Category: A News

08/06/2025

Coaching Skills Developed Through Young Start Programme

The Young Start Programme helps to empower young people with a disability to develop their coaching skills.

By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer.

To celebrate National Volunteers’ Week (2nd–9th June), SDS caught up with Josh Kitchen, Amy Smith and Lea Smith from the Young Start Programme, who have been volunteering in basketball across Scotland.

The Young Start Programme is a yearlong course designed by Scottish Disability Sport (SDS). The course has been developed to help young people aged between 16 – 24 living with a vision impairment, hearing loss, physical disability or mild learning disability, to develop their confidence and coaching skills.

One of the most beneficial elements of the programme is the volunteering work that the course participants get involved with. Josh, Amy and Lea are all part of the current cohort and all three have been working closely with their mentor, Tina Gordon, from basketballscotland.

For each member of the group, the course and volunteering work has been vital in helping them develop. Amy (aged 16) commented on how the programme has impacted her. She said: “Young start has helped me develop my confidence and has helped me be able to speak and explain my points clearer to people.”

This theme of the programme helping develop skills has been resonating with 16-year-old Josh, who is looking forward to getting out and volunteering. Josh commented: “I believe volunteering will help me develop skills in communication. I think it is important to volunteer as it develops skills and gives more perspectives on different social circles.”

Along with the skills that members of the Young Start Programme can develop through volunteering, there are many more benefits to being part of the cohort.

Lea, Amy’s twin sister, touched on the social element of the course, saying that, “meeting other disabled people from Scotland” is a huge bonus for her.

She continued to say: “I have enjoyed having my teammates on the course as we are very close with each other and I think being on Young Start helps us develop closer as athletes and people.”

Amy agreed with this saying, “I have enjoyed having Lea and Josh on the Young Start Programme with me, it’s always nice to have some people you know.”

The group has had the opportunity to volunteer at a range of events and clubs, including Volunteering at the West of Scotland Parasport Festival and with Lothian Phoenix Basketball Club. The group are further having an exciting opportunity to volunteer at SDS’s National Exhibition event 2025, held at Stirling University on the 14th of June.

These volunteering opportunities have been preparing the group to gain a coaching qualification, which is a key outcome of the Young Start Programme. The group have been working closely with their mentor, Tina, to achieve basketballscotland’s Skills Coach qualification. This has been done whilst attending many other courses delivered by Scottish Sporting Futures.

Attending various events and having the opportunity to gain qualifications, has provided the group with an opportunity to develop in a range of areas, with Amy saying: “I think the Young Start Programme has challenged me to answer more questions, to give answers, and speak in front of people. Therefore, helping me gain more confidence.”

Developing his confidence is something that Josh is also looking forward to working towards.

Along with developing her practical skills when coaching, Lea has been loving the sense of reward that volunteering provides. She said, “The realness of it, not helping because of personal gain, but for the benefit of helping others,” has been one of her favorite elements.

All three of the group believe the programme has had a positive impact on them in many ways, including developing skills and making them feel proud about the impact that they are having.

Lea commented on why she thinks she will continue to volunteer: “I think I would continue to volunteer, to help other people with disabilities in sport to get chances to excel, just like people have helped me get to where I am today.”

Although Josh is still to get fully immersed in the programme, he can already see the impact it can have, saying: “I would recommend the Young Start programme to people who want to develop their coaching.”

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

If you would be interested in volunteering within disability sport in Scotland, check out all the current opportunities on the SDS website, here.

SDS NATIONAL EXHIBITION EVENT

If you would be interested in finding out more about SDS and how sport and physical activity can support you, sign up to attend SDS’s first ever National Exhibition Event. The event is free and is being held at the University of Stirling on Saturday 14th June. The event will allow people from all over Scotland to interact with all elements of SDS in one place.

You can also find out more about what sporting opportunities are available in your community by contacting your Regional Development Manager. To keep up-to-date on all of the ongoing work, make sure to follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, X and Instagram, as well as on the SDS website.

07/06/2025

Celebrating Marie Cheyne on #VolunteersWeek

To celebrate National Volunteers’ Week (2nd–9th June), SDS are highlighting some of the many volunteers throughout Scotland, Who have devoted time and effort to help provide more opportunities in disability sport throughout their region.

Marie Cheyne’s efforts in volunteering have been impacting individuals living in the Grampian region for over 25 years. This is down to her efforts running an Inclusive swim school (The Broch Seals), which teaches/coaches over 90 children and young adults every week to swim. Marie’s swim school provides a vital service within SDS’s member branch, Grampian Disability Sport, as her sessions offer their ASN swimmers with an opportunity to compete.

Marie also organises and runs several impactful events throughout the region. Including regional qualifiers for swimmers with a disability and an event for 80+ swimmers that takes place at Fraserburgh Swimming Pool.

Along with playing an integral part in the branches swimming events, Marie is now the trustee of the board, as her knowledge and expertise are viewed as being essential to have on the committee. Wizzy Mills, the Regional Development Manager for Grampian and Shetland, explained the impact that Marie has had throughout the region.

She said: “Through her leadership, innovation, and determination, Marie has played a vital role in promoting inclusivity and ensuring that disability swimmers are supported, celebrated and given the platform to succeed. Marie’s contributions are recognised and valued by all involved.”

Marie has also put countless hours in to ensuring that swimmers across Grampian have an opportunity to compete in the sport, this is through her work as the Team Manager for The Grampian Disability Swim team. This involves coaching and taking athletes to regular competitions.

In 2025, Marie has devoted her time to fundraising and so far she has raised enough money to put on another ASN/Disability swimming competition. Wizzy commented: “The participants are extremely appreciative of Marie’s dedication, vision and commitment to creating inclusive opportunities and events for disability swimmers. Her tireless efforts have significantly enhanced access to the sport, fostering an environment where every athlete can thrive.”

A further event that Marie runs, is an event in partnership with Active Schools Aberdeen City and Active Schools Aberdeenshire called, the Grampian Beginners Gala for children with a disability who want to compete at a beginner’s level. This event allows children to use flotation devices at a shorter distance; they are also allowed the option for carer assistance if needed. This event is always well attended by individuals across the region, with all swimmers, volunteers and parents leaving with a smile after experiencing Marie’s infectious passion for the sport.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

If you would be interested in volunteering within disability sport in Scotland, check out all the current opportunities on the SDS website, here.

SDS NATIONAL EXHIBITION EVENT

If you would be interested in finding out more about SDS and how sport and physical activity can support you, sign up to attend SDS’s first ever National Exhibition Event. The event is free and is being held at the University of Stirling on Saturday 14th June. The event will allow people from all over Scotland to interact with all elements of SDS in one place.

You can also find out more about what sporting opportunities are available in your community by contacting your Regional Development Manager. To keep up-to-date on all of the ongoing work, make sure to follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, X and Instagram, as well as on the SDS website.

06/06/2025

Scottish Squash: Head of Development – Job

Job opportunity with Scottish Squash –

ROLE: Head of Development

Scottish Squash are seeking an inspirational Head of Development (HoD) to lead the development team strategically and operationally.

The HoD is responsible for ensuring the delivery of the strategic objectives aligned to the clubs, coaching and competitions operational plans. The HoD, in line managing the Development Team, will lead and manage a positive development culture to increase and sustain participation, at every level, in squash across Scotland.

The role will be responsible for the design and implementation of programmes that drive greater participation in squash in Scotland and that encourage more people to get involved in the leadership and delivery of the sport.

For further information and details on how to apply: https://www.scottishsquash.org/vacancies/

06/06/2025

Celebrating Kai Hunter on #VoluteersWeek

19 year old  Kai hunter has become a leading volunteer within Scottish Disability Sport’s (SDS) member branch, Disability Sport Glasgow. Kai has been swimming all of his life and has recently been volunteering with the Glasgow Seals Swimming Team.

Due to Kai’s hard work and ambition he has become one of the main coaches with the Glasgow Seals. This has rubbed off on all of the participants, with all of them enjoying his coaching styles and looking forward to his deliveries.

With Kai also being a current swimmer for Glasgow Seals and West of Scotland, he is recognised by participants and parents as being a fantastic role model, with all members of the club and community admiring his professionalism and love for the sport.

Kai’s love of swimming has now transferred in to his professional life, with him now being a coach for Glasgow council and a lifeguard throughout the city. However, Kai hasn’t let his busy schedule impact his commitments with the club.

Kai explained how his volunteering and coaching have helped him pursue a career in swimming. He said: “My work within the club has helped me to make a career (in swimming), whilst working to the best I can.”

Kai continued to explain how this has helped him with coaching: “This has helped me train and coach my swimmers better.”

Throughout his time volunteering, Kai has developed many more skills, including; confidence, communication, planning, patience and understanding.

One of Kai’s favorite elements of being a volunteer is when being at a competition. Kai loves this due to the buzz and atmosphere at the events. This is also when Kai comes into his own as a volunteer, making sure all of the participants are ready for their races, whilst consistently making sure to provide them with words of encouragement.

A further element of volunteering that Kai enjoys is seeing all of the swimmers develop.

Kai said, “I enjoy volunteering with the seals, as I get to see the swimmers progress and develop. It allows the swimmer’s to keep fit and socialise.”

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

If you would be interested in volunteering within disability sport in Scotland, check out all the current opportunities on the SDS website, here.

SDS NATIONAL EXHIBITION EVENT

05/06/2025

Celebrating John McLelland on #VolunteersWeek

Throughout Dumfries and Galloway, John McLelland has found himself becoming a vital volunteer for one of Scottish Disability Sport’s (SDS) member branch, Dumfries and Galloway Disability Sport.

Over the last ten years John has dedicated countless hours with unwavering commitment and compassion. Whether it’s lending a hand at community sport events, running the weekly walkfit and boccia sessions, mentoring new volunteers, quietly going the extra mile behind-the-scenes or being part of the committee of the branch, John consistently brings warmth, reliability and inspires others in everything he does.

John reflected on his time spent volunteering, and said, “I have been volunteering for a few years now with disability sport. I lead the Newton Stewart Walk Fit group and coach Boccia in Newton Stewart. I was Recently awarded volunteer of the year by Wigtownshire Sports Council for my work in disability sports.”

John came to disability sport and volunteering in later life, after a lung condition damaged his bones. Following this, John became a wheelchair user. This didn’t stop John as he went on to compete in wheelchair curling on a Nation level and has been a former Chairmen of the Scottish Wheelchair Curling association.

John embodies the true spirit of volunteering – selfless, dependable and always ready to help.

John continues to make a lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to volunteer alongside him. One of John’s favourite elements of volunteering is seeing how much sport and physical activity can impact Participants.

He said: “I really enjoy volunteering in the community and I really like seeing the smiling faces of the people taking part.”

John has consistently looked for areas to develop, resulting in him gaining coaching qualifications so that he can inspire others to join in taking part in sport.

His hard work has paid off, with John being selected to be part of the curling coaching team at The Invictus Games in Canada, in February 2025. Well done John!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

If you would be interested in volunteering within disability sport in Scotland, check out all the current opportunities on the SDS website, here.

SDS NATIONAL EXHIBITION EVENT

04/06/2025

Celebrating Kat Gillies on #VolunteersWeek

Kat Gillies has been a volunteer within disability sport throughout Scotland for over 10 years. Kat started her volunteering journey at Stirling City All Stars Football Team. Following this, Kat found herself moving to Glasgow Disabled Scouts and Kat is now a regular volunteer at the Friday Multi-Sport and Boccia sessions in East Kilbride, representing Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) member branch, South Lanarkshire Disability Sport.

Kat started volunteering for the member branch one year ago and she has very quickly become a prominent figure in their volunteering network and community.

Since joining the branch Kat has decided to devote more time to disability sport throughout the region, with her now sitting on the branch’s committee, being an integral member. Kat has continued to put her hand up for new roles in the branch, joining various subgroups, which are designed to support the development of inclusive opportunities in South Lanarkshire.

Kat’s willingness to be involved in new aspects of the branch is evidence of how much she has enjoyed her time volunteering in disability sport. Kat explained how she would recommend that all people give volunteering a go.

“If you haven’t tried volunteering yet, please get involved. There are clubs out there for everyone and you will find it just as enjoyable and beneficial as I have. There is a reason I’ve been volunteering for over 10 years.”

Throughout this work, volunteering has been a great way for Kat to get involved in many different sporting groups, learning new skills and learning about new sports. Kat has also found herself being positively impacted in many other ways, with her being connected to numerous new and diverse friends and social groups. Kat’s volunteering has been great for increasing her physical activity, resulting in it greatly benefiting her mental health and wellbeing.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

If you would be interested in volunteering within disability sport in Scotland, check out all the current opportunities on the SDS website, here.

SDS NATIONAL EXHIBITION EVENT

04/06/2025

Celebrating Coby Keith During #VolunteersWeek

To celebrate National Volunteers’ Week (2nd–9th June), SDS are highlighting some of the many volunteers throughout Scotland, who have devoted time and effort to help provide more opportunities in disability sport throughout their region.

Coby Keith has been a valued volunteer for Scottish Disability Sport’s (SDS) member branch, Grampian Disability Sport, having represented the branch over the last 18 months. This has been due to Coby’s consistent volunteering work with Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club (AAAC) and their para-athletics sessions. These sessions play a vital role in supporting athletes with physical, sensory, and learning disabilities in a range of track and field events.

Coby finds himself contributing to the club, community and sessions in many ways. His duties include:

Providing hands-on support during training sessions, helping athletes safely and confidently participate in events such as wheelchair racing, frame running, and throwing events.

Assisting coaches with setting up and packing away equipment, ensuring sessions run smoothly and on time.

Offering encouragement and one-to-one support to athletes.

Helping to build athlete’s confidence, motivation, and enjoyment of sport.

Promoting inclusion by helping to create a positive, respectful atmosphere where every athlete feels welcomed and valued.

Working with para-athletes has deepened Coby’s understanding of inclusive sport and the importance of creating accessible, empowering environments. Along with volunteering deepening Coby’s understanding, it also provides him with a sense of pride “Volunteering at AAAC has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m proud to contribute to a club that promotes opportunity, achievement, and community for athletes of all abilities.” Coby said.

Coby has developed strong communication, teamwork, and adaptability skills throughout his time as a volunteer, and he takes pride in being a consistent, positive presence for the athletes each week.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

If you would be interested in volunteering within disability sport in Scotland, check out all the current opportunities on the SDS website, here.

SDS NATIONAL EXHIBITION EVENT

02/06/2025

Paralympians Reunite at First Athlete Community Reunion

ParalympicsGB’s Athlete Community Reunites Team Members from Across the Decades

ParalympicsGB held its first ever Athlete Community reunion event in Stirling, Scotland on Saturday (31st May), bringing together British Paralympians from across the generations to celebrate and recognise their place in the team’s rich history.

The event was the first in a series of reunion events which will take place across the UK as part of ParalympicsGB’s newly established Athlete Community and provided an opportunity for athletes and loved ones of athletes who have passed away to reunite, make new connections and celebrate their achievements.

Athletes also received official ParalympicsGB recognition tokens, honouring their contribution to the history of the team. The first tokens were presented to athletes during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with the ambition of awarding tokens to all those who have represented the British Paralympic team at a Paralympic Games since the inaugural competition in 1960.

ParalympicsGB Chief Executive David Clarke, who competed at the Atlanta 1996, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Games, awarded athletes with their tokens and said:

“ParalympicsGB’s Athlete Community was established to provide a space for British Paralympians to reconnect with their peers, celebrate achievements and also to sign up for training and other opportunities. We also wanted to acknowledge every athlete’s contribution to the team in a tangible, lasting way and hopefully ParalympicsGB’s recognition tokens help do just that.

“I am delighted that so many athletes past and present were able to attend our first ever reunion event and to witness the joy that shared experiences can bring. Being a British Paralympian is not just about excelling on the field of play, it is about overcoming barriers, creating legacies and inspiring a better world for disabled people which is something we can best strive for together.”

The event also included a panel discussion chaired by Scottish Disability Sport Chief Executive, Gavin Macleod alongside Paralympians from across the decades – Martin Mansell, who competed in Para swimming at the 1984 and 1988 Games, winning eight medals; swimmer Paul Noble who competed in five consecutive Games from 1984 to 2000 winning 15 Paralympic medals including four golds; Caroline Baird, a Para athletics gold medallist at Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000; and Kelly Gallagher who became the first Paralympian to win a gold medal on snow with victory in the women’s super-G at Sochi 2014.

Former Para swimmer Iain Gowans, who competed at Atlanta 1996, attended the event and said: “It’s great – it’s a unique opportunity to come and meet people that you might not have seen since your competition days. I competed back in 1996 so there were a couple of people I hadn’t seen since then – last century! So it was really good to reconnect.

“Paralympic sport is a fantastic vehicle for promoting positive social change and I think athletes are a key part of that, so the more we can get together and connect with each other, the better for the Paralympic movement and the disabled community in general.”

Angela Robertson (née McDowell), who competed at Seoul 1988 said: “I think it’s special to have the recognition tokens, but I think it’s more important to be recognised and be here in this environment. It’s nice to have something to show and pass on to family but just being around different people that had the experience you also had has been the highlight of my day.”

For more information about the Athlete Community go to: https://paralympics.org.uk/articles/athlete-community

Or contact: athletecommunity@paralympics.org.uk

02/06/2025

Volunteers’ Week: Refereeing Is A Family Affair

By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer

To mark National Volunteers’ Week (2nd–9th June), SDS spoke with the Thomson family, who have been dedicated volunteers in the boccia community for many years.

Every family has its own favorite hobbies and for the Thomson family, it’s all about boccia. From parents Sam and Darren to their sons Fraser and Martin, the whole family shares a passion for the sport.

Darren (52 years-old) explained what it is like to have his family involved in the sport that he has devoted 25 years to.

“I think for me, it’s just the fact that we can all do it together and be together. We are a boccia family and we do everything as a family.”

Each member of the Thomson family has got involved in the sport in different ways, with Sam (51 years-old) now being actively involved for 10 years. However, it took a bit of persuasion to get her to start: “Heather Lowden said to me, ‘do you not fancy getting your Level One (referee qualification)?’. Well, I am now a Level Three thanks to Heather’s persuasion,” Sam said.

Whereas for Martin, it came around a lot more naturally: “I was just around it constantly. I was taken along to help and I just enjoyed being around it,” the 32-year-old said.

Each member of the Thomson family enjoys a different aspect of boccia. Fraser (24-years-old) appreciates the sense of community that surrounds the sport.

“I haven’t been at a competition for some time but I will still have gifts sent to me through my mum and dad. There will still be everyone asking after me and I will be asking after them. It’s a very welcoming family (the boccia family).”

He continued to say: “Now that I am out of education, I would like to get back into it because I do really miss it. I like the atmosphere, even if it is not as a referee role it is still a great atmosphere.”

Martin enjoys the process of being involved in the technical side of the sport, often enjoying the pressure that can come with volunteering at a busy event. “I was at one of the events, and it was getting a bit hectic, and I thought, right I will step up. Just doing that makes me feel good, it makes me feel good because I am there because of what I know,” he said.

With Darren being a Level Four International Referee, he often takes up the role as head referee at competition – leading and managing the referees.

He said: “Generally, in Scotland I am the head referee at the vast majority of competitions, so it’s good to have that role where I am overseeing the family at most events and venues.”

This can make Darren’s job easier, knowing exactly what they can bring as volunteers and how passionate they are about the sport. “All three of them have done an absolutely brilliant role for me across Scotland. They’ve all stood up and done something within the sport to give something back.”

Sam shared that the family has always enjoyed refereeing and helping out at events, as each week brings new opportunities to learn. “We always say if we are coaching, if you don’t come away from a competition having learnt something, it’s not worth going to.”

She continued to say: “It doesn’t matter how long you have been doing it for, you are still learning.”

“As a family, it doesn’t matter where we are traveling home from, the journey is usually spent discussing what we have done and learnt.”

Darren explained how they still make time to talk about boccia off court. “When a new set of rules come out, we sit in the living room, with a set of boccia balls and work out, ‘right what does this actually mean’.”

Sam was quick to add: “We do actually have a life outside of boccia, just not much of one.”

It’s not just boccia that the Thomson family work closely on, with all four members either being current or former employees of Active Dundee.

Both Martin and Fraser have noticed how their experiences and time spent volunteering, has supported them during their work for Active Dundee. Influenced by Darren and Sam’s strong passion for inclusion, Martin shared his thoughts on the impact it has had: “I have been able to take that knowledge of disability sport into my work. Being in and around boccia has helped me in everyday life.”

Fraser agreed with this, saying: “When I was working for Leisure and Culture Dundee, I was a sports coach – predominantly working out in the community. We would have so many different types of people, and because of what I have grown up around, I have been able to adapt really well and easily to whoever wants to join our sessions.”

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

If you would be interested in volunteering within disability sport in Scotland, check out all the current opportunities on the SDS website, here.

If you are keen to get involved in boccia as a volunteer, coach, official or player, reach out to your Regional Development Manager or contact SDS’s Boccia Development Officer, Jonathan Kennedy, by email: jonathan.kennedy@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

SDS NATIONAL EXHIBITION EVENT

26/05/2025

Lived Experiences Needed for New Research

The CPIPS Research Conversation Group would like to hear from you!

They are a team of researchers, looking at how range of movement information from Cerebral Palsy Integrated Pathway Scotland (CPIPS) assessments, can be used to improve decision making and care experiences, for children and young people with cerebral palsy.

If you are a young person with cerebral palsy and experience of CPIPS or a family member or carer with experience of CPIPS, then they would like to hear from you.

They are looking for people who would be willing to spend an hour of time talking about experiences with CPIPS and what you would like future research to look at. They would like to hear about:

How you think CPIPS data collected could be used to support children and families in treatment decision making?
And how you think this information could help change decision making processes for people involved in CPIPS?

To join the conversation group or find out more scan the QR code (in the below poster), follow this link or contact Kavi Jagadamma at: CPIPSProject@qmu.ac.uk