Month: March 2026

26/03/2026

Port O’Leith Boxing Club Champions Inclusion

By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer

In Edinburgh, Port O’Leith Boxing Club continue to find new ways of providing boxing sessions to people with a disability.

This includes their recent delivery of boxing classes in British Sign Language (BSL), which was inspired by one of their participants.

“One of our members is deaf and we have had him in the gym for a while,” said Lily Priggs, who works at the boxing club.

“He brought his dad along, who is also deaf, for a ‘bring a friend for free class’ and as coaches we didn’t like that we couldn’t communicate with them.”

Photo of an older man with boxing gloves on, about to punch a boxing bag. He is looking towards the camera and smiling.

Being extremely passionate about making sport inclusive and accessible for all, Lily quickly got the wheels in motion. “I said to the coaches and the staff, let’s do a BSL course and try and engage more deaf people in the gym.”

Following this, members of the boxing club’s staff and coaches decided to do a 16 weeklong course in BSL. This is something that they all loved – not only did it contribute to making the club more inclusive but it also gave themselves a challenge in the process.

Lily said, “We enjoy having a diverse community and the challenge of being creative in adapting boxing drills.”

Lily is already seeing the benefits, enjoying being able to communicate in sign with participants. The club are excited at how this could possibly grow, creating a community within the gym where more participants have the opportunity to learn BSL whilst boxing. Lily said: “The idea is really that we can run our basics course (a course for beginners), and integrate people who are deaf into it. I like the idea that other participants also have the opportunity to pick up some of the signs.”

Getting active and taking part in sport, such as boxing, has a range of benefits from physical, mental, emotional and social.

“When we have done our feedback surveys, we know that people really enjoy mixing,” Lily said.

“In our gym, it’s the intergenerational community within it. The youngest person in the gym is about three months old and the oldest is one of our members with Parkinson’s who is about 80.”

Lily and the rest of the team at Port O’Leith Boxing club run a range of other inclusive programmes, including Punching with Parkinson’s, a class that provides those with Parkinson’s an inclusive opportunity to take part in sport and come together in a community environment.

Lily highly values and enjoys the social aspect that the club provides, saying: “the group dynamic and the relationships we’ve all built, it’s great having the older generation in – bad jokes – but great stories.”

Port O’Leith’s devotion to inclusive practice continues further with their newest addition to the coaching team – an Inclusion Coach for the club.

“The thing is with boxing, if you are creative, you can apply the sport to most people,” Lily said.

To find out all about the opportunities that are available at Port O’leith Boxing Club, email: info@portoleithboxing.co.uk

Alternatively, visit the Scottish Disability Sport website to find out about sporting opportunities within your region.

To keep up to date with all things disability sport across Scotland, follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

25/03/2026

Explore Your Winter Paralympic Sport Potential

Have you been inspired by ParalympicsGB at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games?

The Paralympic Potential Programme is the first step in finding out what your future Paralympic sport could be. If you want to find a competitive pathway and unlock the opportunities that sport offers, then now is the time to Explore Your Paralympic Potential – could you #BeTheFuture?

ParalympicsGB are working closely with GB Snowsports, British Curling and British Biathlon Union to offer you the chance to try Skiing, Snowboarding, Wheelchair Curling and Biathlon across three different dates and locations. You will receive expert coaching and input from GB coaches. They will be looking out for talented individuals to support and signpost to appropriate next steps.

Read on to find out more about each sport and which sports you could be classifiable for. With the right commitment and dedication, one day you could represent Great Britain at the
Paralympic Games!

More information available here.

#InspiringThroughInclusion #Paralympics #WinterParalympics

20/03/2026

Mountaineering Scotland Inclusive Climbing Sessions

Would you like to try climbing but don’t know where to start? Are you over 8?

Inclusive climbing sessions are being delivered at Edinburgh International Climbing Arena (EICA) on Saturday 28^th March.

Mountaineering Scotland are happy to offer friendly, supportive climbing sessions delivered by experienced EICA staff designed for individuals who may benefit from a calmer environment, extra time, and personalised encouragement. The Scottish Paraclimbing Club will be in attendance on the day for anyone interested in hearing about how they can become more involved and opportunities to climb on a regular basis.

These sessions are being subsidised through Mountaineering Scotland’s sportscotland investment and offered at a cost of £10pp. Spaces are limited throughout the day, so don’t delay and book today.

For more information and how to book, please see the following link: Mountaineering Scotland Inclusive Climbing Sessions

To keep up to date with all things disability sport across Scotland, follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

18/03/2026

Wheels to Water Returns in 2026

SAVE THE DATE!

Are you aged 10+ with a physical, vision, hearing or learning disability and enjoy adventure?

Wheels to Water returns to Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park this June where you can experience the thrill of getting on the water and adapted cycling in a safe and inclusive environment.

Date/Time: Saturday 13th June 2026, 10am – 3pm

Cost: Free

Venue: Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, Lochwinnoch

Come and join us with your family and friends where you can try inclusive cycling and a range of watersports! Registration opens soon!

Wheels to Water is a partnership event involving Scottish Disability Sport, Paddle Scotland, Royal Yachting Association Scotland, Scottish Cycling, Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park and a range of Kayak, Sailing and Cycling clubs.

This event is being ran by young people from Scottish Disability Sport’s, Paddle Scotland’s and RYA’s youth panels and is kindly supported by National Lottery’s Young Start fund.

16/03/2026

Women and Girls in Boccia: Rachael Page’s Story

By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer

Rachael Page started playing boccia around 10 years ago, through one of Scottish Disability Sport’s (SDS’s) member branches, Disability Sport – Fife. She started playing boccia as a means to meet new people, play a new sport and experience the benefits that come with getting physically active. Rachael has cerebral palsy which affects all four of her limbs and so boccia provided the ideal opportunity for achieving the above.

It wasn’t long though until Rachael realised that she wanted to play boccia in a competitive environment: “I have wanted to play boccia competitively since I was a wee girl when I was still at high school. I absolutely love my boccia,” she said.

Alongside playing weekly in Glenrothes, Rachael also trains alongside the Tayside regional team. This has resulted in her being coached by some of the best available coaches, such as Darren and Sam Thompson. Rachael remarked on how this has positively impacted her, “They’ve been brilliant, they really have. It’s good as it is showing me loads of things, for example how to throw the balls with different techniques.”

All of Rachael’s hard work and commitment to her craft, came to fruition in early 2026, as she won Senior Sportsperson of the Year at Disability Sport – Fife’s awards ceremony. She reflected on this achievement: “To have been selected for the national Boccia Squad, and to win this award, I’m just over the moon, it’s a great way to start the year.”

One of Rachael’s favorite elements of the game is the social aspect, allowing her to meet and socialise with new groups “I enjoy it and it’s a good way of socialising and making friends with new people,” Rachael said.

The impact of role models is something that Rachael has started to notice recently.

Rachael told SDS that: “My goals are to follow in the footsteps of Kayleigh Brown.”

She believes that Kayleigh is a fantastic ambassador for the sport. “I think Kayleigh is a great role model because she has a great personality and is a great player.”

In 2025, Rachael was successfully classified as a BC2 athlete. This along with her consistent levels of performance has resulted in her being selected to be part of the Scottish National Boccia Squad in 2026. This resulted in her attending a training camp that was hosted in Sportscotland’s National Centre Inverclyde. Rachael really enjoyed her experiences with the squad, and can already see it impacting her positively “It was an amazing experience, I learnt a lot in terms of my posture when throwing the ball.” Said Rachael. Alongwith the training camp providing Rachael with opportunities to develop on the court, Rachael enjoyed having an opportunity to meet other members of the squad, including her role model Kayleigh Brown “I got the chance to eventually meet Kayleigh, and we got the chance to play each other in our drills. She is amazing, and to see how she plays, obviously I have a long way to go, but it just shows where I could end up.” Rachel explained.

Along with having her own role models, Rachael feels strongly about the importance of female role models to inspire the next generation of women and girls, commenting: “I think it’s important to have more female role models in boccia because there aren’t many females that compete in boccia and I think that it would be great to see more females play competitively in boccia as well.”

Rachael has learnt first-hand how boccia can help people to overcome barriers “You can never say no to anyone from boccia. It’s amazing what people can do, it really is.”

Rachael has become extremely grateful for all of her experiences; from training weekly and regionally to taking part in events and making friends.

“A lot of these things are things I didn’t think I would do and I am really grateful for the opportunities that I have had.”

If you like the sound of some of the experiences that Rachael has had, and you would be interested in trying out boccia, contact SDS’s Boccia Development Officer on: jonathan.kennedy@scottishdisabilitysport.com to find out what opportunities there are to take part in the sport as a player, volunteer, coach or official.

To keep up to date with all things disability sport across Scotland, follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

09/03/2026

Fiona Muirhead Inspiring the Next Generation of Boccia Players

By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer

What a journey it has been for Fiona Muirhead in boccia, starting the sport as a hobby and now being a mainstay in both Scotland’s and Boccia UK’s boccia squads.

The 43-year-old started playing the sport in 2018. Little did she know at the time that she would go on to pick up a handful of podium finishes on the international stage, on her way to becoming one of Scotland’s many brilliant female role models.

Over the past eight years, Fiona has been showcasing her abilities in boccia and in the process, she has made herself a household name on the Scottish boccia circuit. This has resulted in Fiona becoming one of Scotland’s most visible female role models in sport.

She said: “There aren’t many women, we are still very much a minority in the sport. We were at Scottish camp last weekend, and it was really nice for all of the new women to see myself and Kayleigh Brown, it’s nice to see the way that things could go.”

Fiona is also very proud of her journey in the sport, coming into it later in life. This is a further reason why she thinks she is a good role model for aspiring athletes.

“I think also, I came in quite late in life, I am the eldest in both squads, so it is nice to say to the other females that you can start later”, Fiona said.

One of the most recent additions to the Scottish Boccia Squad is Rachael Page. Being able to look up and see Fiona competing has been hugely inspirational and helpful for Rachael

“Fiona has been amazing, she is so kind. If there are things that we are not to sure of, we can go to people like her and get some help. Being part of the squad is great. They are all such a lovely bunch”, said Rachael.

Before becoming one of Scotland’s brightest shining lights on the boccia circuit, Fiona started her boccia journey at the sessions in Hamilton. She reflected on this, saying: “Initially, playing was just a social thing. I had no ambitions; I didn’t really appreciate where it could go.”

“It’s been very exciting. It’s been quite sudden. I started it as a hobby and then I progressed through the Scottish talent squad,” she said.

Throughout her journey in school, Fiona was not always involved in sport and physical activity, due to her school not delivering inclusive physical education classes – an issue which still remains throughout schools in Scotland.

This resulted in Fiona seeking opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity later in life, looking to gain many of the attached health benefits.

Fiona commented on how it has benefited her, saying: “I have Muscular Dystrophy, so it not only helped to stabilise it but it has also helped me through allowing me to exercise.”

As Fiona has developed in the sport, she has found herself further benefiting from increased physical activity. A further factor in this, is due to Fiona’s involvement in the UK’s World Class Programme, and the support that she has had access to.

“I have been able to access physio and strength and conditioning, and it really has impacted how well I can be, compared to before when I wasn’t training,” Fiona commented.

Fiona has been heavily impacted by the psychological and physiological benefits of boccia. Since her first international tournament in 2022, Fiona has found herself having many life changing experiences through competing.

Fiona said: “I hadn’t done a lot of traveling without my family before, and I was now going to places I wouldn’t have expected. I went to Canada, Brazil, Croatia. It was really nice, and doing it with international athletes, it was really a dream come true.”

A further reason why Fiona has been making herself a role model for any up-and-coming athletes, is due to the BC4 classified athlete’s success whilst competing on the international stage. In terms of podium finishes, 2023 was by far Fiona’s most successful year, winning BC4 Pairs at the Montreal World Cup, followed by a silver in the BC4 Pairs at the 2023 European Para Championships in Rotterdam.

Fiona then went one better, taking gold at the Heraklion Challenger event in Crete.

These podiums are something that Fiona looks back on with a huge amount of pride, saying, “A real highlight would be those podium finishes. Being on the podium and hearing the British national anthem alongside Stephen (McGuire).”

If you are interested in trying out boccia, contact Scottish Disability Sport’s (SDS) Boccia Development Officer on: jonathan.kennedy@scottishdisabilitysport.com

To keep up to date with all things disability sport across Scotland, follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.