Month: July 2026

31/07/2026

Job Opportunity: Engagement Officer at SDS

Engagement Officer

Full time: 37.5 hours
Salary: £30,000
Flexible Working
Interviews: Wed 26 August 2026
Apply online here or download a copy of the application form to complete by word below and submit before 12noon on 19^th August.

The Engagement Officer will play a vital role in bringing the SDS Engagement Plan to life across Scotland, helping to create meaningful opportunities for people with disabilities to participate and progress in sport and physical activity.

Reporting to the Engagement Manager, the post holder will help participants access local opportunities while supporting the design, development and delivery of an inspiring annual programme of high-quality events. This will include the SDS National Championships and a range of engagement events delivered in partnership with local and national organisations.

As a key member of the SDS staff team, the Engagement Officer will work closely with colleagues and partners to support the successful delivery of the SDS Strategic Plan and help strengthen engagement across communities.

This role is ideal for someone with excellent planning, organisational, communication, and IT skills, who is confident working both independently and collaboratively in a busy, varied, and purpose-driven environment.

Full job description and person specification is available here: SDS Engagement Officer JD & PS 26 Final

Please email your complete word document to Lynne Glen, Head of Development, at Scottish Disability Sport. Email: lynne.glen@scottishdisabilitysport.com

If you have any questions, please call: 0131 317 1130 or email: lynne.glen@scottishdisabilitysport.com

23/07/2026

Together, We’re All In!

Five organisations are partnering to build on the legacy of Glasgow 2026 this summer, with the goal of supporting physical, mental and social health in our communities.

The partnership was very clearly on display at a recent celebration of physical activity in Glasgow. The events on 13 and 20 May saw nearly 1500 school pupils, representing 20 primary schools, participate at Scotstoun, Team Scotland’s home athletics track, in the run up to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The events were delivered by The Daily Mile Foundation in partnership with the Scottish Government, London Marathon Events, scottishathletics, Scottish Disability Sport, Glasgow Life and Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH), with the aim being to help children move more, feel good and enjoy being active together.

Underpinning the delivery of this event was the ‘Together, We’re All In’ partnership which has seen the Daily Mile Foundation, junior parkrun, scottishathletics, SAMH and Scottish Disability Sport come together to build on their existing work and create an impactful and lasting legacy reaching beyond this year’s Games.

Over the build up to, and during Glasgow 2026, our five organisations are joining forces to support communities to participate in the Commonwealth Games, and to provide opportunities across Scotland for people to get active in their local community.

However, we have recognised the strength that lies in working collaboratively, in partnership, to deliver shared outcomes. This includes sharing a key focus long term to support delivery of Scotland’s National Performance Framework; embed an inclusive approach in organisational programmes; improve mental, physical and social health; and create a culture of daily moving and wellbeing.

Fiona Paterson, UK and Ireland Partnerships Manager at The Daily Mile Foundation, said:

“The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games are a fantastic opportunity to bring organisations together with a shared goal of helping more children enjoy the benefits of being active. By working in partnership, we can inspire more children to run, wheel or walk every day, building healthy habits that support their physical, mental and social wellbeing. We hope the excitement of the Games encourages even more schools and families across Scotland to make movement part of everyday life.”

scottishathletics’ CEO, Colin Hutchison, said:

“With the Commonwealth Games returning to Glasgow in 2026, the athletics and running community in Scotland once again has an unprecedented opportunity to benefit. It is important as a sport we create a lasting legacy – together, we can build one which engages people of all ages to promote our sport to build stronger clubs, recruit volunteers, and to improve participation levels. The key benefit through this partnership is that we build disability, inclusion, social, physical and mental health into our athletics development thinking from the outset. The impact of the work we do as a group of partners will extend long beyond the Games.”

Billy Watson, Chief Executive of SAMH, which is also Official Mental Health Supporter of Team Scotland and an Official Supporter of Glasgow 2026, said:

“This partnership is all about creating inclusive opportunities to help more people enjoy the physical, mental and social health benefits of being active. From boosting our mood to facilitating new connections, physical activity and sport can play a key role in helping us to feel good and live well. We want to remove barriers to participation and support as many people as possible to find ways of moving that work for them, so they can build sustainable activity into their regular routines.”

Josh McKay, Outreach Officer (Scotland) for parkrun, said:

“Glasgow 2026 gives us the chance to highlight opportunities to improve people’s health and happiness across Scotland. At junior parkrun, our fun, free, weekly 2k community events for children aged 4-14 and their families are the perfect way to encourage the whole family to be active together on a Sunday morning. We’re excited to be teaming up with so many brilliant organisations to promote the importance of movement to support people’s wellbeing, and hope the Commonwealth Games inspire people to get active in their local community!”

Scottish Disability Sport CEO, Gavin Macleod, said:

“The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will showcase Scotland’s leading para athletes, who will compete across six of the ten sports and inspire the next generation of participants, coaches, officials and athletes.

Inclusion is at the heart of the Together, We’re All In partnership, and we are delighted to work with this incredible group of partners to create a meaningful Games legacy for people with disabilities.”

Find out more about the Together We’re All In Partnership

22/07/2026

Commonwealth Games: Powered By Volunteers.

This summer, from Thursday 23^rd July to Sunday 2^nd August, the Commonwealth Games will take place. Being held in Glasgow, Scotland, the upcoming edition of the Multi Sport event, will provide the Scottish nation with a front row seat to watch some of the world’s finest athletes perform at the highest level. Taking centre stage, the athletes will prepare to represent their countries, and everyone who has supported them throughout their journeys in sport.

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) are not only proud to play an ongoing part in Scotland’s sporting system, throughout grassroot sport and the performance pathway, supporting Scottish athletes as they make the transition from playground to podium. But to also have a committed team of staff and volunteers that will be supporting at Glasgow 2026.

SDS’s Education and Learning Manager, Alison Shaw, will be at the Games, as part of a dedicated Athletes Services team at Tollcross International Swimming Centre, covering the swimming and para swimming competitions. Alison will play a vital role in making sure that athletes have everything they need, in order to perform at the highest level.

Looking forward to the Games starting, Alison said: “I’m most looking forward to the buzz of the Games – just being part of all the excitement is such a great feeling. I’m also looking forward to meeting other volunteers and looking after the swimmers.”

“Glasgow 2026 is going to play a huge part in creating a whole host of role models. Not only will the Games feature athletes from a range of backgrounds – including different ages, abilities, impairments, sports and cultures, but the same can be said of the staff and volunteers who are just as diverse. The Glasgow 2026 team has done a lot of work to understand the needs of different groups, including working with the SDS Young Persons’ Sports Panel to make sure that the volunteering application process and opportunities was inclusive for disabled people, ensuring there’ll be a role model for everyone at the Games this year.”

Also at the Games, will be SDS’s Central Regional Manager, Mark Stevenson, who will have a busy schedule, being Head Coach for Team Scotland’s 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball squads. Through undertaking several positions in the sport, such as Great Britain’s U23 Men’s Wheelchair Basketball team’s Head Coach, Mark has made himself an integral part of Scotland’s Wheelchair Basketball network.

With Team Scotland’s Men’s and Women’s 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball squads starting their campaigns on Saturday 25^th July, Mark is excited for what is to come, he said: “I am extremely proud to be supporting the Scotland squad’s preparations. We have two great squads and are part of an absolutely amazing Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball 3×3 programme. The Commonwealth Games is the highest competition that we can compete in the Blue of Scotland, in Wheelchair Basketball, as it is TeamGB for Paralympics, European and Worlds. We cannot wait to do ourselves proud, compete with the best in the world and come home with medals.”

As Scotland’s governing body for boccia, SDS has built up an amazing network of dedicated volunteers, coaches and officials, who work to support the delivery of boccia sessions, clubs, events and competitions. One of these volunteers is Ling Man, who volunteers for Dumfries and Galloway Disability Sport, delivering boccia and swimming sessions.

At the Commonwealth Games, Ling will be part of the volunteer team at Scotstoun Athletics “As this is my first time volunteering at a major event, I am nervous at what to expect, as well as being excited to meet other volunteers and elite athletes. I do not currently know too much about what my role will be throughout the Games. However, what I do know is that Glasgow 2026 is an amazing opportunity to showcase Scotland’s passion for inclusive sport, and to demonstrate what people with disabilities can achieve at the highest level. I’m proud to be part of an event that celebrates talent, determination and community, and I’m looking forward to playing my part in making it a memorable experience.” Ling said.

Josh Thomson, SDS’s Events Manager, will also be at the Games this summer, undertaking the role of Commonwealth Games Association Assistant. Primarily providing administrative support to the Commonwealth Association of Papua New Guinea, Josh will play an important role, helping them to have a fun, successful and enjoyable experience during their time in Glasgow.

With an opportunity to have a front row seat to the sport this summer, Josh is looking forward to seeing the importance of major events in the sporting pathway “I think the Commonwealth Games is a vital sporting opportunity within the performance pathway. For young Scottish athletes in particular to see athletes in their sport competing internationally while wearing the Team Scotland jersey will be so inspiring and motivating. The chance for some athletes to get that first step onto the international stage in front of an incredible and supportive home crowd will help them so much and be a real benefit to their career development moving forward. The sharing of their knowledge and experiences from these games will undoubtedly help the next generation of athletes coming through. Overall, the games give belief to upcoming athletes that international sport can be achievable for them as well.” Josh said.

To find out how you can get started as a volunteer in sport, reach out to Scottish Disability Sport at admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or contact your local SDS Branch.

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

13/07/2026

Mary Wilson: Daring To Dream.

Mary’s Road to Glasgow

This summer in Glasgow, the Commonwealth Games will take centre stage, with international sport being showcased at the highest level. However, surrounding the sport this summer, will be stories of resilience, determination and individuals with a deep love of sport.

Mary Wilson’s journey is most certainly one of these, signing up for the army when she was in her twenties, having twenty years of service, before being medically discharged due to multiple sclerosis, going on to be a competitive athlete, and having recently recovered from cancer.

Coming into 2026, the Commonwealth Games were at the forefront of everyone’s mind, and Mary was no exception, allowing herself to imagine about pulling on a Scotland jersey, she said: “Before I was selected, I dared to dream that I could possibly make the team.”

With the Commonwealth Games being a flagship event, many athletes have based their training programmes around qualifying and performing in Glasgow, and Mary believes her grit and determination whilst training is one of the reasons she has made it to the competition “Basically it has just been hard work. From the bowler I was last year, to the bowler I am this year, I’ve made a massive improvement, I’m miles better than I was, and that is pretty much just down to practicing.”

In 2004, Mary’s career in the Armed Forces came to a sudden stop, being medically discharged on account of her multiple sclerosis. Following this, Mary went on a journey of discovery in sport, which led to her competing in both the Warrior and Invictus Games, along with revisiting badminton, a sport she played competitively in her youth. Rekindling the badminton fire proved to be fruitful, with Mary having a incredibly successful career, accumulating over 50 caps for Scotland.

Reflecting on her experiences competing in the Warrior and Invictus Games, Mary is incredibly grateful for the opportunity, and more so, what being in a team environment with other para athletes taught her about survival “It changed me. It made me realise that I’m not annoyed about having multiple sclerosis, It’s given me a new direction.” Mary said.

Although Mary has been surrounded by bowls her whole life, often going to the local bowling club as a child to watch her dad compete. It wasn’t until 2015 that she had one of her first experiences playing, since then Mary has had a remarkable rise in the sport.

The link between Mary’s late father, and his love of the sport she now represents Scotland in, provides Mary with an extra desire to be at the top of her game this summer, she commented: “It was actually my dad who got me into bowling, and he passed away in 2016. I just wish he could see how far I’ve come.”

“This one is definitely for him, if we medal in the Commonwealth Games, I think there will be a few tears, it will be pretty emotional, because it was all down to him really.”

At the upcoming Commonwealth Games, Mary Wilson will be partnered by former Commonwealth Gold medal winner, Pauline Wilson (no relation!), as they prepare to compete in the B6/8 Pairs competition. Since joining forces two years ago, Pauline and Mary have seen some great successes, including making it to the final of Bowls Scotland’s European Open, winning National Championships gold, and Four Nations Para Women’s Pairs gold. However, Mary puts their ability to build a strong partnership in a relatively short amount of time down to the relationship they have developed “We understand each other really well. She is a brilliant bowler, you know, she was one of the gold medalist at the last Commonwealth Games. We just communicate and get each other, which is a massive part of being a team.”

Armed with a strong partnership, and the will to represent her father in Glasgow, Mary has her goals for the competition firmly set in her mind, stating: “I have two goals, one is to play the best I’ve ever played, and two is to win a gold medal with my partner Pauline, for us and for Scotland.”

With friends and family planning on attending the Scottish Events Campus(SEC), to watch Mary and Pauline kick start their campaign, Mary finds herself being full of pride at the prospect of representing Team Scotland “I’m so proud to wear the thistle or tartan of Scotland. Because for me, Scotland means everything.” Said Mary.

Along with having opportunities to travel and represent her family and Scotland, Mary has been impacted by sport throughout her life, she said: “Truthfully I think sport has kept me going. I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t have sport, and my Physiotherapist said that if I didn’t have sport, and I wasn’t as fit as I could be, I’d be in a wheelchair.”

To find out how you can get started on your pathway in sport, reach out to Scottish Disability Sport at admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or contact your local SDS Branch.

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

13/07/2026

Garry Brown: Preparing to defend Para Bowls title on home turf.

As the clock hand ticks forward, second by second, Garry Brown waits to defend his Commonwealth title. Being selected to represent Team Scotland for a third time is not something that Garry is taking lightly, with Glasgow 2026 already setting up to be a career highlight.

Garry will be arriving at Glasgow 2026 as reigning B6-B8 Pairs champion, a title that he successfully claimed in Birmingham, whilst partnered up with team-mate Kevin Wallace. cccAlong with having an opportunity to launch a title defence, the 2026 iteration of the Commonwealth Games has a lot more to offer, with Garry having the chance to represent Team Scotland in Scotland.

Being a passionate Scot, Garry has had the Glasgow-based Games in his mind since they were announced. Making the news of being selected overwhelmingly hard not to share, he said: “We actually found out a couple of weeks prior to the team being released, and we basically got told, ‘look keep it under wraps, don’t tell anybody’, and that’s probably the hardest thing I’ve done.”

However, the Para Bowls squad for the Games has been announced, and Garry is full of pride at the prospect of playing for Team Scotland in another Commonwealth Games “The only time you get to pull on a Scotland jersey is either World Championships or Commonwealth Games, for me the Commonwealth Games are the pinnacle of bowls.” The 43-year-old said.

Glasgow 2026 will mark the first time the Para Bowls competition will be played indoors, with all previous games having it as part of their outdoor events programme. Garry feels like this could provide an advantage to the Scottish team, packing a passionate home crowd indoors, he commented: “It’s going to be special, the majority of the crowd are going to be supporting us.”

“it’s going to be like having an extra team member, because they are just going to cheer everything, every time we play a good bowl the roof is going to get raised up.”

Take the excitement of a home games, and large crowd out of the picture, and you will find out that Garry is arriving with one thing on his mind, winning a second B6/B8 Pairs title, alongside his partner Stuart Sloam “Gold for me is the dream, that must be everybody’s dream I take it, and being involved in high-level sport all my days, I know what it takes to win gold. I know that me and Stuart will be more than ready.”

Growing up with cerebral palsy, Garry was a keen athlete, being a devoted footballer and swimmer. However, it was a chat with former Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) Chairperson, and leading disability sport influencer, Richard Brickley OBE MBE, that persuaded Garry to attempt a move onto the Para Bowls scene. Of course, a move that has proved fruitful, as Garry has gone on to win multiple international medals.

Although, it is the performance on the 2^nd of August 2022, in Birmingham, that will be one of the most memorable moments of Garry’s career “Anytime I get the chance to pull on the Scotland jersey is a real highlight. But obviously the biggest highlight is winning the gold medal in 2022 in Birmingham”

Looking back at Kevin and his victory four years ago, not only has Garry been remembering it fondly, but it has become a massive source of motivation for the man from South Lanarkshire “Knowing I was in the team, I actually went back and watched the final three times, just so I could go, ‘I really want this again’”.

Garry and Stuart will still be a relatively new pairing by the time Glasgow 2026 rolls around. Though Garry is convinced that won’t be an issue for the B6/B8 Pair, knowing they will both do whatever it takes to be at the top of their game come the competition, he said: “By the time we hit Glasgow we will be practicing every weekend together, or whenever we can around work, we’re just going to get better and better.”

The Games may provide an amazing opportunity for Garry and Stuart to write their names in Commonwealth history. However, they will offer a lot more. With family, friends, coaches and former team-mates in the crowd, the pair have an opportunity to show what a lifetime of support has meant “Me and Stuart aren’t just doing it for us, it’s not about us, it’s about everybody. The minute you pull that Scotland jersey on it’s about everybody who has ever come and watched you, everybody who has ever helped you.” Garry said.

To find out how you can get started on your pathway in sport, reach out to Scottish Disability Sport at admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or contact your local SDS Branch.

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

13/07/2026

Defying the odds: Faye Rogers on representing Scotland.

This summer in Glasgow the Commonwealth Games will take centre stage, with athletes world over flocking to the west coast of Scotland, in search of writing their names into Commonwealth history. However, the latest iteration of the Games will see athletes competing with all types of motivating factors.

For Faye Rogers, Glasgow 2026 will provide her with an opportunity to represent Scotland, and those that have supported her throughout her life. Whilst showing the world over that having a disability hasn’t changed what is possible.

Coming into the year, the focus was on rounding into form for Glasgow, and due to the Commonwealth Games’s qualification system, working off of rankings, everyone knew where they stood. However, qualifying wasn’t enough, all athletes needed to be selected, and with Faye qualifying for both Scotland and England, she had a decision to make.

Choosing to represent Team Scotland, and wear the thistle with pride, Faye commented: “It just felt right, my Dad’s family are all Scottish, and my Dad was very keen about me being Scottish. But, I live in Scotland, I train in Scotland, and all my team mates represent Scotland. It just felt like that was the team I identified with more.”

“My entire para journey has taken place in Scotland, I did grow up swimming in England, but I was living in Scotland when I got classified and, that whole journey has taken place here, and that might have contributed, honestly it just felt like the right decision.”

With the 2026 edition of the Games being based in Glasgow, all of Team Scotland’s athletes have an opportunity to compete in front of family, friends, and anyone who has supported them throughout their journey, something that Faye is excited about “The opportunity to race in Glasgow is really cool, with it being a home Games, they can all come and watch, and that is really special.”

At the 2024 Paris Summer Paralympic Games, Faye won S10 100m Butterfly gold, going on to announce herself on the world stage, something that she looks back on with an immense amount of pride. However, her favorite moment as an athlete came in 2025, and, it wasn’t about the silverware, it was about what it taught her “Actually for me my career highlight was trials in 2025, the British Swimming Championships, the 200m butterfly, which isn’t even a Paralympic event, and it was the first time that I had swam faster than I had done before my accident. I beat my able bodied PB (personal best) for that event, that was just huge for me, just to prove to myself I guess. I could acquire an impairment, and yes – I had to work so much harder – but I could swim faster than I ever did without an impairment, and that is pretty cool, that was huge for me.”

All of her achievements, including those in 2025, reminds Faye of the hard conversations that took place in 2021, following a car crash that she was involved in. Which resulted in considerable damage to her right arm “There was a time when I was told I would never be able to swim competitively again, certainly not at the level I was at, and I’ve proved that wrong. Not only am I swimming at a considerably higher level than I was, but I am actually doing it faster than I was.”

So far in 2026, Faye has hit the ground running, competing in the 2026 Para Swimming World Series, Berlin, where she delivered several world-class performances, breaking the European Record in the S10 100m Butterfly, and British Record in the S10 100m Freestyle, making her the first female British swimmer to finish under one minute in her classification (S10).

Boyed by her recent results, Faye is excited for Glasgow, feeling like the home crowd element of the upcoming Games will provide her with more confidence, she said: “The home crowd advantage is going to be crazy, I think, I raced French athletes in Paris, and just imagine if that crowd is cheering for you.”

“I’m really going to try and use it as fuel, rather than pressure, because at the end of the day, everyone is there because they want to see you do well.”

To find out how you can get started on your pathway in sport, reach out to Scottish Disability Sport at admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or contact your local SDS Branch.

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