We are delighted to announce details for the upcoming Scottish Disability Sport 12^th West of Scotland Parasport Festival 2022

Date: Thursday 3rd March 2022

Time: 10.00am – 2.15pm (9.45am arrival and registration)

Venue: On-x Linwood Sports Centre, Linwood, PA3 3RA

The Parasport Festival is designed to introduce pupils from mainstream schools with a physical, visual or hearing impairment, aged P5-S6 to try new and exciting sports. It has been identified that these individuals are significantly under-represented when it comes to participating in weekly sport or physical activity. The activities selected reflect the strong club structure in the region and the key impact of the event is to provide a multisport opportunity to these pupils, identify talented individuals within specific sports, alongside channelling pupils onto local, regional club programmes and sessions.

We would like to welcome back all pupils who have attended in the past, alongside engaging new pupils to attend for their first experience. Please watch our ‘Get Involved’ video which highlights the aims and impact of the event featuring testimonies from young people, parents, club coaches and professional officers.

The festival is a partnership event between Scottish Disability Sport, Active Schools, West Disability Sport Branches (Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway, Glasgow and South Lanarkshire), Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport along with local community club coaches, to offer sessions in badminton, boccia, powerchair football, wheelchair basketball, athletics, judo, football, swimming, table tennis, and tennis to young people across the West of Scotland.

Booking information

West of Scotland Parasport Festival: https://sds.justgo.com/Workbench.mvc/Show/6?ref=F96E674D6A30D75551B527F1DC911CA967D36070

If you have any questions or would like to find out more about the event or disability sport in the West, please contact:

Andrew MacKenzie – SDS Regional Development Manager for  Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Argyll & Bute – andrew.mackenzie@scottishdisabilitysport.com / Phone: 07496306249

Cheryl Lappin- SDS Regional Development Manager for East & West Dunbartonshire– cheryl.lappin@scottishdisabilitysport.com / Phone: 07889191931

Dianne Campbell- SDS Regional Development Manager for  North, South & East Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway– dianne.campbell@scottishdisabilitysport.com / Phone: 07533466766

Louise Gillespie- SDS Regional Development Manager for North & South Lanarkshire– louise.gillespie@scottishdisabilitysport.com / Phone: 07904681258

Scottish Disability Sport is delighted to announce Dianne Campbell has joined the regional team and will be working across The Ayrshires and Dumfries and Galloway.

Dianne joins us with a 17-year history in sports development working with Ayrshire Sportsability Branch. Within her varied role she organised numerous activities and sports for participants with disabilities including the flagship ‘Festival of Sport’ which attracted over 600 participants across five days. Organising fundraising events for the Charity including the well-known annual Charity Ball.

In her spare time Dianne is also involved with her local community centre, which has involved running events for the local community and seeking funding to refurbish an amazing red sandstone building to become the heart of the community again.

At home Dianne is obsessed with bulldogs and has never been able to walk past one without saying hello. She has added  three to her collection so far and will no doubt add more!

Dianne can be contacted using email, dianne.campbell@scottishdisabilitysport.com and by mobile telephone, 07533466766.

ParalympicsGB have announced a five-strong wheelchair curling squad – the first members of the team that will represent Great Britain at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in two months’ time.

The team includes former firefighter David Melrose who has paid tribute to the power of the Paralympics after being selected as part of the British team making the trip to China in March.

Along with Meggan Dawson-Farrell and the team’s alternate (travelling reserve) Charlotte McKenna, Melrose has been selected by ParalympicsGB as one of three debutants who will line up with Hugh Nibloe, who competed at PyeongChang 2018 and Gregor Ewan, who won bronze at Sochi 2014.

Melrose admits that this latest step on his journey that began 11 years ago when he was paralysed after an accident at work feels like a reward for his positive outlook after that life-changing moment.

“I remember trying to lift the spirits of my family during my third day in hospital and had been told I would not walk again,” Melrose explained. “A fellow fire fighter was visiting and I said: ‘Now what sport can I do to get to the Paralympics?

“It was an off the cuff remark to make sure they thought I wasn’t too down. It was not something I was serious about until I got on the curling programme in 2018 and that honed my self-discipline and drive. Curling definitely helped me to re-focus on what I wanted to do with the rest of my life after my accident.”

Melrose joined the British Curling programme in 2018 and made rapid progress, earning selection for the World Championships the following year when Scotland won silver on home ice. However, the head-spinning nature of that experience has made him even more determined to savour his Paralympic debut.

“Going to my first Worlds was a bit of a blur in what was a meteoric first few years on the programme, so I really want to fully appreciate my first Paralympics,” he said.

“Getting the chance to pull on the ParalympicsGB kit starts to make it feel more real in what still feels like a surreal experience as the Paralympics is the pinnacle of the sport and there is no higher achievement than getting this opportunity.

“I am excited but probably not as excited as my wife Clare and the family,” added Melrose. “They have been a constant support throughout the low times during the Covid pandemic when the squad could not train together. I know it will be all consuming and they have my back when I am in Beijing – and full credit to Sheila (Swan, British Curling’s Paralympic Head Coach) to see something in me and get me in to shape so I now have a life changing opportunity.”

Dawson-Farrell will meanwhile secure a very special place in sporting history when she takes to the ice in Beijing, having previously represented Scotland in Para Athletics at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

“It was obviously exciting to be selected for the Commonwealth Games but it is also hugely exciting to be going to such a big global event and to have the chance to pull on a GB jersey. This is what you train for every day,” said the 29-year-old.

“Having switched to curling I now know the more team-oriented sport and the camaraderie of team-mates actually suits me better and to be able to share this experience with team-mates will be so much better.”

She is also excited about what her participation at a Paralympics means for her family and friends.

“We may not be able to have them in the stands, but they will be rooting for us from home and I also have team-mates that have each other’s backs and I am so grateful to be selected with them,” she said.

“I am sure it will be an amazing experience and like my team-mates we will be giving our all to make the play-offs and the medal matches. All of us want to come home with something shiny.”

ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission for Beijing 2022 Phil Smith said, “I am delighted to welcome Hugh, David, Meggan, Gregor and Charlotte to the ParalympicsGB team bound for Beijing, the first names to be confirmed on the ParalympicsGB teamsheet for these Games.

“All five athletes have already produced some brilliant results this season and shown great focus and resolve in securing selection, particularly after the challenging times brought about by the COVID pandemic over the last two years, and I’m excited to see what they can achieve on the ice in Beijing in just under 60 days’ time.”

British Curling’s Executive Performance Director Nigel Holl added, “Congratulations to this team who have had to demonstrate incredible resilience and determination to prepare for these Games during a period of extraordinary challenges. The team is an exciting combination of three debutants alongside two-time Paralympian Gregor Ewan and 2018 Paralympian Hugh Nibloe who are ready to show the world their potential and we wish them every success at what will be a unique Games experience.”

ParalympicsGB Wheelchair Curlers:  

Meggan Dawson-Farrell – Tullibody

Charlotte McKenna (alternate) – Bridge of Allan

Gregor Ewan – Elgin

Hugh Nibloe – Stranraer

David Melrose – Duns