Disability Sport Fife relies on partnerships and there are few that compare with the partnership we enjoy with Health and Social Care in Fife. Since the mid 70s, the three community support services in Fife (previously Fife day centres)  have played a key role in the development of disability sport in Fife. Many adults with additional support needs associated with these agencies have represented Fife locally, nationally and internationally with great distinction.

It is not so much the agencies but the staff and service users within these agencies that have really made the difference. On March 15,^th Brain Herd the Community Support Coordinator at East Fife Community Support Services will retire. Brian has been an outstanding ally of Disability Sport Fife in all the various roles he has played within Fife Council Social Work Services and Health and Social Care. Brain will be greatly missed and I have no doubt that the exceptionally strong relationship that DSF enjoys with this area of Health and Social Care is due to Brian’s belief in DSF as an asset to EFCSS service users.

For over 30 years DSF has had the privilege of benefitting from the skills and abilities of Brian Herd. As well as being a support coach to the Robert Gough Centre members, Brian travelled with Fife and Scottish teams throughout Great Britain and overseas to Northern Ireland and Spain. Brian was one of a small number of Scots to be selected as an athletics coach for the one and only Paralympic Games for athletes with a learning disability in Madrid in 1992. Brian played a significant role in support of DSF when Fife Special Olympics was part of the responsibilities of DSF. Selecting, preparing and funding Fife SO teams was a major challenge for all of us but made easier because of Fife Council staff like Brian Herd.

East Fife CSS and the Robert Gough Centre have always been active members of DSF. Brain Herd has always been supportive of the DSF mission and where possible has facilitated the involvement of EFCSS service users. The legacy of Brian Herd is a strong community support service and lots of active adults with additional support needs of all ages and abilities who enjoy active recreation including sport.

Thank you Brian for years of support, encouragement, friendship and expertise. You will be greatly missed by all of us associated with Disability Sport Fife.

Richard Brickley MBE – Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees

1-year, fixed term (part time)

The post will be focused around the delivery and co-ordination of water sports activities and other sporting and lifestyle activities in the Firhill Basin and the wider geographical area. The post will include working with children and young people from various communities in North Glasgow. In addition, this post will involve creating and developing partnerships to provide other opportunities and activities that will support the project. The post will be based at the Firhill Basin, Partick Thistle Football Club.

This will be a part-time position for a period of 12 months. This may be extended beyond this date.

The contract will be for 52 weeks (12 months) from the end of March 2019 to the end of March 2020. The post will mainly be evening and weekend work. The hours will be 20 hours per week.

Salary: competitive salary.

All relevant training will be provided, as and when it is required.

Job Description:

We are looking for a dynamic, self-motivated individual with a passion for sport and youth work to develop this exciting new project at the Firhill Basin. The successful candidate will be employed by Scottish Rowing and report directly to Firhill Youth Project Group*. The successful candidate will be responsible for community engagement, building local partnerships, delivering water sports activity sessions and co-ordinating programmes, activities and events in collaboration with key partners, including:

• Scottish Rowing;
• Glasgow Life;
• Partick Thistle Football Club;
• Glasgow Kayak Club;
• Other community/voluntary organisations, partners and networks.

Key Reponsibilities:

• Accountable and directly reporting to Firhill Youth Project Group* in line with the strategic aims of the project;
• To complete and provide regular monitoring, evaluation and impact reports in relation to all programmes and activities;
• To develop and lead the delivery of water sports activities for children and young people;
• In partnership with Firhill Young Project & Community Sports Hub, to plan and coordinate the scheduling and delivery of other sporting, lifestyle activities and events;
• Implements cohesive approaches to facilitate strong partnerships and robust communications streams to ensure effective community engagement with all local partners;
• To promote community leadership and active participation of the Firhill Youth Project & Community Sports Hub whilst being a positive role model;
• To assist with promotion, marketing campigns and brand awareness of all Firhill Youth Project & Community Sports Hub programmes and activities.

Other Responsibilities will include:

• To attend relevant training courses to improve your coaching experience and knowledge in line with the post;
• The ability to adapt sessions to cater for various levels of age and ability;
• To respect the rights of all participants and ensure that their well-being and safety are always considered;
• To ensure that all activities are delivered in line with Scottish Rowing’s and other Governing Body policies and procedures, particularly Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy, Water Safety and Coaches Code of Conduct;
• To inspect all sports and activity equipment prior to and after sessions to ensure safe to use and report defective equipment to the relevant organisation for repair.

*The Firhill Youth Project Group is composed of Scottish Rowing, Glasgow Life and Partick Thistle Football Club.

This post is Regulated Work as defined by The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (“The PVG Scheme”). All applicants are required to complete a self-declaration form and the successful postholder will be required to be a member of The PVG Scheme.

For a candidate specification, application and monitoring forms see our website: https://www.scottish-rowing.org.uk/index.php/about-us/vacancies/760-firhill-project-lead-coach

OR

Contact Carol Ann Ellis, Scottish Rowing Administrator, telephone: 01698 250206, email office@scottish-rowing.org.uk.

 

It was an amazing final round of the 2018/2019 East Cross Country Series organised by Scottish Disability Sport and Scottish Athletics at Peffermill in Edinburgh for the pupils of Bell Baxter HS.

Not only were there four overall series medalists for Bell Baxter HS pupils Sophie Coughlin, Arran Howe, Thomas Quigg (all gold) and David Norry (bronze) but the complete Bell Baxter HS squad was awarded the John de Courcy shield.

The shield was presented for the first time in memory of the late John de Courcy who was one of the original architects of the East Series and who passed away suddenly last year. The shield is presented to the school that in the opinion of all other schools demonstrated camaraderie, sportsmanship and support for others. Schools were not allowed to vote for their own pupils.

Bell Baxter HS teacher Fiona Stewart who has travelled for many years with the Bell Baxter squad was thrilled that the pupils from north east Fife had been recognised in such a special way.

The East Series is well supported by Fife secondary schools with departments for pupils with additional support needs. Several Fife athletes won overall series medals this year and even more were well placed in the final round of the 2018/2019 series. This will be reported in future posts.

Richard Brickley MBE – Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees