Hi everyone,

Hope you are all safe, well and coping with lockdown. Please fine some information below that we hope you will find useful:

Covid-19

For the latest updates please see the link below:

https://sportscotland.org.uk/covid-19/

Arrivals and departures

SDS was sad to see the departure of Norma Buchanan after 20 years. Norma was the longest serving SDS staff member and played a huge role in the organisation especially in the events programme. Norma’s commitment, experience and knowledge will not be lost to the organisation as she is continuing in a part time role for Disability Sport Fife. We are also sorry to see the Madison Garland leave SDS for pastures new in Active Schools in Fife. Madison did a great job introducing Boccia to many new young people throughout Scotland. We wish them both well.

SDS is delighted to welcome Phillippa MacDonald as the Get Out Get Active 2 Tayside project Manager. Phillippa will be working out of Kings Cross Hospital in Dundee and we look forward to working with her. SDS is also pleased to note the appointment of Pamela Robeson as the National Disability Pathways Officer in Scottish Athletics.

Branch Networking Day

As you are all aware the next SDS Branch Networking Day will take place on the 13 May 2020, 1.00pm – 3.00pm online. Please can you send us the names of anyone who would like to attend the Networking Day by the end of today. The agenda is attached and a link will follow to invite you to attend the meeting online.

SDS Strategy Consultation

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) are currently undergoing extensive strategic consultation for its next Strategic Plan due to begin in 2021. The form will take approximately 15 minutes to complete and SDS would  hugely appreciate your input as it will help guide the strategic direction of the organisation.

You will find the form using this link: SDS Strategic Consultation 2021.  Please complete before Friday 15^th May.

Funding and resources

Funding Opportuntities for Branches 2020

The SDS Branch Steering group have drafted a funding document which is attached. This document pulls together a number of funding sources which branches may like to explore. Please let us know if you have any additions or feedback so we can finalise the document for the Branch Networking Day on 13 May 2020.

ILF Scotland Transition funding

The new ILF Scotland Transition Fund provides money, for up to one year, to support young people living with disabilities (as defined in the Equality Act 2010) to improve their lives. This includes autism, learning difficulty, physical disability, mental health (e.g. anxiety or depression) or hearing or visual impairments. The purpose of the Fund is to help young people, between the ages of 16 and 25 living with disabilities, with the transition after leaving school or children’s services to be more independent and to continue spending time with other people. For more information please visit the website and circulate to anyone who is eligible to apply: http://ilf.scot/transition-fund/

TAC PAC Resources

TACPAC are offering a free resource from TAC PAC (music and sensory programme) for children and adults with learning disabilities and/or autism. If you go to the link below and add set 5 to your basket then add in the code 8Q7A3TXS you will be emailed the resource for free.

https://tacpac.co.uk/shop

Activities to do at home

Boccia Lockdown League

We are delighted to have you with us in the inaugural Scottish Boccia Lockdown League, and hope you are looking forward to six weeks of boccia fun.

This is how the competition will take place:

• Each week will concentrate on one Boccia Bonanza Station, as described in the video. You can find more information about each Station on the website here: Boccia Bonanza Circuit
• You will have the whole week to practice and during this time we’d love to have your comments, photos and videos shared with us on social media. Our facebook page is here https://www.facebook.com/SDSboccia/ and twitter here https://twitter.com/SDS_boccia. Please remember to tag us!
• You can download a scorecard for the week here: Score Card.This will help you to keep track of your progress. Again, please feel free to post pictures of your card to social media.
• From Wednesday each week, an online score card will be available through the website here: Lockdown League. You can complete this with your best score, or you can email us and we’ll upload it for you.
• There will be extra points available, at the discretion of the impartial organising committee, for such things as best video, most imaginative adaptation, and other things we think of as time goes on.

http://boccia.scottishdisabilitysport.com/lockdown-league/

Les Mills workouts

Les Mills are offering their digital fitness classes for FREE – there are over 95 workout options, with eight categories to choose from. Please click the link below to get started

https://watch.lesmillsondemand.com/at-home-workouts

NHS workouts

NHS have released 24 instructor led videos ranging from aerobics, strength and resistance to Pilates and Yoga. The videos range from 10 – 45 minutes

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitness-studio/

Thanks

Jen & Mark

Hi everyone,

Further to the first SDS Branch Communication sent out on 27 March here is the next edition for the Easter period.

SDS hopes everyone and their families are keeping well in these very uncertain and challenging times. We have tried to pull together some information that you may find useful over this time and we would be delighted to support further on any of the topics listed below, or indeed, any that aren’t but are of significance to anyone within your branches.

1. Dates for your diary:
2. • Branch Networking Day: SDS are holding a Branch Networking Day on 13 May. Thanks to those of you have responded already telling us who will be in attendance. Please let us know of any further attendees by 14 April.
   • 21 September: SDS AGM, Awards and Branch Conference. Nominations for SDS Awards will be sent out in June. Please consider who you wish to nominate
   • SDS will keep all branches up to date with any amended dates for your diary as and when the picture becomes clearer.
   • New Paralympic Dates 24 August – 5 September 2021

2. Information and Support during the Covid-19

2. • Sportscotland: Support for Club and Community Sport Organisation Information on accessing funding and furlough can be found here amongst other useful content.
   • The Sportscotland Institute of Sport has released more information for people during this period relating to health, fitness and nutrition.
   • SAMH has a number of useful resources during this period promoting good mental health. SAMH is the Scottish Association for Mental Health.
   • A useful online resource for coaches can be found on the UK Coaching website. E-learning courses (paid content), Online Classrooms, Live Webinars and an online community are all available.

3. Some branches have been asking us for signposts to activity content and ideas. For those on twitter use the #stayhomestayactive to access various exercises and ideas to keep athletes working hard at home. We have also attached a range of different activity cards which feature different types of activity and ways of adapting to promote inclusion. Joe Wicks (amongst many others) continues to provide opportunities to be active through his The Body Coach Youtube Channel.
4. Boccia Lockdown League: Although we are currently in lockdown there are still ways of playing and competing against others in the wonderful sport of Boccia. This is a 6 week fun online competition. Sign-up through the link at the start.
5. Why not try an online quiz with your participants? SDS ran a quiz for the Young Person’s Sport Panel, Young Start programme and Boccia Squad using the Kahoot app and presented using a video-conferencing app. The feedback from the participants was positive, citing the opportunity to interact socially with their peers and see familiar faces and have some fun was of the most value.
6. Insurance Document: Some branches have requested evidence of the public liability cover contained within the general SDS policy. It is attached for your reference.

Please do get in touch if SDS can be of any assistance in any way.

Please keep safe and well and we looking forward to seeing you soon.

Hi everyone,

SDS intends to keep our member branches updated with latest news and helpful information during this challenging situation. Many of you will be facing unfamiliar circumstances throughout this period so SDS aims to ensure our communication with our key individuals and organisations is relevant and helpful. Please find below the first updates as part of this regular correspondence:

1. Please see the information attached with some practical tips for working from home and managing mental health: Supporting your mental health while working from home
2. SDS Consultation: An online consultation questionnaire will be distributed prior to Easter. SDS hopes that as many of you as possible can respond to assist in the strategy formulation from 2021 onwards.
3. Funding:
   • SDS’s ongoing commitment to supporting branches in accessing funding has continued with two further branches securing financial support from our key partner Trefoil.
   • Information was circulated to branches recently regarding funding opportunities available currently (Bank of Scotland Reach programme and Corra Foundation).
   • Funding will be a topic at the upcoming Branch Networking Day which will held as a virtual meeting on 13 May, 1pm – 3pm.
4. Although face-to-face branch activity may have stopped there are a number of ways of continuing branch business during this affected period. Some branches have held virtual branch meetings and SDS is happy to assist in facilitating these for branches where required.

Please do get in touch if SDS can be of any assistance throughout this ever-changing landscape.

Please keep safe and well and we looking forward to seeing you soon.