Category: A News

Scotland’s LGBTIQ+ Sports Festival Returns with Record Numbers

Festival Fortnight, Scotland’s LGBTIQ+ Sports festival returns for 2022 running from the 17th to the 30th of June. The annual festival is coordinated by LEAP Sports and aims to increase the visibility and participation of LGBTIQ+ people in Scottish sport. Partners from across the country run events as part of the festival, providing something for everyone. Including a combination of sporting, cultural, social, and recreational events.

With over 50 partners running a record number of over 80 events, this year’s festival is bigger than ever. Participants from the Borders to the Highlands will have the opportunity to take part in events such as yoga, football, cinema screenings, walking tours and much more.

Munro Stevenson, LEAP Sports’ Participation and Engagement Manager said: “After a reduced Festival Fortnight in 2021 and a cancellation in 2020, we are more than thrilled with the response from our partners this year. With more events than ever, our extensive grassroots community based programme will break down barriers to sport and physical activity for many in the LGBTIQ+ community. It has been a difficult few years for everyone, but it’s brilliant to see sporting events making such a comeback.”

Ross Lockerbie, Chair of Glasgow Raptors RFC and Fortnight Festival partner: “Having our beginners’ boot camp as part of Festival Fortnight allows us to reach a wider audience and be a part of a national festival of like minded sport providers. The support we receive from the team at LEAP Sports is fantastic. We cannot wait to introduce more people in our community to rugby.”

If you would like to take part in any of the festival’s events you can find more information on the Festival Fortnight website or on Twitter & Instagram, @LEAPSports. To support the festival and the wider work of LEAP Sports Scotland please donate here.

See Sport Differently Champion

Scottish Disability Sport are working in partnership with RNIB to identify people who would be a champion for the See Sport Differently Campaign.

Will you be a See Sport Differently Champion?

  • Are you actively involved with sport or physical activity?
  • Could you offer support and encouragement to people wanting to try sport and physical activity in your area?
  • Can you empathise with the emotions around trying something new?
  • Would you like to champion RNIB and British Blind Sport’s #SeeSportDifferently initiative?

If you’d like to hear more about what’s involved and how you can share your experience, we would love to hear from you,

Please sign up via our website https://www.rnib.org.uk/SeeSportDifferently or contact the helpline via  email helpline@rnib.org.uk or phone on 0303 123 9999.

SDS Welcomes Colette Martin

Scottish Disability Sport is delighted to welcome Colette Martin as the Regional Manager for North and South Lanarkshire.

Colette brings extensive experience as an athlete, Board member and member of the Young Persons Sports Panel as well as from her previous role as Table Tennis Development Officer and volunteer coaching.

She has participated in disability sport from the age of nine and currently plays wheelchair basketball, having started with athletics as a hobby which led to her involvement with SDS from a very young age, attending many SDS events and Summer Camp as a teen.

Having competed internationally in athletics as a wheelchair racer, Colette quickly found a passion for sport. After graduating from the University of Stirling with a degree in Sport Studies, worked as Club Development Officer for the Joe Wilson Table Tennis Club and during this time started working with the inaugural SDS Young Persons Sport Panel and then simultaneously as a coach within the Young Start programme.

She joined the SDS Board, a role she has fulfilled for the last four years.

Colette is looking forward to beginning her role as Regional Development Manager for North and South Lanarkshire and is excited about working with partners in both areas.

Lothian Disability Sport Boccia Championships

Lothian Disability Sport are delighted to announce the return of the LDS Boccia Championships. The event will be held at Engage Napier on Saturday 30th July. This event is open to any athlete wanting to compete across Scotland.

The event details can be found on the attached entry form, if you have any questions regarding the event please contact Ben Rowlings, admin@lothiandisabilitysport.co.uk.

Lothian Disability Sport Boccia Championships

SDS Annual Awards 2022

Nominations are invited from those connected with SDS for he annual awards that will be presented at the Annual General Meeting on Sunday 25th September 2022 at the Stirling Court Hotel, Stirling. It is important that there is a clear indication why the individual/group is being nominated. 

Awards Nomination Form 2022

The Awards Panel will then meet to consider all applications and decide the winner for each category in advance of the presentations at the AGM on Sunday 25th September 2022.  

A list of former award winners can be seen on our website here: https://scottishdisabilitysport.com/sds-award-winners/ 

All nominations should be returned in confidence, before Friday 19th August 2022, to admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com. Alternatively the Awards Nomination Form can be completed online here: Scottish Disability Sport Annual Awards 2022 

Central Disability Sport Summer Programme

Scottish Disability Sport, Forth Valley Disability Sport and the three Forth Valley Local Authorities are happy to share our Central Disability Sport Summer Calendar for 2022. This calendar includes opportunities for children, young people and adults across the Forth Valley area during the summer months.

For more information and booking places please contact the representatives per activities.

Central Disability Sport Summer Programme 2022

Scottish Boccia Coaching Futures Apprentices – Volunteers’ Week 1-7 June 2022

Background

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is embarking on an exciting opportunity for boccia players with high performance experience to join the SDS Performance coaching team on a two-year volunteer coaching apprenticeship. This opportunity is available as a part of sportscotland’s Coaching Futures programme which aims to increase the pool of home-grown world class coaches and retain sports-specific knowledge within Scottish sport.

Context

Scotland has a history of producing a high percentage of World Class Programme (WCP) players and we currently have four players and three ramp assistants at this level. Moreover, we have several national players working towards the WCP showing real promise and aptitude for the sport.

This is being addressed with our national coaching team. However, the introduction of Coaching Futures apprentices with exceptional technical knowledge of the sport will provide more targeted coaching opportunities for our talent pathway players. This intervention will help Scottish Boccia address the coaching gap between home country level and that of the Boccia UK full time programme. Furthermore, by developing these coaches now, it will positively shape the future of high performance boccia coaching in Scotland.

We have seen significant changes internationally with the introduction of gender specific competition, rather than the previous mixed gender formats. As a result, the medal opportunities at a Paralympic Games has increased from 7 to 11, providing a golden opportunity to fast track female players with appropriate profiles for the sport.

There will be four coach apprentices.

Peter McGuire is a former Paralympian who competed at the London 2012 Paralympic Games finishing in 4th position in the BC4 pairs event.

A former Scottish and British Champion, Peter has also been European Champion and World silver medallist. Since retirement he has focused on coaching and over the past 9 years, he has successfully attained his Level 1 and Level 2 Boccia coaching qualifications, as well as successfully completing the UK Coach Advanced Programme.

Peter currently coaches at Scottish level and works with several emerging talented players and this progamme will be a useful addition to develop going forwards.

“Two words will guide me in this programme – dreams and belief. We have people that are living the dream, those that have lived the dream and those beginning their journey. We are all here to help each other fulfil those dreams whatever they are. The second one was BELIEF. I wouldn’t be there if I didn’t believe in the players. Believe in their talents, believe in their work ethic and most importantly believe that together we can achieve those dreams.”

Scott McCowan is a three-time Paralympian, having represented ParalympicsGB at three consecutive Paralympic Games. He narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020 in the BC3 individual competition in what was his best result. He has won medals at European and World level and is four-time British Champion.

Scott has completed his Boccia Level 1 Award and has a degree in Psychology and Sports Studies from the University of Stirling. Scott is currently a member of the Boccia UK World Class Programme and is still competing at the highest level. He aspires to compete in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in what will be his will be his last cycle.

Scott would like to transition to performance coaching when he retires, and this programme will support that process.

“I am delighted to be part of the Coaching Futures programme. It was always my intention to move into coaching at the end of my playing career and this allows me to develop and learn the skills required whilst still competing. This means I can pass on my knowledge to the next generation whilst still trying to achieve success representing Scottish Boccia and Boccia UK. As a result, I should hopefully be a better coach by the time my playing career comes to an end which can only be a good thing for the development of the next athletes coming through. I can’t wait to get started!”

Jamie McCowan is a two-time Paralympian, having competed at both the Rio 2016 and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. He is also two-time European Champion having achieved this accolade in both pairs and as an individual, across two classifications (BC4 and BC3). He has been crowned British Champion on two occasions, as a BC4 and then as a BC3.

Jamie has completed his Boccia Level 1 Award and has high performance technical expertise across two very different classifications. Therefore, he will bring huge value to our coaching team. Like his brother Scott, he is a member of the Boccia UK World Class Programme and is still competing at the highest level. He aspires to compete in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in what will be his will be his last cycle. Jamie would like to transition to performance coaching when he retires, and this programme will support that process.

“This role means a lot to me as it will provide me with valuable coaching experience as well as an opportunity to give something back to this sport.”

Stephen McGuire is a three-time Paralympian who has represented ParalympicsGB in the BC4 classification in London 2021, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. He was the World individual Champion in 2016 and is the reigning British Champion, a title he has won more than 10 times.

Stephen is a member of the UK Boccia World Class Programme and is keen to pursue a future in coaching, and has already completed the UK Sport ‘Athlete to Coach’ programme. As a Coaching Futures apprentice he will bring a lot of high-performance experience, which he is keen to utilise in his coaching development.

“For almost 20 years my passion has been disability sport. Being a volunteer on the Coaching Futures programme has given me an opportunity to share my passion, help advise and aid the development of athletes with a disability. Boccia has a proud history within Scotland and I’m proud to be able to help keep that legacy going.”

Inclusive cycling returns to Edinburgh thanks to charities and council collaboration

Two charities are working with City of Edinburgh Council to bring inclusive cycling back to the city. Now everyone is invited to get on two, three or even four wheels to cycle for health, fitness and fun.

Cycling UK, the UK’s cycling charity, has loaned its large collection of adaptive cycles to Thistle Foundation, a charity that supports people with disabilities and long-term health conditions. Thistle is now running inclusive cycling sessions in two locations in Edinburgh (Saughton Park and Thistle’s Centre of Wellbeing at Craigmillar) with funding support from City of Edinburgh Council.

The sessions build on the success of Cycling UK’s Edinburgh All-ability Bike Centre (ABC), which was operational for six years until external funding came to an end in May 2021. Since efforts to secure sustainable and continued funding failed, Cycling UK has brought Thistle and the council together to allow the sessions to run again.

It’s hoped that the sessions will allow former participants of the ABC, along with new people, to enjoy all that cycling has to offer, gaining friends and fitness along the way, or just enjoying the experience of pedalling in a pleasant traffic-free location.

Suzanne Forup, head of development Scotland at Cycling UK, said:

“We’re delighted to see the cycles back in operation and we really hope that many of the previous participants, along with some new faces, will be able to come along and benefit.

“We know that cycling has many health benefits in particular and we’re so pleased to be working with Thistle and City of Edinburgh Council to make cycling accessible to people who might have thought that cycling wasn’t for them or not possible.”

For participant Bill, the new sessions have helped in many ways after a leg fracture. He said:

“Cycling has been brilliant … not only has it helped me reach goals I’ve set myself physically, but it’s great seeing both carers and clients laughing, and joking, as they pedal together.

“I used to cycle when I was younger, and it brings back those good memories every time I’m pedalling away. I enjoy the feeling of excitement it gives me … it lifts my spirits and has given me a lot of confidence in myself. I have met a lot of good friends through it, and I hope to keep pedalling and meeting more on my journeys.”

Ross Grieve, Health and Wellbeing Manager at Thistle Foundation, said:

“Our new initiative, Thistle Outdoors: A Green Recovery From COVID, is a programme that will provide community based outdoor movement support to address the negative impacts of multiple Covid-19 lockdowns, including loneliness and isolation.

“This inclusive cycling work is an important, and integral, part of the programme, and we are very excited to be working with Cycling UK and City of Edinburgh Council.”

Daisy Narayanan, Head of Placemaking and Mobility at City of Edinburgh, said:

“We’re really pleased to be able to support these sessions, which make cycling possible for many people who might have thought that they previously were not able to cycle.

“Cycling offers a whole range of benefits to health and wellbeing, as well as positively impacting the environment. Inclusive cycling sessions will help make sure even more of us can share in this.”

Sessions take place on Thursday afternoon and Sunday morning at Saughton Park and on Tuesday afternoons at Craigmillar. Anyone interested can drop in but if you’d like more information please call 0131 661 3366 or email thistleoutdoors@thistle.org.uk.

Understanding Disability and Sport in Scotland Survey

The Observatory for Sport in Scotland and the Peter Harrison Foundation are conducting a survey as part of a larger research study, Understanding Disability and Sport in Scotland.
The objective of this survey is to develop a better understanding of the organisations that are involved in supporting people with a disability to take part in physical activity and sport. The information will enable the development and publication of a stakeholder map which will be available to assist researchers, other stakeholders, policy makers and individuals with a disability to find out information about all organisations that help and support the development of physical activity and sporting opportunities for those with a disability.

A key part of the research is the stakeholder survey. As many completions of this survey as possible will be extremely helpful to all involved in disability sport as currently there is no overarching database of all stakeholders.

The survey can be completed here: https://uws.questionpro.com/t/AUq0WZqwHj

Three Boccia players selected for Czech Open 

The Czech Open returns to the international calendar and Scottish Boccia has selected three players to attend the event which will take place in Prague from the 3 – 5 June 2022. 

Fiona Muirhead (BC4), Tyler McLelland (BC4) and Kayleigh Haggo (BC2) will make their international debuts in the sport and will play within both the individual and pairs format of the competition. The group will be joined by Boccia UK BC4 player, Louis Saunders, who will team up with Fiona Muirhead in the pair’s competition.  

The Czech Open provides the perfect opportunity for Scottish players to compete on the International stage, supporting their preparation as an elite level athlete ahead of potential future selection for Boccia UK programmes. 

SDS Regional Development Manager (RDM) Andrew Mackenzie will take on the role as Team Manager, supported by Boccia UK Performance Coach, Claire Morrison.  

SDS is delighted to see our players competing in international competition again following a difficult couple of years for the sport, and we wish them all every success. 

Player  Coach 
Fiona Muirhead  Michaela Řiháčková
Tyler McLelland  Jen Barsby 
Kayleigh Haggo  Peter McGuire