Branch Communication Update 7

We have reached the tenth week of the official lockdown and are beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel about some return to sport. SDS sincerely hopes this continues to find you all well.

This is our seventh Branch Communication Update. As ever, any feedback on these  – and any other aspect of SDS’s ongoing work is always welcome and appreciated.

1. Safe return of sport – key messages:
   • The Scottish Government’s Route Map can be found here. Further detailed documents containing guidance on the other phases will be published in due course.
   • The Key points about Phase 1
     1. This guidance relates only to exercise in Scotland
     2. Only exercise with people from your own household and/ or one other household
     3. Stay local to home
     4. Travel limited to “broadly” 5 miles from home
     5. Be kind, friendly and considerate to everyone you meet
     6. Follow Public Health guidelines for hygiene
     7. Maintain physical distancing
     8. No branch/ clubs or centre organised activity
     9. Exercise well within your capabilities

There is still a high risk of the virus is not yet contained and a continued risk of overwhelming NHS capacity. Our priority remains to protect the health of our members, volunteers and staff and the wider community and help to suppress the spread of the Covid-19 virus. We should all continue to follow the government’s and public health guidelines and stay at home as much as possible. If you or anyone within your household has coronavirus you should continue to self-isolate. If you have any questions about the guidance please don’t hesitate to contact admin@Scottishdisabilitysport.com

Activities that are not possible in Phase 1:

1. • Group Coaching, Leading and Guiding: This cannot take place in Phase 1 as the current Scottish Government advice allows for a form of daily exercise rather than “sport”
   • Branch & Club activity: This cannot take place in Phase 1 as this phase only allows up to two households to exercise together. Club facilities should remain closed and there should be no club activity. Information about the reopening of clubs and centres in later phases will be shared as it becomes available.

2. SDS Strategic Plan 2021 Consultation
   • FINAL REMINDER! SDS would welcome as many people as possible to feedback on our SDS Strategic Plan Consultation 2021 Onwards. Thanks to all those who have shared this already and please continue to promote and encourage people to respond. The link to the form can be found here and should take approximately 10-15 mins to complete.  
3. 2020 National Events Calendar & National Squad Cancellation: REMINDER
   • You will have received an email during the week regarding the cancellation of all remaining National Events, Engagement Days & National Squad Training in 2020. The full statement can be found here
4. Special Olympics National Summer Games Postponed: Special Olympics have announced the 2021 Special Olympics GB National Summer Games, scheduled to take place in Liverpool next August 2021, are to be postponed. For more information please see this link
5. Sharing Ideas
   • Ayrshire Sportsability: Through funding from the STV Children’s Appeal Ayrshire Sportsability has some online activities featuring athletics, football, rugby and dance. More information can be found on their Facebook page.
   • Forth Valley Disability Sport Marathon Challenge: FVDS are encouraging people to walk 26 miles in the month of June. A great way of staying active daily.
   • South Lanarkshire held their annual awards online. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners.
   • Richard Vallis: 3 Charities Challenge: Richard Vallis, a long-serving volunteer from the Lothian Branch, is currently undertaking a sponsored walk fundraising challenge. Please support if you can by using the link at the start.
   • Dumfries and Galloway – Ran an online session for athletes, parents and coaches. The session started with a treasure hunt around the participants home and then had a Q&A session with questions submitted to the branch before hand to discuss during the session. DGDS are supporting the Regional Sports Week encouraging all their athletes and participants to get active with plenty ideas and videos to keep them going.
6. #Giveitago
   • Activity Inclusion Cards: Branch Challenge! 8 cards have been selected for participants to try over the coming 8 weeks. The first card appeared on Monday and people were challenged to complete the Snake Slalom. The next challenge for you and your family to complete is coming your way on Monday.  There is still time to register here. SDS encourages all branches to actively promote this opportunity to their members and the wider community to keep everyone active and having fun. The taking part is definitely the important thing here! Please send in or tag us in your videos to @sds_sport on Twitter or on the Scottish Disability Sport Facebook and Instagram pages.
7. Virtual Parasport Festivals: If you were as disappointed as us when you heard that some of the Parasport Festivals in our series were cancelled, then don’t worry! Watch this space for more information about two events for you and your family to take part in. Guaranteed fun! Save the dates in your diary. Sunday 26 July and Sunday 23 August.
8. Free online Mental Health Course: UK Coaching, our awarding body 1^st4Sport and our partners – Mind and Sport England  – have taken the decision to make this online course free to access until 31 August 2020 for the whole coaching community.
9. This week/ month is…
   • National Walking Month 2020: for those of you involved with the Paths For All Step Count challenge, we hope you are finishing strongly for the last few days of the month to get your total as high as possible.
   • Next week is Volunteers Week, 1-7 June: This takes place on the 1 – 7 June every year. It’s a chance to celebrate the contributions millions of volunteers make across the UK. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and in the absence of organised sport it has put into sharp focus the dedication and commitment made by our magnificent group of volunteers. Our member branches are led by a stalwart group with vast experience and expertise which continue to provide crucial opportunities. Aside from this at a national level SDS is fortunate to be able to call on the skills, knowledge and expertise of a passionate band of dedicated individuals.
10. SDS Member Branch Media: To keep up to date with what else is happening around our member branches please see the links below to their various media channels.