Access Sport, together with Disability Sport Wales, Scottish Disability Sport, and Disability Sport Northern Ireland, today announced a groundbreaking partnership to deliver a new a UK-wide initiative designed to transform how sports clubs engage, empower, and support young people to become leaders in community sport.

This project has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players. Access Sport will receive more than £3.5 million of life-changing funding over six years from The National Lottery Community Fund.

The ambitious programme will place disabled and disadvantaged young people at the centre of community sport leadership by:

• Supporting clubs to develop meaningful youth leadership
• Providing youth-designed pathways into leadership, combining informal roles, mentoring, training and progression opportunities
• Empowering young people to shape inclusive provision, support decision making and influence national policy, funding and the overall sector approach.

The project has been co-designed with young people and builds on our successful delivery model. It responds to widespread challenges facing young people in sport, including exclusion from leadership opportunities, barriers to participation, and a lack of influence over decisions that affect their sporting experiences.

The programme is particularly significant at a time when volunteering in sport has declined dramatically, with 1.7 million fewer volunteers than seven years ago, including 500,000 fewer young volunteers aged 16–24. By creating inclusive leadership pathways, the initiative seeks to inspire a new generation of community leaders while strengthening local sports clubs.

Hayley Barton, Delivery and Impact Director at Access Sport, said:

“Too often, young people are invited into sport programmes but not into the conversations that shape them. This partnership will ensure that youth leadership is not an optional extra, but standard practice in community sport. We want young people to be recognised as decision-makers and role models within their communities.”

The initiative will be led by a UK-wide Project Steering Group made up of Access Sport, Disability Sport Wales, Scottish Disability Sport, and Disability Sport Northern Ireland. Each partner will deliver this work on the ground and help ensure local needs are prioritised, drawing on their expertise and strong connections with communities, clubs, and young people across their nations.

Beyond direct participation, the partners aim to drive long-term systemic change across the sport sector through annual learning forums, policy engagement, shared resources, and youth advocacy. The programme will promote youth voice and disability inclusion as standard practice in community sport, influencing future funding, governance, and delivery models.

Helen Rowbotham, Chief Executive at Access Sport, commented:

“By bringing together expertise from across all four nations, we have a unique opportunity to create lasting change. This is about more than leadership programmes; it is about building a sporting system where every young person feels heard, valued, and able to contribute. A special thank you to National Lottery players and the National Lottery Community Fund for making this project a reality.”

Susie Farren, UK Deputy Director at The National Lottery Community Fund, said:

“We are delighted to be supporting Access Sport and its partners to deliver this vital work. Every child and young person should have the opportunity to explore their interests, create experiences that matter to them, and shape their future. We prioritise those facing barriers, so all children and young people have strong foundations to grow, learn and thrive. We look forward to seeing the truly life-changing impact this work has for young disabled people across the UK.”

Fiona Reid Chief Executive Officer, Disability Sport Wales:

“Disability Sport Wales is proud to join Access Sport and our home nations partners in delivering the ‘From Sideline to Centre’ programme. For too long, disabled young people have been spectators in decisions that affect their own sporting experiences. Together, we’re creating real routes for young disabled people in Wales to step into leadership roles, shape local clubs, and have their voices heard at every level.”

Gavin Macleod, Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Disability Sport:

“Scottish Disability Sport is delighted to be working closely with Access Sport and home nations partners to empower young people with disabilities across the UK through the ‘From Sideline to Centre’ programme. This innovative programme will ensure robust pathways into mentoring, leadership and training and the opportunity for participants to influence an inclusive approach to national strategy, policy and delivery.”

Kevin O’Neill, Chief Executive at Disability Sport NI said:

“This partnership is an exciting opportunity to ensure that disabled young people in Northern Ireland and across the UK have a stronger voice in shaping community sport. By creating meaningful leadership opportunities, we can help more young people build confidence, develop new skills, and thrive in local inclusive clubs.”

Interested in getting involved in our Youth Leadership work?

Click here.

Now that the 2026 Commonwealth Games have come to a close, it is time to reflect on all of the amazing history-making medal-winning performances.

 

At the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Team Scotland’s Para Athletes had their most successful Games ever, rewriting the record books. With an incredible 14 medals won across Para sports, including eight gold medals, three silver medals and three bronze medals, all athletes can be extremely proud of what they have achieved.

Team Scotland’s Para athletes were responsible for winning 62% of Team Scotland’s gold medals, reinforcing the importance of inclusion, and highlighting the contributions of Para athletes to Scotland’s success at the games.

In Tollcross International Swimming Centre, there was a strong contingent of athletes competing with Faye Rogers, Toni Shaw, Stephen Clegg, James Clegg, Astrid Carroll, Ollie Carter and Sam Downie all representing Scotland.

On day one in the Para Swimming, the Scottish team got off to a dream start, with Faye Rogers winning Women’s S10 Individual Medley gold, setting the tone for the rest of the Games.

Faye’s performance was immediately backed up by Stephen Clegg from the Scottish Borders, who delivered a phenomenal performance in the pool, sealing a Men’s S13 100m Freestyle silver.

Stephen kept the momentum going for the Scotts on day five, with a fantastic showing in the Men’s S13 50m Freestyle, ending the race at the top of the podium with a gold.

Toni Shaw was competing in the Women’s S9 100m Freestyle on day six. Where an unbelievable final-length push resulted in Toni adding to Team Scotland’s medal count with a bronze.

The eight-strong Para Athletics squad of Ben Sandilands, Steven Bryce, Owen Miller, Melanie Woods, Joanna Robertson, Alexander Thompson, Sean Frame and Stephen Stone were competing at Scotstoun Stadium, delivering several world-class performances.

In the Men’s T20 1500m, Ben Sandilands showcased his outstanding athletic ability, claiming a tremendous gold medal.

This performance was quickly followed by Stephen Bryce, who impressed with a controlled performance, winning Men’s T20 1500m bronze, with both athletes training out of Fife Athletics Club, the day was made particularly special for the region with their stablemate and former Paralympic 1500m Gold medalist Owen Miller also competing in the final.

Melanie Woods continued the winning ways for Scottish athletes, competing in the Women’s T54 1500m, where she delivered a fantastic performance, winning gold. However, less than 24 hours after being crowned Commonwealth Champion it was announced that the race was to be restaged due to a crash. Melanie, however, remained focused and resolute, finishing the race even quicker the second time, ensuring that she would retain her gold medal.

One gold wasn’t to be enough for Melanie, as on day nine, she was racing in the Women’s T54 400m. Where she won an excellent second gold medal in front of her family and friends.

The Scottish Events Campus was hosting the Para Bowls competition, with Robert Barr, Sarah Jane Ewing (Director), Mary Stevenson, Jim Aitken (Director), Gary Brown, Stuart Sloan, Mary Wilson and Pauline Wilson representing Scotland.

In front of a passionate home support Robert Barr, Sarah Jane Ewing (Director), Mary Stevenson and Jim Aitken (Director) provided a sensational performance, securing a gold medal for the Scots in the Mixed B2/3 Pairs competition. Both men and women’s Pairs in the Physical Disability section narrowly missed out on a medal by losing in their respective Bronze Medal matches.

Also in the Scottish Events Campus was the Wheelchair Basketball competition. Where Tyler Baines, Finlay Erskine, Shayne Humphries, Ross McConnell, Kayli English, Robyn Love, Lea Smith and Jodie Waite were competing.

On day six of the Games, both the Men’s and Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team had medal opportunities, with the women being in the Gold Medal Match, and the men in the Bronze Medal Match.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be for the men. However, Kayli English, Robyn Love, Lea Smith and Jodie Waite delivered a fantastic performance, just missing out on a gold medal, and winning silver.

Neil Fachie, Aaron Pope (Pilot), and Fin Graham were out in force in The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, where they were all producing several world-class performances.

Whilst being piloted by Aaron Pope, Neil Fachie became Team Scotland’s most successful athlete of all time, after winning gold in the Men’s Tandem B 100m Time Trial.

Neil and Aaron immediately backed up their performance, when competing in the Men’s Tandem B Sprint, where they stormed to victory, winning a second gold medal of the Games.

Fin Graham was also in action in the velodrome, as he made his Commonwealth Games debut. In the Men’s C1/3 1000m Time Trial, the Highlander had a fantastic race, ensuring that he would be adding to Team Scotland’s medal tally with a bronze.

Two days later, Fin was back on the track, and competing in the Men’s C1-3 3000m Individual Pursuit. In the race, Fin qualified for the Gold Medal Match, where he left everything out on the track, narrowly coming up shy of a gold medal, winning silver.

Throughout the Games, each of Team Scotland’s Para athletes showed the resilience, determination, motivation and drive that is required to thrive on the Commonwealth stage, with all of these performances acting as a reminder of the importance of an inclusive Scotland, where individuals with a disability are supported to take part in sport and physical activity.

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.