Month: May 2020

A Message from the Goalball Family to the World

Firstly, a massive thank you to two of Winchester Goalball Club’s finest, Geoff Harmer, for putting this brilliant video together, and Adam Knott, for playing the music for the Goalball Family to ‘sing’ along to.

We hope that you all enjoyed watching the Goalball Family version of Three Little Birds as much as we did making it.

We wanted to share something that was fun and a little bit silly, but also has positivity and togetherness in abundance. The lyrics to this song offer us all a message of hope that we can get through this together, as well as the motivation to come out the other side to the best of our ability.

Please keep reaching out to us via the usual channels and sharing what you have been getting up to. We hope that everyone is staying safe. http://goalballuk.com/

 

Online Coach Workshops

During lockdown, SDS is providing the opportunity for coaches to explore different concepts in short segments online.

The session themes have been selected to meet requests from coaches over the past year. There is no cost for these sessions – apart from your time.

If you are unable to attend on the specified dates and times, the content will be available to stream after each session.

You can register on the form below, or for more information please contact us on 0131 317 1130 or admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Inclusion Activity Cards

Do you need new ideas to continue being active, or would you like to know where to start? We have produced these activity cards which will are now available to download from our website here.

The cards were originally aimed at people leading sessions but also work brilliantly for us all in our homes. There are a number of activities which could be used:

  • in a warm-up;
  • to introduce fundamental skills;
  • for striking and fielding type activities and games;
  • for net, court and wall-based games; and
  • for invasion games.

Each card identifies the different ways in which the STEP – Space, Task, Equipment, People – principle can be applied to modifying, adapting and progressing a session, and provides specific top tips relating to the effective inclusion of participants with impairments.

The STEP Principle video provides more information:

The Activity Inclusion Model video highlights inclusion in physical activity and sport:

You can download the PDF here: STEP and AIM

Over the next few weeks we will show how we have adapted the activities to do at home. For example:

  • Use socks instead of ball
  • Use a ribbon or old shirt for a target.

The most important thing is to have fun, fun and more fun!

Third Sector Support Links

Please find some links below to information for any third sector organisation affected by the Covid-19. This will be relevant to those branches that currently employ a member of staff and/ or whose cashflow has been impacted by the onset of the pandemic.

https://sportscotland.org.uk/covid-19/support-for-clubs-and-community-sport-organisations/support-available-during-the-Covid-19-covid-19-pandemic/ – General Sportscotland support for organisations.

http://thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/20m-Covid-19-support-fund-launched – Support fund for third-sector organisations impacted by Covid-19. The form is straightforward to complete and will be especially useful for those branches who employ a member of staff who aren’t being covered by an existing grant funder throughout this period.

https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/national-lottery-awards-for-all-scotland – National Lottery Awards for All have extended their deadlines on the Awards for All fund and will try and prioritise those organisations impacted by Covid-19 in getting a quicker decision on the grant. They have also allowed any organisation who currently have, or has had in the past year, a grant for something else.

SDS hopes that these links above help in some way however, if any of our branches need any further support or advice during this period please don’t hesitate to get in touch. All our officers are working (subject to annual leave) and available to be contacted.

Best regards

Mark & Jen

Branch Communication Update 4

It’s that time again, here is the fourth edition of the SDS Branch Communication Update. Please circulate to your members and anyone else you think may benefit.

We do hope you are keeping well and any feedback on these communications would be welcome.  For information and Support during the Covid-19 please use the SDS website for all links that have been circulated previously.

  1. SDS Strategic Plan 2021 Consultation is open! SDS needs your input. Thanks to all those who have shared this already and please continue to promote and encourage people to respond. The link to the form can be found here and should take approximately 10-15 mins to complete.
  2. Dates for your diary:
    • Branch Networking Day: SDS are holding a Branch Networking Day on 13 May. All branches are scheduled to be represented on the day.
    • 27 September: SDS AGM, Awards and Branch Conference. Nominations for SDS Awards will be sent out in June. Please consider who you wish to nominate
    • SDS will continue to keep all branches up to date with any amended dates for your diary as and when the picture becomes clearer.
  1. These links will assist organisations in their use of technology during lockdown and features hints and tips.

SDS Social Media Policy

SCVO Remote Working Tips

National Cyber Security Centre Top Tips for Staff

BT Top Tech Tips

New world, same rules: safeguarding and privacy

Zoom Calling and Privacy

SBRC along with experts including NCSC CEO Ciaran Martin, discuss the latest cyber scams which have been circulating since the start of the pandemic.

  1. Branch activity: Forth Valley continue to post daily content for their members such as new recipes on a Tuesday, Sporting Memories on a Friday, Talents and Hobbies on a Wednesday and fitness on a Monday. Fife continue to provide extensive and interesting updates to their followers on Facebook. Ayrshire received Wellbeing Fund STV Appeal to distribute to families of children who attend their activities. 15 grants were provided to families in the most need. If branches would like any of their activities highlighted here please let us know.
  1. Further to our last communication on the Independent Living Fund (ILF) for any specific questions about the fund or any individual applications please contact the ILF by email enquiries@ILF.scot or phone 0300 200 2022. At the moment, their office opening hours are 9am – 2pm. The ILF are committed to be flexible in their policy framework during these challenging times.
  2. SCVO Wellbeing Fund: The wellbeing fund is focused on providing support to organisations that can provide support to people who are most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The fund will open on May 7 for expressions of interest.
  3. Boccia Lockdown League: Although we are currently in lockdown there are still ways of playing and competing against others in the wonderful sport of Boccia. This is week 4 out of 6 of the fun online competition. There is still to sign-up through the link at the start.
  4. SDS are running a daily programme for the Young Start team. There is a quiz for the Young Person’s Sport Panel and Young Start programme that runs every two weeks (the next edition is on 14 May at 6pm). Anyone in our branches is welcome to join in. You will need Zoom and the Kahoot app. Please contact Jen Barsby should anyone wish to participate. The feedback from the participants has been very positive, citing the opportunity to interact socially with their peers and see familiar faces and have some fun was of the most value.
  5. A variety of FREE CPD Training is signposted here: https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/learn-and-train/find-free-online-courses
  6. Free Creative Writing Course: https://writershq.co.uk/seven-ideas-in-seven-days-creative-writing-course-free/
  7. SDS will be posting on its website activity cards to have some fun and keep on moving during lockdown. SDS will be posting these cards as of Monday. Look out for them, get going and enjoy!

Please do get in touch if SDS can be of any assistance in any way.

Please keep safe and well and we looking forward to seeing you soon.

Thanks

Jen and Mark

Reason to be cheerful for Disability Sport Fife

To day I am delighted to report that we now have over 6,000 Facebook followers. Prior to lock down the 2020 Annual Awards and AGM of DSF (SCIO) was set for Monday 27th April. Not surprisingly it has been postponed but I had set a target of trying to attract 6,000 followers by the date of the AGM. Thanks to your support and feedback we have hit the target and I thank you most sincerely for your loyalty. We are still pursuing 6,000 “likes” but we require another 100 visitors to click the “like” button before we can have a double celebration.

I am pleased that we are followed by visitors from all over the world. It is particularly pleasing when participants, support staff and volunteers who have moved on return to pass comment on a particular article. To days article on the 2009 Games has brought a lot of retired Fife Council staff, athletes and volunteers back in touch. Facebook is the main communication platform for Disability Sport Fife and during lock down it has become even more influential and important.

My mission is to try and keep the Facebook page fresh. More recently I have been featuring junior members, DSF coaches, DSF volunteers and great occasions from the past that have influenced our movement. I obviously report news and highlight ways in which our members are active at home. I share news and activities from other areas and organisations and highlight opportunities for our participants and volunteers to be active at home. Fife Sports and Leisure Trust gym staff and others have been particularly active along with DSF coach Pamela Robson plus son Olly. Pamela is also providing zoom sessions for our younger members. It is hugely important that our members and friends try to remain active at home during lock down.

Once again thank you for your support. Please share details about our page with your friends and families. If you can afford the time there is a section on the page that offers you the opportunity for feedback. Stay home and stay safe. The family will be together again soon.

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

Para badminton role model retains Fife title

Mary Wilson lives in Edinburgh but for a period lived in Fife and during that time she became member of Disability Sport Fife. Mary has never lost her affection for DSF and over the years has competed in the Fife Track and Field Championships, Fife Lawn Bowls Championships, Fife Swimming Championships and Fife Badminton Championships.

Mary is an all rounder but her first love is Para badminton and over the past five years or so she has committed fully to trying to secure a place in Team GB for the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Mary has travelled extensively to international Para badminton events to gain experience and ranking points. Mary has fund raised vigorously to enable this to happen and I am sure would be the first to say thank you to the many individuals and organisations that have helped her along the way.

Disability Sport Fife considers Mary a perfect role model for women’s sport and consequently values her presence at any event she is available to enter. Her positive influence on DSF members on the court or field of play is of the highest order. Not only is Mary an exceptional sportswoman but the manner in which she conducts herself rubs off on all our other sportswomen in particular.

Mary is captured in this photo receiving the Fife Ladies Open badminton trophy from guest of honour Julie Hogg, at the 2020 Fife Badminton Championships held at Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre.

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

Congratulations to GASC coach

Disability Sport Fife was pleased to see retired Fife Council teacher Helen McKay being recognised for her volunteering work as a teacher and coach with Glenrothes Amateur Swimming Club.

The occasion was the Kirkcaldy & Central Fife Sports Council annual awards at Fife College earlier in the year. Helen is a very popular and highly valued member of the GASC team and it came as no surprise she was recognised on the night. Helen is inclusive in ethos and practice and DSF members who are members of GASC have benefitted from her support and experience.

There was a period when Helen was part of the Disability Sport Fife swim coaching team offering support for adult improvers at Cupar Swimming Pool. Responsibilities with GASC increased and understandably Helen had to leave the DSF team but her influence at the time was very significant.

I captured Helen on the night in this photo with Paul Noble MBE, Treasurer and Trustee of Disability Sport Fife (SCIO). Congratulations Helen.

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