By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer 

Mark Stevenson joined the Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) team last month (March 2025), taking up the role of Regional Development Manager for Central Scotland. Mark, aged 36, is coming to the organisation with a wealth of experience, having played an integral part of West Lothian Wolves Basketball Club. It was there that he took up the role of club development officer and community coach, whilst also coaching Lothian Phoenix Wheelchair Basketball Club.  

Since taking up the new post at SDS, Mark has been enjoying the variety of the tasks that comes with the job and the opportunity to work closely with SDS member branch, Forth Valley Disability Sport.   

“I am loving the fact that this role has so many different ways that you can go with it, so many people you can work with, so many opportunities. I am genuinely looking forward to all of it”, said Mark.  

One of Mark’s favorite elements of working in sports and Para sport activities, is the life changing effect that they can often have. “When we are in inclusive sports, we’re genuinely changing lives.” This is something that Mark has discovered throughout his time with West Lothian Wolves and Lothian Pheonix. Mark has also discovered this through coaching the Great Britain U23 Men’s Wheelchair Basketball team and being the Head Coach for Scotland’s 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball team. 

Mark has often seen how sport can support athletes’ independence: “I remember one time we went to a UK School Games, back when we did 5×5 wheelchair basketball, and one of our athletes, her entire goal for that tournament was nothing to do with on court. There was a ramp covering cables (leading on to the court) and her entire goal was to get across the ramp without anyone pushing her over the ramp. Every day would come and she would roll back or fall over and someone would have to help her up, but every day she would come back. On the last day she made it over the ramp herself and there was a bigger cheer from everyone than any basket scored that week.” 

“Now she’s one of the most independent people I’ve met, seeing these things are phenomenal.” 

Through many years of coaching and delivering wheelchair basketball, Mark has developed many skills and a love for seeing players develop. 

Mark said: “I am really player-focused first and foremost. I want to see players develop and see players stretch themselves beyond what they think is possible.” 

“Nothing excites me more coaching wise than having an entire team achieving something.” 

For Mark it has always been important to develop a good culture within a team. He commented, “Having those underlying things that we all believe in and work towards” helps promote and, “build up a culture.” 

Mark believes that this has partly contributed to the successes that are being seen on the national stage, saying: “I think this is especially why in the last three or four years our Scotland national side has gone from strength to strength.” Ma 

Last year Mark was invited to the SDS AGM and Awards. He was shocked to find out that he was the winner of the Russel Hogg Trophy. 

“I wasn’t really expecting it, but it was amazing and really highlights the work that from a national academy point of view, we have been doing”, said Mark. 

Mark was the award winner due to his work with basketballscotland’s National Academy. This initially started for him as a player, but since he took up a coaching role with the Scotland U18 squad, he has helped young athletes progress to represent Scotland at 3×3 basketball. 

If you would like to find out about opportunities throughout Central Scotland, you can contact Mark by email: mark.stevenson@scottishdisabilitysport.com. If you live elsewhere, reach out to your Regional Development Manager to discover what opportunities are available throughout your region. 

Make sure to follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, X and Instagram, as well as on the SDS website. 

By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer

Boccia bringing people together, the power of sport and socialisation. 

The Orchard Care Centre, located in Tullibody – are currently exploring new and exciting sports to help benefit their residents in multiple ways. This has resulted in them delving into the sport of boccia. 

One reason that The Orchard are looking to start delivering boccia to their residents is due to the role that sport can play in bringing people together and creating a social environment. Sandra Curl, the Wellbeing Coordinator at the Orchard, explained that, “I think it is just a bit of fun to be honest.”  

“It can be played in quite a small place, it can be interactive with the staff members, we can get a bit of banter going. Some residents can just join it on a social aspect”, Sandra said.  

The Orchard is excited to provide new opportunities to enable residents to socialise in new settings and the centre is continuing to find new ways to heighten this aspect. “We have been working intergenerationally with primary schools”, continued Sandra.  

“The children have all been really good with the residents and encouraging them.”  

The work has resulted in the two groups spending more time together and using sport to create bonds. “It’s amazing to see them interact and encourage each other, the joy that children bring to the residents is phenomenal”, remarked Sandra. 

Although the children help create an interactive and social environment, Sandra believes that these sessions help to teach the children core values. “For me, the children are learning a lot about respect. They learn from the residents so much.” 

A further reason that The Orchard is starting to provide boccia is due to the nature of the sport being accessible for all. Sandra explained: “We are doing quite a bit of bowls, like carpet bowls, but we are finding that the difficulty is quite hard for some of the residents, just because the bowls are too heavy.”  

“So, we were looking for some alternatives and boccia obviously can be underarm, overarm, footwork anything at all, so it ticked the boxes for everybody. Everybody is able to do it basically,” Sandra said. 

On top of using their intergenerational work to create this social environment, The Orchard is trying to encourage others to get involved and try boccia. “I am trying to get one of our sister care homes along to arrange a tournament, then getting the children in weekly also.” 

Along with the sport offering many benefits, Sandra explained the way in which it impacts her. “I have a massive amount of passion for what I do, I love to see them happy,” Sandra said. 

“Yesterday there was a big parachute out with the balls, and the nursery children were there, three- and four-year-olds, and the fun and laughter that came out of that room yesterday was just brilliant.” 

Furthermore, sport and physical activity can have physiological benefits, which Sandra commented on: “Everything has a positive effect, any stimulation whatsoever is good for the residents.”  

To find your passion for physical activity and sport throughout your region, contact your Regional Development Manager. Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) also have a range of Parasport festivals coming up, which provide school children the opportunity to engage and participate with multiple sports in one location. So, make sure to have a look at the SDS website to find out more information and stay up to date on all opportunities throughout Scotland, by following Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, Instagram and X.