary Davidson also chipped in with his fair share, leading St Mirren to a 49-32 lead at the end of the 3rd. Tightened defence from St Mirren along with an efficient offence allowed them to extend their lead behind a great fast break from Sarah McCaffrey.

St Mirren went on to be crowned Scottish Cup champions 2018 defeating Lothian Phoenix 61-41.

Rahman Bin Shaylan (St Mirren Warriors) was the 2018 Molten Sports MVP.

Stat Leaders

Shaylan 19 pts 11 rebounds

McKinley 16 pts 1 rebound

Tayside Parasport Festival 2018

The Parasport Festival is about providing a range of opportunities for young people with a physical, visual or hearing impairment to try new and exciting sports and learn more about the pathways that are available in the region. It will be delivered by some of the best clubs and coaches available in Scotland. Furthermore, the event will highlight the opportunities for young people with disabilities to achieve at the highest level and hopefully inspire them to become our stars of the future.

Sports: We have selected activities where we have strong club links so children can continue to enjoy and develop within the sports for many years to come. In order to allow every child to thrive on the day, children will take part in different sports based on their impairment.

Location: Dundee & Angus College, Gardyne Campus, Gardyne Road, Dundee, DD5 1NY

Day: Wednesday 14th March 2018

Time: Registration will take place between 09:45 – 10:15. The day will start promptly at 10:15 and finish at 14:00.

The application pack can be downloaded here.

Ready to rock in 2018 – Colette Martin

Having graduated from university last summer my life is as busy as ever! I am currently undertaking an internship with Scottish Disability Sport in which I am learning a whole new side of sport, through a sports development and events perspective, which I am really enjoying.

I have enjoyed helping out at various events over the past few months and getting to know different sports which I had little experience with. My time during the internship has definitely helped with my ambition to work in sport development and has hopefully given me knowledge that I can use in my future career.

Since October I have also been coaching in North Lanarkshire. This has given me an opportunity to gain experience in this area. It is a really great feeling when the young kids I am coaching enjoy the activities you are helping them with, and this is one of the reasons I wanted to have a career in sports development.

We are half way through the season in basketball and this has been another experience that I am glad that I have continued with. This season at my club, Lothian Phoenix, I was promoted to 1st team and have gained a lot more knowledge of the game and hope that this opportunity will further increase my ability to play and be part of this team. As part of the 1st team I had the opportunity to play for Lothian Phoenix in the Scottish Cup. Lothian Phoenix were lucky enough to reach the final. Unfortunately we lost the final to St. Mirren Warriors, however I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at such an amazing event at the Oriam in Edinburgh. My first experience of a Scottish Cup weekend in basketball was an exciting one.

At the end of last year the first round of Women’s League took place in Sheffield. Going into division 3 with a brand new team – Scottish Women Warriors. A lot of the team had never played together before and to come away with 2 out of 2 wins was a great result! The second round of Women’s League takes place in the first weekend of February and Scottish Women Warriors are going doing to Nottingham to play the same two teams as before.

Overall I think that 2018 is shaping up to be a very good year. I am hoping with my internship with SDS I will have more opportunity to help out with Young Persons Sport Panel and other events this year.

Disability Sport Officer Post

Fixed Term post for 1 year (continuation is dependent on funding)

Salary: £20,520

Location: Office based, Norton Park, Edinburgh.

Hours of work: 35 hours per week although some evening and weekend work will be required to fulfil the duties of the post

Lothian Disability Sport is a branch of Scottish Disability Sport.  The organisation is a registered charity that develops, promotes and delivers a wide range of sports and physical activities for people with disabilities throughout Lothian. This is done through developing a school and senior sports calendar along with working in partnership with a range of stakeholders to deliver sporting opportunities.

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about sport and, ideally, has experience of working and supporting children and adults with disabilities.  As Disability Sport Officer you will be required to project plan, co-ordinate and administer events run by Lothian Disability Sport and to organise and co-ordinate teams representing the branch at national events.  A key element of the job will be to increase awareness of the work of Lothian Disability Sport and to publicise the activities, as well as responding to enquiries from the general public.  You must have excellent interpersonal skills as you will be liaising with staff from the four local authorities in Lothian as well as with leisure trusts, voluntary organisations, local clubs, coaches, volunteers and other key partners.

The post will involve travel throughout the Lothian region and it is desirable that the post holder provide their own transport.  Appropriate travel expenses will be paid.

Closing date for applications – 5pm, Friday 9th March 2018

Interviews will be held on 22 March 2018 in Edinburgh

No CVs accepted.  Application can be downloaded here or alternatively send an email to admin@lothiandisabilitysport.co.uk.  Completed applications should be sent by email.

LDS Coordinator Application Form

LDS job description

 

Further information about the organization can be found at www.lothiandisabilitysport.co.uk