Month: August 2025

Young people with disabilities sit round a table brainstorming.

Scottish Disability Sport Coaching Apprenticeship Programme – Applications Closing Soon

Are you aged 16 – 24, based on Scotland, have a disability and are keen to get involved in coaching sport? If so, read on!

The Young Start Programme (Funded by National Lottery’s Community Fund) is now welcoming applications for the 2025/2026 cohort.

We have space for up to 12 young people with physical disabilities, vision impairment, hearing loss and/or mild learning disabilities to gain a Level 1 (SCQF Level 5 or Level 6) coaching qualification and coaching experience.

Apprentice coaches are supported by their own mentor, have access to a £200 training budget, are invited to attend a whole host of CPD workshops, and can join the annual Young Start and Young Person’s Sports Panel residential at Inverclyde.

There are only a few more days left until applications close. To get involved & for more information, complete the application form by 15th September. Contact alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com with any queries.

To find out what our current cohort have gained from being involved in the programme, check out our Young Start Article from June this year.

Boccia workforce members smile as they are instructed on a mock court in a meeting room.

Success for Inaugural Boccia Bletherin’

Boccia Bletherin’ is set to become a calendar staple after an overwhelmingly successful inaugural event.

The workforce CPD and networking day, held in Perth’s fully-accessible Letham4All Community Hub, saw 25 coaches, officials, committee members, players, staff and supporters learn from each other and from experts in the sport.

The event was free of charge to attend and included informal, facilitated sessions featuring a number of topics identified as important by the attendees including: Officiating Update; Governance Hot Topics; Coaching BC3 Players; Lining and Timekeeping; Resource Development; Player Q&A and more! Of course, plenty of time was also set aside for catching up, networking and tucking into the delicious spread put on by the Letham4All catering team.

Feedback from the event was very supportive of the event, with all indicating that they would recommend that others attend. Topics identified for the next Boccia Bletherin’ include B3C practical work, sharing coaching practice and lining and timekeeping in practice.

Stay tuned for the 2026 Boccia Bletherin’ date, and if you’re interested in finding out more about boccia, attending the next event, or taking part in other boccia education opportunities, please email alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com

If you missed the action and want to catch up, check out the links to the content covered on the day below:

Boccia Bletherin Slides – AS

Boccia Bletherin’ 25- Governance Session

BC3 players information Version 3

Liner Masterclass – Boccia Bletherin

10. Timekeeper_Guidelines

Violation summary – 2025 Update

Flyer for the Dundee City Discovery Games

Dundee City Discovery Games Are Back

The Discovery Games events are taking place again in September (2025).

The Games have been an extremely popular fixture in Dundee City Disability Sport (DCDS) calendar for almost three decades and always well attended from Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) branches.

Entry is open to people with disabilities from across the country and full details for each event can be found within the attached documents, below. 
Graphic that advertises the new job opportunity with basketball scotland.

Vacancy: Disability Inclusion Officer with basketballscotland

basketballscotland are looking for a passionate and proactive individual to lead our work in making basketball more inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities across Scotland. This role will focus on breaking down barriers to participation: supporting the growth of wheelchair basketball; engaging directly with people with disabilities and their families; and, helping shape environments where everyone can belong and thrive.

You’ll be someone who’s not afraid to challenge the status quo, especially when it comes to creating equity and inclusion.

You’ll take responsibility for driving change, work closely with others to co-design better solutions, and always look for ways to improve, with a particular focus on people with physical, learning and sensory disabilities. Most of all, you’ll believe in the power of sport to bring people together, working with courage, compassion and purpose to help make that a reality. 

 

Job Title: Disability Inclusion Officer
Salary: £24,000 – £26,000
Location: Flexible, but with the expectation to be in Head Office (Corstorphine, Edinburgh) on a Thursday
Reports to: Social Impact Lead
Hours: We are open to Full-time or part-time. Core hours are 10:00 – 15:00 with flexibility regarding when you complete the rest of your hours, subject to line manager agreement. 

 

For more information about the role including key responsibilities, please consult the recruitment pack. 

For further information or to ask any questions, please email: hr@basketball.scot