Today we celebrate some of the amazing women that support one of our most important events of the year, our residential summer camp. Unfortunately given the present circumstances we were unable to run the event this year however we are looking forward to hopefully returning to the Badaguish Centre near Aviemore in summer 2021. This event is hugely important to SDS as it supports our participants into developing their confidence and independence in a beautiful and challenging outdoor environment. For many of our participants this is their first time away from home so having some incredible support staff is crucial. Here are three of the very best from our team:

Helen Clark
Helen joined us in 2018 when we sent out an S.O.S for additional medical support for the camp and is now a firm fixture at the camp. Helen is a force of nature and has been a superb addition to the camp. She has recently completed her mental health diploma in lockdown and is a mother of two. One of her daughters has a disability and has attended the camp.

Why did you get involved in sport?
I’ve always been involved in sport of some kind. For the camp, there was an opportunity to get involved with the urgent need for medical support and this was within my capabilities. I really wanted to give back as a parent of a child with a disability and to support these kind of events as they offer the children so much. I wouldn’t change any of it for the world, it is such a powerful experience and to be involved with the children at camp is joyous. I am gutted it wasn’t able to run this year but I’m already looking forward to next year and keeping my fingers crossed.

Best SDS Summer Camp moment?
Being up at Loch Insh doing the watersports with the group. Seeing children achieving things that they might not have expected they could; watching them having so much fun together and forging new friendships and just being typical teenagers is so rewarding.

What are the best things about being involved in sport in Scotland?
For me the best things about being involved in sport is seeing the joy on the faces of young people who have overcome various challenges and seeing them prosper in a supportive environment is everything.

Jo Jackson:
Jo was recommended to us by our Performance Manager at the time Becky Bisland. Now Becky did many excellent things whilst at SDS but she may have peaked with this intervention. Jo has been with us for the last five years and I’m not sure how we ever managed without her!

Why did you get involved in sport?
I’ve always loved boats, but mostly just messing around them and sailing for family holidays in Greece. The most significant moment for me was participating in the Clip Around the World yacht race, which is 10 months of sailing yachts round the world. I had great fun and it totally rebuilt my confidence after a difficult period. In my role as a nurse I got involved as a Nurse Practitioner for Team Scotland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. I was involved in the set-up one of the medical villages on site and lived in the village for five weeks with the athletes and coaches. I am also involved in the Ellen McArthur Trust which supports young people in rebuilding their confidence after cancer.

Best SDS Summer Camp moment?
It’s all amazing! The one that made me smile and laugh the most was having one of the participants –  who was a powerchair user – in the front of a bike I was cycling around the camp. He had never had this type of experience before and the laughter and smile on his face throughout brought it all home as to why these projects exist. Simply magnificent!

What are the best things about being involved in sport in Scotland?
Being able to use all my life skills learned as a nurse and as a mother to be able to let young people push their boundaries, increase their confidence and realise that sport and the great outdoors can very much be their domain. Sport and physical activity enrich people’s lives so much.

Kirsty Byrne
Kirsty came to us whilst a student at Edinburgh University studying Sport & Recreation Management.

Why did you get involved in sport?
As a little girl, my mum and dad would forever find me dancing around the living room. As an enthusiastic 3-year-old, they had to find something for me to do to burn off some energy, and so dance classes seemed to be the logical solution. 18 years later I have been part of a Grand Champion University Dance team and have loved every second.

Best SDS Summer Camp moment?
The best moment of Summer Camp, despite being part of the winning team for two consecutive years, has to be the self-confidence and growth I see in the children. Some of the children arrive at the camp very hesitant to interact and for many this is the first time they have been away from parents and carers. Seeing the increased confidence, blossoming lifetime friendships and the loss of inhibition and anxiety in the children from when they arrived to when they depart will forever be so rewarding to me.

What are the best things about being involved in sport in Scotland?
For me, the best thing about being involved in sport definitely has to be the friendships that are formed and the sense of team spirt and community that comes with the sport. Sport gives you an opportunity to escape from anything going on in the real world and there’s no better way to do that than with the friends that are made.

If you would like to know more about this event or any of the other twenty-plus national events on the SDS calendar please contact the Events Team at events@scottishdisabilitysport.com or visit our website at www.scottishdisabillitysport.com.

Earlier in 2020 Borders athlete Beth Johnston decided to take a step back from swimming and retire from the sport, however can look back on her swimming career and be extremely proud of her achievements which have spanned eight years, from supporting the formation of the first para swim session in the region to representing Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

The former Galashiels Academy pupil began her para swimming career in 2012 with Borders Baracudas and played a significant role in supporting the development of this group alongside two other swimmers, local Branch Borders Disability Sport and Scottish Disability Sport. Beth has provided genuine inspiration for para swimmers in the Scottish Borders and the club now boasts a far larger membership than in 2012, many of the individuals motivated to replicate her success in the water.

As well as training with the Borders Baracudas and living in Galashiels, Beth would travel to Midlothian weekly to train with renowned para swimming club Lothian Racers where she further developed her skills under the hugely experienced coaching team at the club. Beth, and her supportive family, showed commitment and motivation to improve and would also regularly travel to West Lothian to link up with other talented para swimmers from the East of Scotland at the monthly Scottish Disability Sport regional squad sessions. This hard work was recognised as Beth was awarded the Lothian Disability Sport Young Sports Person of the Year in 2013 and then supported through the Jim Anderson OBE Bursary in 2014.

By 2014, Beth was firmly established as part of the Scottish Swimming National Para Swim Squad and was the first ever swimmer with a disability to be selected to join the Borders Elite Swim Team (BEST) where she thrived under the guidance of coach Lauren Jocelyn and latterly Robyn Methven. The 19-year-old was also one of three athletes with a disability to be part of the Borders Athlete Support Programme (ASP), paving the way for other individuals with an impairment to receive support in the future.

Achievements in the pool continued to follow for the S10 swimmer who recorded significant results in 2017, claiming double gold at a World Para Swimming Series in Indianapolis, USA. On home soil, Beth had already broken the Scottish record for the S10 Backstroke at the British Para Swimming International Meet and claimed another Scottish record at the Scottish Disability Sport National Championships for the 50m Backstroke. Beth was also recognised at the 2018 Live Borders Celebration of Sport Awards, claiming the Disability Sport Award.

In 2018, the Borders swimmer was selected to represent Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia and competed in the SM10 Individual Medley. This prestigious achievement will live long in the memory and will provide inspiration for the stars of tomorrow in the Scottish Borders and beyond. A true role model in the sport and everyone at Scottish Disability Sport wishes you all the best in your future endeavours!

Gemma Lumsdaine is a 23-year-old wheelchair athlete from Dundee who, from a young age, was involved in sports such as swimming and horse riding.  In 2013 she joined her local wheelchair sports club Dundee Dragons, which she identifies as a life changing moment at a time when she struggled with her disability and had low confidence. It was seeing other people with disabilities being independent and succeeding in life that really changed her perception of disability.

Her first experience of wheelchair sport with the Dragons was wheelchair rugby league but the Dragons then developed into a multi-sports club including opportunities to play basketball, tennis, badminton and curling. When basketballscotland Wheelchair Basketball Development Officer Tina Gordon came looking for someone to play for Scotland, Gemma was already established in wheelchair rugby league and para-equestrian dressage but had never played basketball before. Not to be deterred, Gemma enthusiastically accepted the challenge and played her first game of wheelchair basketball for her country with only two weeks practice.

Gemma subsequently became a key player for Scotland’s National League Club, the Lothian Phoenix, and was an all-star for the Women’s League Club, the Angels of the North. She has captained the Under 19s team for Scotland at the Lord Taverner’s National Junior Championships and was appointed Vice-Captain of the Scotland Under 23 Squad. She was also awarded the Lord’s Taverners ‘Jean Ratcliff Outstanding Achievement Award’ in 2014.

When the Dundee Dragons looked to introduce the sport of wheelchair rugby to the club’s list of opportunities, they invited the Caledonian Crushers to deliver a taster session. This was Gemma’s introduction to the sport and she never looked back. She started training with the Crushers in 2015 and played her first game 6 months later. In recent years, Gemma has progressed within the sport and now plays for the GB Talent Squad. This Squad supports athletes to make the transition to the World Class Squad and the opportunity to compete at the Paralympic Games. Gemma made this rapid progression in the sport whilst studying Sports Development and Coaching at Abertay University.

Gemma is also a coach at the Dundee Dragons, Abertay University and was assistant coach for the Scottish University Team that won the silver medal at the British Wheelchair Basketball University Championships. She is a Scotland U23 wheelchair basketball player, combining playing and coaching skills to great effect, which also presents an opportunity to younger players to see what can be achieved through hard work and determination. Gemma epitomises a coach who has the desire to keep learning and as a result was nominated for the Scottish Disability Sport/basketballscotland mentoring programme and was also named Disability Coach of the Year by Basketball Tayside and Fife.

She also has an ambassadorial role in the sport with basketballscotland and has presented at the UK Coaching Conference, the Scottish Women’s Convention and was also asked to address the House of Lords at the launch of “Supporting Tomorrow’s Superstars”.

Last year Gemma agreed to talk on film to Scottish Disability Sport about her journey and experiences in sport and this can be viewed here:

Gemma Lumsdaine leads by example and is an excellent role model for women and girls looking to progress in any role in their chosen sport. She displays exceptional skill, knowledge and expertise beyond her age with a maturity and empathy which make her an ideal coach and performance athlete.

#SheCanSheWill

In SDS we are lucky to work with such inspirational people, many of whom are female. During Women and Girls Week we wanted to put the spotlight on to three of the brilliant ladies we have had the pleasure of working with through the Young Persons Sport Panel over the last 5 years. Hope Gordon, Gemma Lumsdaine and Colette Martin were three of the founding members of the Young Persons Sport Panel when it was formed back in 2015. Their contributions, enthusiasm and experience has been invaluable during that time to the world of disability sport. It has been fantastic to watch Hope, Gemma and Colette develop and gain lots of skill and confidence over the years. We are delighted to still have them involved in the new Young Persons Spot Panel with a slightly different role where they will be helping SDS plan the programme for the new panel and act as peer mentors. SDS asked Hope, Gemma and Colette to answer a few questions below about their experiences in sport.

Hope Gordon

1. Why did you get involved in sport?

I’ve been involved in sport my whole life as I was a very active kid and participated in lots of different after school activities. I developed a disability in 2008 and it was shortly after that where sport became even more important to me.

2. Best memory during your time on the panel?

Our trip to America in 2014 was incredible and it’s from that where the panel started. Since then my highlights have been the wheelchair sports extravaganza and helping at the para sport festivals.

3. Sporting (or other) highlight?

My first year racing in Paracanoe (2019). I qualified for all major events which was more than I was expecting in my first year. 4th at European Championship and World Cup and 5th at World Championships.

4. Have you ever found there were challenges from being a female and involved in sport? If yes how did you overcome these?

I personally haven’t had too many challenges regarding being female in sport. I’m lucky to train with some incredible female athletes who push me everyday. We do however have less events than the guys so it would be nice to see gender equality.

5. What would you say to other girls and women who are thinking about getting involved in sport and why they should?

Just do it! Being female shouldn’t stop you from doing anything, including sport. It’s so much fun and you meet so many great people.

Gemma Lumsdaine

1. Why did you get involved in sport?

I have taken part in lots of different sports throughout my life including horse riding, swimming, wheelchair basketball and now wheelchair rugby. The social, mental, and physical benefits of participating in sport were a big motivation for me getting involved.

2. Best memory during your time on the panel?

I loved helping at the Wheelchair Sports Extravaganza in 2016, it was great seeing so many people enjoying lots of different wheelchair sports.

3. Sporting (or other) highlight?

Difficult question but I think it has to be my first time representing the GB Wheelchair Rugby Talent Squad at a tournament in Germany, it was an amazing experience!

4. Have you ever found there were challenges from being a female and involved in sport? If yes how did you overcome these?

I think I’ve been quite lucky in the fact that I haven’t had too many challenges as a result of my gender. However, I do think many challenges exist for women involved in sport.

5. What would you say to other girls and women who are thinking about getting involved in sport and why they should?

I think I would say, don’t be afraid to try lots of different sports until you find the one you love. Sport is a great way to meet new people, develop your skills and gain confidence so definitely worth giving it a go!

Colette Martin

1. Why did you get involved in sport?

I got involved in sport when I was 9 years old. My parents felt that I should have an outlet and a hobby, because at the time I didn’t leave the house other than to go to school. I was signed up to multiple activities, including music lessons, drama, and sports. Out of the sessions I attended I enjoyed playing sport, as I got older, I got interested in pursuing sport at a competitive level. As my training increased I made the decision to continue my athletics career and train multiple days a week.

2. Best memory during your time on the panel?

I had a lot of amazing times and opportunities due to being on the panel. Prior to the beginning of the panel, and the genesis of the panel, some athletes got the opportunity to travel to America for 2 weeks. I had the best time there, I learned a lot about disability and disability sport in the USA. In 2019, I got asked to present at a sportscotland conference to all of the sports governing bodies about my experiences on the panel and how a panel can be a benefit to the SGB’s. Getting the opportunity to speak in front of many high profile and important people from the world of sport was a highlight for me.

3. Sporting (or other) highlight?

A sporting highlight for me would be getting to race in the London Olympic Stadium as part of a 2012 Tester event and then a couple of weeks later racing at the same venue again, representing Scotland at the UK School Games. Another sporting highlight for me, in basketball, would be competing at BWB Women’s League and getting promoted to the 2nd Division at the end of the league.

4. Have you ever found there were challenges from being a female and involved in sport? If yes how did you overcome these?

I don’t think that I have had many challenges from being a female in sport. I have found that as I was coming up in my athletics junior career, I was able to train and compete at a high standard, as well as, sometimes training and competing alongside the males. Similarly, in basketball I am part of a team that has both males and females and everyone supports each other. I have found that having other females to train and compete alongside has been a major benefit as we all get along great.

5. What would you say to other girls and women who are thinking about getting involved in sport and why they should?

I would say that everyone should try a sport if they are interested in doing so. Sport has given me a lot of amazing opportunities and I wouldn’t be where I am without it. I have found a lot of my friends through participating in sport, and there is a great support system for those involved which have definitely benefitted from. Sport is a great social activity and also is a great way to keep active and healthy in yourself.

Hope, Gemma and Colette are great role models to inspire anyone to get involved in sport and physical activity. A huge thank you to them for their contributions to SDS over the years.

#SheCanSheWill

To celebrate our amazing female role models throughout Scottish Women in Sport Week, Scottish Disability will be profiling different women each day on our website, social media platforms and the Actify Platform. We will be telling the story of inspirational programmes, participants, athletes, coaches and volunteers who have a disability or support participants with a disability, and have demonstrated that everyone can be involved in sport and physical activity.

If you or anyone you know is living with a disability and would like to engage in physical activity and sport as a participant, coach, or official please contact Scottish Disability Sport on 0131 317 1130 or email admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Today, Day 3 of Scottish Women in Sport Week, we will be shining the spotlight on : Women coaches who are all at different stages of their coaching journey, all who inspire and make sport happen. Click here  to watch the video of coaches Claire Morrison, Jen Barsby, Pamela Robson, Laura Pilkington, Gemma Lumsdaine and Caitlin Ross.

#SheCanSheWill 

To celebrate our amazing female role models throughout Scottish Women in Sport Week, Scottish Disability will be profiling one woman each day on our website, social media platforms and the Actify Platform. We will be telling the story of inspirational programme, participants, athletes, coaches and volunteers who have a disability, and have demonstrated that everyone can be involved in sport and physical activity.

If you or anyone you know is living with a disability and would like to engage in physical activity and sport as a participant, coach, or official please contact Scottish Disability Sport on 0131 317 1130 or email admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Today we will be shining the spotlight on : Samantha Gough

Midlothian’s Samantha Gough has only been involved with the sport of Goalball for just over a year, however during that time she has made significant strides and is viewed as a player with huge potential. 

Bonnyrigg based youngster Gough became involved in the sport after being introduced at a Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) Visual Impairment Sport Engagement Day in March 2019 where she was given the opportunity to try Goalball alongside a range of other sports. It was immediately evident that she had lots of ability in the sport. 

Fast forward to March 2020 and Samantha, a pupil at Lasswade High School, is now an established member of the #GoalballFamily and is seen to have the potential to represent Great Britain in the near future. During this time, Gough has demonstrated dedication, travelling long distances (often to England) to train, compete and attend development camps. In addition to playing the sport, Samantha has also gained her Goalball Leaders coaching qualification, using this to assist SDS with grassroots delivery in local schools across the East of Scotland, including Blackhall Primary School in Edinburgh where a regular session has recently been established. 

In October 2019. Gough made her competitive debut (Novice Level) for a composite team in a Goalball UK (North) tournament held in Sheffield. The composite team finished 1st and Samantha finished as the highest female goal scorer with 18 strikes in 6 games. Continuing her rapid acceleration through the sport, Gough again travelled to Sheffield in January this year, participating in her first Intermediate Level Goalball UK (North) Tournament representing York. History repeated itself as Samantha again finished as the top female scorer with 15 goals in 4 games. This form would see an invitation to attend a Goalball UK Talent Camp at RNC Hereford – unfortunately cancelled due to severe flooding. 

Exactly a year after initially trying the sport, Samantha was selected to attend a training camp specifically for developing Intermediate and Elite players. This camp also included a tournament which saw Samantha test herself against three players from the GB Woman’s Squad and also provided an opportunity to highlight her undoubted talent to the observing GB Woman’s Coach. 

This is a remarkable rise through the sport in little over a year and demonstrates the opportunities available for local individuals should they wish to pursue a sporting pathway. To top the last 12 months off, Samantha was named as top female goal scorer at Intermediate & Beginner level for the 2019/2020 season – a remarkable achievement for a novice in the sport. 

Goalball, is an exciting Paralympic, indoor 3-a-side sport of attack and defend which is played by people who are blind or partially sighted. All players are required to wear eye shades so that nobody can see anything and ensures an even playing field for all. The idea of the game is quite simply to score goals by bowling the ball along the floor, past the opposing team. The ball has a bell in it, meaning players must rely on their other senses. To find out more about the sport, please visit www.goalballuk.com. 

n addition to Samantha’s sporting aspirations she was recently selected to join the Scottish Disability Sport Young Person’s Sports Panel for a period of three years. The aims of the panel are;

• Provide a voice for young people with a disability in sport
• Give young people with disabilities an opportunity to gain continuous professional development and experience
• Act as a key consultation group for SDS against strategy, outcomes to ensure a young persons’ perspective is highlighted in key areas.
• Share expertise and influence communication across sports and throughout Scotland with key partners.
• Support branches

If you are interested in becoming involved with Goalball, please contact SDS Regional Manager (East) Neal Herbert on 0131 625 4414 or neal.herbert@scottishdisabilitysport.com. 

To celebrate our amazing female role models throughout Scottish Women in Sport Week, Scottish Disability will be profiling one woman each day on our website, social media platforms and the Actify Platform. We will be telling the story of inspirational programme, participants, athletes, coaches and volunteers who have a disability, and have demonstrated that everyone can be involved in sport and physical activity.

If you or anyone you know is living with a disability and would like to engage in physical activity and sport as a participant, coach, or official please contact Scottish Disability Sport on 0131 317 1130 or email admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Today we will be shining the spotlight on : Day 1 Girls in Boccia

As part of the sportscotland Women and Girls’ Fund, Scottish Disability Sport were able to create a programme specifically aimed at increasing participation rates among female players. We were able to create a brand to give identity to the programme and a feeling of belonging for the players. While the sportscotland funding ended after a 12 month period, the legacy remains through the work of our Boccia Development Officer. In addition, increasing female participation rates will remain a priority within the strategic goals of the sport in Scotland. 

Identifying girls in the sport is a primary focus for Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) as numbers participating are very low, particularly in the junior age groups. Furthermore, the international game has a gender mix, which presents opportunity for female players to progress from a performance perspective. This opportunity could be expanded further as the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is expected to have more female events, so the growth in the female game will be a priority in Scotland, the UK and worldwide. 

SDS has a range of ways to get you involved with boccia, including: 

• School visits, community visits and personal coaching.  
• Advise on and provide specific equipment to use in boccia sessions.  
• A peer mentor programme to support you with playing boccia and to get you settled into a club or a session. 

We are interested in hearing from anyone looking to get involved in the sport, as a player, coach or official, and for more information, or to register, please visit: 

http://boccia.scottishdisabilitysport.com/girls-in-boccia/  

#SheCanSheWill #ScottishBoccia #GirlsinBoccia  

To mark the end of the initial period of the See My Voice project, British Blind Sport’s Young Leaders are hosting a conference to share valuable learnings and experiences that the project has delivered over the past 3 years.

See My Voice is a British Blind Sport project for 10-20 year olds focusing on volunteering and leadership in sport and physical activity. So far, SMV has helped over 100 young people achieve leadership qualifications and gain credible employability skills and sector experience.

 The See My Voice Conference will be aimed at all sport sector organisations who work with volunteers. This unique event will provide the opportunity to share learning shaped by the experiences of See My Voice Young Leaders in order to help other organisations improve the experience of their volunteers and ensure that inclusivity is naturalised into the volunteering process.

 The conference is driven by young people with sight loss and will consist of workshops to help organisations understand how they can diversify their workforce and shape activities to become more inclusive.

 There will also be workshops delivered by members of organisations who hosted volunteers, to discuss the impact and value that the volunteers brought to them and what they learnt about inclusivity and accessibility in the process.

 BBS will also be showcasing its new toolkit developed based on Young Leader feedback which is designed to help organisations make their volunteering programmes more accessible. It will include tips and advice on the adjustments that need to be made to the application process, communications, volunteering roles and other aspects within the organisation.

 See My Voice Support Assistant Kian said, “We’re really happy to be able to deliver the See My Voice Conference this year – even if the format has had to be adapted due to Covid-19! It’s important for us that the experiences of our Young Leaders in their voluntary roles provide us with learnings and knowledge that we can share with the wider sector to encourage change and progress in terms of inclusivity. We want to make it the norm for someone with a visual impairment to be able to volunteer with an organisation easily, without having to overcome various barriers and so we hope this conference will give organisations the confidence and tools they need to be able make their workforce more diverse.”

The See My Voice Conference is open to any sports sector organisation team members who work with volunteers. It will run on Wednesday 25^th November and Thursday 26^th November, from 1:00pm – 3:30pm on both days.

For more information and to register for the conference, please visit www.bit.ly/SMVConference

If you have any queries, please contact Young Leaders Officer, Tommy, on tommy@britishblindsport.org.uk or 07494104806