Latest News

Profile photo of John smiling to the camera. He is wearing a light blue jacket with the logo of the Dumfries and Galloway disability sport logo on the left side. Behind him is a blue backdrop with the same logo spaced throughout.

Impacting Lives Through Sport: John McClelland’s Story 

01/06/2026

By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer   Growing up able bodied, John McClellend didn’t expect to have his life turned upside down at the age of 43… Read more

Group of swimmers smiling to the camera. The are sitting poolside with their club's purple t-shorts on. A few of them are holding a sign which says, I support the Scottish Disability Sport's call to action to remove barriers to physical activity and sport.

Parties in Power: What Shapes Priorities

25/05/2026

By Mark Gaffney, Head of Policy at Scottish Disability Sport  While whichever party is in control undoubtedly frames legislative direction, influence in Scotland is more… Read more

Action photo of Scott MyIntyre about to throw a red boccia ball. His competitor, Tyler McLelland, is in the background watching on.

Mapping Power and Access Following Scottish Election

25/05/2026

Mapping Power and Access: Disability Sport, MSPs and the Routes to Engagement After the Scottish Election By Mark Gaffney, Head of Policy at Scottish Disability… Read more

Five young people at a swimming event. They are sitting pool side and wearing their club's red polo tops. The two people in the front are hold a sign that says, I support the Scottish Disability Sport's call to action to remove barriers to sport and physical activity.

Overview of the Scottish Election Results

25/05/2026

Total MSPs: 129 (65 needed for majority). Result (seats): SNP (Scottish National Party): 58 Labour: 17 Reform UK: 17 Scottish Greens: 15 Conservatives: 12 Liberal… Read more

Photo of adults and young children all together holding up signs that say they support the Scottish Disability Sport Call to Action to remove barriers to physical activity and sport.

After the Election: Will Disabled People Be Heard?

21/05/2026

After the Ballots Are Counted: A Moment of Reckoning for Disabled People in Scotland By Mark Gaffney, Head of Policy at Scottish Disability Sport  The… Read more

A group of people standing and in wheelchairs all smiling and cheering together. Some have medals around their necks. They all belong to the West Dunbartonshire Boccia Club.

Spotlight On West Dunbartonshire’s Boccia Club

13/05/2026

By William Moncrieff, SDS Communications Officer    In the west of Scotland, one boccia club is showcasing the power of sport, and the impact it can have on participants’… Read more

Members of the young persons' sports panel and young start programme pose together for the camera at Inverclyde National Sports Centre.

YPSP on Mental Health Awareness Week

12/05/2026

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, and I have been talking to members of the SDS Young Persons’ Sports Panel about what mental health… Read more

Paralympian Stephen MacGuire and Great Britain’s wheelchair rugby athlete Gemma Lumsdaine, head the Scottish Parliamentary photocall on the stairs inside the Scottish Parliament. MSP gather on the stairs with a selection holding sporting equipment (boccia balls, football, tennis racquet, basketball) whilst others hold signs pledging support for the SDS Call to Action.

Break the Barrier: Scotland’s 2026 Manifestos

06/05/2026

Break the Barrier: What Scotland’s 2026 manifestos mean for disability sport (and why it matters now) By Mark Gaffney, Head of Policy, Scottish Disability Sport… Read more

Photo of Layla McCloskey smiling as she is on her frame runner. Her frame is red as well as her helmet. She has a light blue hoodie on.

A Call to Action Scotland Cannot Ignore

05/05/2026

A Call to Action Scotland Cannot Ignore: Making Sport and Physical Activity a Right for People with disabilities. By Mark Gaffney, Head of Policy at… Read more

Photo of Garry Brown wearing his Team Scotland Para Bowls kit. He is standing side on and is catching a bowls ball in his hand.

Team Scotland Para Bowls Squad Named for Glasgow 2026

22/04/2026

The full lineup of Para Bowls athletes for Team Scotland at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games has been announced. Glasgow 2026 will see Bowls and… Read more

Photo of four athletes wearing the Team Scotland swimming kit whilst holding the Scottish flag. They are standing pool side. From left to right the athletes are Sam Downie, Stephen Clegg, Faye Rogers and Astrid Carroll.

Seven Scots Selected to Swim at Glasgow 2026

22/04/2026

Team Scotland’s momentum towards the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games continues to pick up pace with the selection of a seven-strong line up in Para Swimming.… Read more

Alex Medley about to throw a boccia ball overarm.

National Boccia Squad Confirmed

17/04/2026

With Returning Talent and New Additions  Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is the recognised governing body for the sport of Boccia in Scotland and is tasked… Read more

Jim Anderson celebrates on the podium at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. He has a wearing Laurel wreath on his head, his gold medal around his neck and his arms are out to the side in triumph. He is holding a bouquet in his right hand. He is sitting in his wheelchair and a woman claps in the background.

The Power of Sport: Jim Anderson’s Story

15/04/2026

By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer  Since taking up sport in the 1970’s, Jim Anderson OBE has made himself a household name throughout the Scottish sporting landscape. Jim’s… Read more

Front cover of COSLA's white paper. Text says, The Future of public leisure and sport: an investment in Scotland's wellbeing. Below this are three photos, from left to right: someone playing tennis on a grass court, a group of people jogging, a young boy swimming.

Inclusion Front and Centre in Latest COSLA White Paper

14/04/2026

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has recently launched ‘The Future of Public Leisure and Sport – An Investment in Wellbeing‘, the second in a series of white papers to… Read more

Fiona Muirhead with her award from the Boccia Challenger 2026

Scottish Athletes Shine at DSNI Boccia Challenger in Antrim 

13/04/2026

By Jonathan Kennedy Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is delighted to celebrate the outstanding performances of three national squad athletes who competed at the DSNI Boccia… Read more

Podium photo of silver medallist Joe Driffield and his ramp assistant, at the 2026 National Schools Boccia Championships. They are both wearing their silver medals around their neck.

Medal Moments from the 2026 National Schools Boccia Championships 

09/04/2026

On Thursday 26th March, 48 pupils from schools across the country attended the Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) National Schools Boccia Championships, which was supported by Shepherd Chartered Surveyors.   The annual event… Read more

Mike Thomas hand cycling on the road. The sea and a lighthouse is in the background.

The Power of Resilience and Sport: Mike Thomas’s Story 

08/04/2026

By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer    35 years ago, Mike Thomas’s world was turned upside down when he was left with life-changing injuries following a skiing accident in Maribel, France.  Mike was airlifted to hospital and what followed… Read more

Two families playing boccia together. There are two young girls in wheelchairs using boccia ramps and two mums and one dad.

Boccia Brings Families Together During Bespoke Family Day

07/04/2026

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) hosted its first ever Family in Boccia Day which proved to be a resounding success, on Saturday 21st February supported by Shepherd Chartered Surveyors.   SDS’s… Read more

Group photo of participants standing together for a photo, smiling. They are inside the boxing gym, wearing sport clothes and boxing gloves. 

Port O’Leith Boxing Club Champions Inclusion

26/03/2026

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… Read more

A poster that is titled: Explore your Paralympic potential, winter sports Scotland by ParalympicsGB. The poster is a graphic of a mountain with different cut outs of Paralympian snow sport athletes. Text at the bottom shares the dates and sports, which are: 26th April for wheelchair curling, cross country and biathlon in Stirling, 2nd May for a range of snowsports in Aberdeen, and 3rd May for a range of snowsports, cross country skiing and biathlon in Glasgow.

Explore Your Winter Paralympic Sport Potential

25/03/2026

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… Read more

A large group of sixteen individuals assemble in front of an indoor climbing wall smiling at the camera. The group are dressed in leisure wear and feature a mix of genders, disabilities and ages with some members of the group using mobility aids. Many of the group are wearing climbing harnesses and are posing for a relaxed, informal picture.

Mountaineering Scotland Inclusive Climbing Sessions

20/03/2026

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… Read more