It is with great pleasure we can now announce we have a new programme of events for children, young people and their families. Due to the ongoing Covid 19 situation we have still suspended our face to face events and our new events will all be delivered online.

We will continue to monitor the current situation and hope to resume face to face events in the future.

These online events will still aim to deliver the core objectives of our Shape and Share programme.

Each event offers:

• A chance to meet other families
• Activities, games or crafts for younger children
• Engagement opportunities for young people
• Support, information and discussion for families on a range of topics relating to everyday life at home, education, transitions, social life and leisure, mobility and independence.
• Opportunities to have your say, shape and get involved in local and national campaigns.
• Information about wider services from RNIB and partner organisations.

All children and young people aged 0-25, their siblings, parents and family members are welcome to attend.

Full details of the events on offer for the autumn term are detailed below.

Our Children, Young People and Family (CYPF) teams can provide information and advice for parents and young people. Contact your local team.

You can book a place on any of the events below by filling out our online booking form.

To be added to our distribution list or for more information about these events please email cypf@rnib.org.uk.

Autumn Events Programme

Each event has a target audience, but this is a guide only, if you have queries about the suitability of an event for your child please contact us. Places are limited so booking early is advised to avoid disappointment.

Shape and Share – Halloween Family Spooktacular
Trick or Treat Family Quiz
Date: Thursday 29 October 2020
Time: 18.00 – 19.30
Who should attend: Children, Young people and their families
Event Details:
Our trick or treat quiz is the first of our ‘Halloween Spooktacular’ activities. Join us for an hour of fiendishly fun questions to get you in the mood for all the Halloween celebrations! The quiz is suitable for all ages, just beware, some questions could be ‘tricky!’

Spooky Sensory Storytime
Date: Friday 30 October 2020
Time: 4.00-4.30pm
Who should attend: Children under 16 and their families
Event Details:
Come and join us for a Halloween themed story read by a special spooky guest!

Frighteningly Fangtastic face painting
Date: Saturday 31 October 2020
Time: 11.00-12.00pm
Who should attend: Children under 16 and their families
Event Details:
Come along and learn how to create a Halloween look following our step by step guide using face paints – the best part is, even if it goes wrong it doesn’t matter, the main point of our frightening face painting session is to have fun! It will be a chance for parents to learn some face painting tips…or if you’re brave enough you could let the children practice on you!

Creepy Creatures
Date: Saturday 31 October 2020
Time: 12.00-13.00pm
Who should attend: Children, young people and their families
Event Details:
It wouldn’t be Halloween without some creepy and crawly animals, if you are brave enough join us for this interactive session as Allan from Wee Critters shows and talks to us about some of his slimy, smelly and hairy friends from the animal world!

Shape and Share – Talking to your child about school life
Date: Wednesday 4 November 2020
Time: 20.00-21.00
Who should attend: Parents
Event Details:
While some children love talking about school, others find this difficult. This can be especially tough when a child is having a challenging time at school. This webinar will look at questions you may have but also an overview of some techniques that may be beneficial for supporting your child.
Due to confidentiality, while in the session we will not be discussing individual circumstances however there will be time before the session to pose any questions and support will be available for further in depth discussions with a member of RNIB’s Children, Young People and Families service if needed.

Shape and Share – Disney Singalong
Date: Saturday 14 November 2020
Time: 11.00 – 13.00
Who should attend: Children and young people with complex needs and their families
Event Details:
Now that we are in ‘a whole new world’, come and ‘be our guest’ and ‘let it go’ at our fun Disney themed virtual music session.
We’ll be joined by our very own Disney prince and princess Mr Joe Kenny and Miss Andrea Begley. Joe is a very talented singer and guitar player and has kept people entertained through his lockdown music sessions on social media. Andrea is the NI Ambassador for RNIB, and her beautiful voice earned her the title of winner of The Voice in 2013.

Shape and Share – Employability
Date: Saturday 14 November 2020
Time: 14.00 – 15.30
Who should attend: Young people aged 14-25 years
Event Details:
In this session we will explore some of the common topics and themes that young people – like you – have asked us about employment. Joined by industry professionals who themselves have a vision impairment, along with a representative from RNIB’s Employment Team. we will explore the importance of volunteering and the benefits it can bring to your skillset, confidence and during the application process; Hints and Tips for the Interview and your chance to declare ‘You’re Hired!’ or, in the words of Lord Sugar… ‘You’re Fired!’ during our virtual interview practice session and much more.

Shape and Share – Messy and Muddy
Date: Sunday 15 November 2020
Time: 10.00 – 11.00
Who should attend: Children under 5 and their families
Event Details:
Come and join us for a fun session focussing on the great outdoors. We will be making some resources to enjoy in the garden and taking part in an autumn treasure hunt. A lovely opportunity to meet other children and talk about what you enjoy about getting messy and muddy.

Shape and Share – Managing your own vision impairment
Date: Wednesday 18 November 2020
Time: 19.30 – 21.00
Who should attend: Children aged 11-16 years
Event Details: You will have the opportunity to meet, chat and listen to other young people’s experiences of living with vision impairment. An ophthalmologist will be online to talk about their role, provide the opportunity to ask questions about your sight and to learn about other sight conditions plus the chance to explore avenues of support.

Shape and Share – Yoga
Session 1 Children with a vision Impairment
Date: Saturday 21 November 2020
Time:10.00 – 11.00
Who should attend: Children and young people with a vision impairment
Session 2 Children with complex needs
Date: Saturday 21 November 2020
Time: 14.00 – 15.00
Who should attend: Children and young people with complex needs
Event Details:
Come and join us for some calm and relaxed special yoga therapy sessions. The sessions are delivered by a qualified yoga instructor and will focus on breathing, posture, massage, sound therapy, mindfulness and relaxation.

Shape and Share – Sporting Fun
Date: Saturday 28 November 2020
Time: 16.00 – 17.00
Who should attend: Children aged 6 -12 years and their families
Event Details: Forget the ‘Quiet Please’… It’s time to make a racquet and put your agility, balance, coordination and speed to the ultimate test with Coach Frankie and RNIB’s Children, Young People and Families Team!
Coach Frankie will lead us through a fun-filled, action-packed session using basic household materials and finish with some information and a question and answer session.

Shape and Share – Meet with Santa
Date: Sunday 6 December 2020
Time: 13.00 – 16.00
Who should attend: Children aged 0-12 and their families
Event Details:
RNIB’s Children, Young People and Families team would like to invite you to come and virtually meet with Santa. He will be taking time out of his busy schedule to read us a story, lead us in a sing-along and meet each family to find out who has been naughty or nice. His elves will also be busy beforehand making up a nice little surprise.
There will be four separate sessions available on Sunday 6th December between 1pm and 4pm. The event is open to the whole family

If you would like to receive a message when our face to face events are back up and running or need any help and support from our team please email us at cypf@rnib.org.uk.

You can also call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk.

 

Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid have completed ideal preparations for the wheelchair tennis event at Roland Garros after winning both the men’s singles and doubles titles between them at the French Riviera Open in Biot in the south of France. 

 Hewett beat world No.2 and reigning Roland Garros champion Gustavo Fernandez 6-3, 7-6(6) in Saturday’s men’s singles final at the ITF 1 Series event.  

 On Friday, he also partnered Reid to win the men’s doubles, with Lucy Shuker making it a hat-trick of titles for players on the LTA’s Wheelchair Tennis World Class Programme after she won the women’s doubles title partnering Chile’s Macarena Cabrillana. 

 Hewett made it two wins from three matches on clay against Fernandez as the 22-year-old British No.1 came from 6-4 down in a second set tie-break to win his second singles title of 2020.  

The world No.3, who edged past Reid 7-6(4), 7-6(5) in the semi-finals to end Reid’s own bid for a hat-trick of French Riviera Open singles titles, said: 

 “I didn’t actually expect to come here and win both singles and doubles, so I’m obviously very, very happy right now. I haven’t dropped a set this week, either, so there are a lot of positives I can take going into next week (the French Open).  

 “I think I should be very, very proud of getting a set 6-3 off Gustavo on clay because I’m the only one who’s done that for a long while. He’s very dominant on clay. To win that set as comfortably as I did was quite a surprise. The difference in the second set was a couple of points and I played the points from 6-4 down in the tie-break smartish” 

 With the French Open wheelchair tennis event starting on Wednesday, Hewett added: 

 “We’ve got 24 hours in quarantine when we arrive in Paris, so I think there’ll be a lot of sleep and food to come. I’m just pumped to get there now, but I couldn’t have asked for a better prep.”   

 Hewett and Reid extended their unbeaten 2020 doubles record to 14 matches and six tournaments after beating Belgian second seeds Joachim Gerard and Jef Vandorpe 6-4, 6-0 in the men’s doubles final in Biot to give Reid extra reason to remember his 29th birthday.  

 The reigning Australian Open and US Open champions will now attempt to complete a career Grand Slam of doubles titles together, having also previously won three Wimbledon titles. 

 Reid, already a two-time Roland Garros doubles champion and twice a singles runner-up to Fernandez in Paris, said: 

 “It’s really good preparation for Roland Garros next week. We’ve just come back from the US Open, where we won the title as well. It was a long break away from events since February, but we’ve come back strongly and we’re confident as a team on court. This has been a really good week for us, we’ve played well and we’re really looking forward to next week.    

 “We just have to review this week with our coaches, watch some footage of the matches, see what we did well and what we need to improve on and then just try and continue the success.”  

 While Shuker is not among the four Brits who will be bidding for French Open success in the coming week, the British No.2 put aside the disappointment of  a second round singles loss in Biot to earn victory in the women’s doubles as she and Cabrillana made a winning debut as a partnership. 

  After beating second seeds Katharina Kruger of Germany and Dutchwoman Michaela Spaanstra in a deciding match tie-break in their semi-final, third seeds Shuker and Cabrilllana raced past Japanese fourth seeds Saki Takamuro and Manami Tanaka 6-0, 6-4 in the women’s doubles final. Afer securing her second doubles title of 2020, Shuker said:    

“It was a disappointing singles campaign this week but I’m grateful to Maca for the energy, passion and fun on court to bring home my 75th career doubles title. Through all the ups and downs this year, right now it is definitely about being grateful for the opportunities to compete.” 

 For news and updates from the wheelchair tennis draws and the fortunes of the Brits at the French Open, follow on Twitter @the_LTA and @WChairTennisGB from Monday, 5 October. 

 To find out more about the LTA’s work with disability tennis, head to www.lta.org.uk/play or email disabilitytennis@lta.org.uk. 

Photo credit: Grégory Picout/French Riviera Open

 

The 57th Annual General Meeting of Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) was held on Sunday 27th September and for the first time in the Association’s history, the event was held wholly online. The COVID-19 restrictions meant that instead of gathering face to face in Stirling as usual, attendees logged in on Zoom and Facebook Live to follow proceedings. Almost 80 members, athletes and players, friends and representatives from partner agencies signed in to follow the AGM business and celebrate the successes of athletes, coaches and volunteers during 2019/2020.

The official welcome was delivered by SDS Chair, Catherine Goodfellow who stepped into this position at last year’s AGM following the tragic and untimely passing of previous Chair, Janice Eaglesham MBE. The election of post holders and directors of the Association resulted in the following individuals being elected to post for a 3 year period:

• Chair: Catherine Goodfellow
• Finance Director: Paul Queen
• Directors: Lori Ure, Colette Martin

CEO Gavin Macleod reported to the audience on progress and key successes during 2029/2020 and on the proposed structure for the new SDS strategic plan that will lead the work of the Association from 2021-2029.

The annual SDS Awards to athletes, coaches and volunteers were then conducted. The main award of the afternoon, the Gordon Brown Memorial trophy for the Athlete’s Athlete of the Year, was awarded to tennis player Dominic Iannotti. SDS was also delighted to announce the inaugural awarding of the Janice Eaglesham Trophy for the club of the year to Fife Athletic Club. This award was introduced in memory of formed SDS Chair Janice Eaglesham MBE and generously donated by Caroline Johnstone and Neil’s Wheels.

The afternoon concluded with the closing remarks being delivered by Paralympian David McCrae, all the way from Maryland, USA. David delivered an inspiring and entertaining talk on his involvement with SDS and his journey through life and sport. It was fitting to have such a motivational friend and advocate of SDS as David to bring the 57th AGM to a conclusion.

Click here for a copy of the SDS Annual Report 2019-2020.

Click here for a copy of the slides from the SDS AGM of 2020.

SDS AWARD WINNERS 2020

• Boccia Coach Advance Award: Andrinne Craig, Lewis McConnell, Peter McGuire, Jennifer Barsby
• MOR Reaccreditation: Dumfries & Galloway Disability Sport, Perth & Kinross Disability Sport, South Lanarkshire Disability Sport
• Russell Hogg Bursary: Samantha Gough, Gemma Lumsdaine, Michael Kear
• Special Recognition Award: Dr Elizabeth Ferris
• Special Olympics Trophy: Special Olympics Grampian National Winter Games Organising Committee
• Dedication to Football Award: Willie Pettigrew
• John de Courcy Trophy: Meggan Dawson-Farrell
• Glasgow Trophy: Ian Dunn
• Elspeth Watson Trophy: Robin Walker
• Russell Hogg Trophy: John D’Ambrosio
• Fife Trophy: Jamie Bowie
• Janice Eaglesham Trophy: Fife Athletic Club
• Findlay Calder Trophy: Maria Lyle
• Brian Dolan Memorial Trophy: Toni Shaw
• Angus Trophy: Gordon Reid MBE
• Gordon Brown Memorial Trophy: Dominic Iannotti

Scottish Disability Sport would like to congratulate four Scottish Coaches – Jennifer Barsby, Lewis McConnell, Andrinne Craig and Peter McGuire – on gaining the Boccia Coach Advance Award.

The Coach Advance Award is a blended programme of mentoring and continuous professional development across a range of sport-specific and general coaching modules. The programme is aimed at developing boccia coaches displaying potential and commitment, to take their personal development to the next level. The 15-month programme commenced in April 2019 and involved a group of 12 experienced coaches from across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The delivery was also supported by a team of experienced boccia coaches, tutors and mentors from across the country. Delegates collaborated with a dedicated mentor and engaged in a number of key workshops including:

• Self Reflection
• Planning
• Developing your skill to develop their skill
• Conditioning and Physical Preparation
• Coaching BC3 Players

Applications for the British Blind Sport Youth Advisory Panel are now open!

BBS are looking for up to 12 young people aged 16 – 25 with a visual impairment (VI) to form this exciting new sports panel.

The Youth Advisory Panel (or YAP) will act as a voice for young people with a VI to become more involved in sport in the UK. The panel members will support BBS with policy and project development and advise on issues relating to young people with a VI in sport and physical activity.

As this project develops, BBS are hoping that the YAP will also be able to advise and influence a range of sports organisations on how they can best support VI volunteers and participants, contributing to the inclusivity and accessibility of the sport sector nationwide.

This will be a fantastic opportunity for young people with a VI to truly be heard and have a positive and long lasting impact on the wider sporting community.

The opportunity will also provide the panel members with a great insight into the sport and sight loss sectors, helping them to build relationships with key players and organisations as well as giving them invaluable industry experience.

The YAP will be expected to meet up to 6 times a year (in person, if it is possible with the current pandemic) alongside virtual catch up meetings and a few hours dedicated each month, as needed, for project work. The frequency of the virtual catch up meetings will be decided by the panel at their first meeting.

Applications for the YAP will close on October 16^th and applicants will then be shortlisted and invited to a selection day on Saturday 7^th November. The selection day will consist of team building work and some set tasks which will be similar to what is expected of panel members should be they become part of the YAP.  This day is likely to be held virtually, depending on the current climate.

The first YAP meeting will take place on Tuesday 24^th November, virtually.

Kian Saville, See My Voice Support Assistant, said, “We’re really excited to be getting the Youth Advisory Panel off the ground! It seems like a natural off-shoot from our See My Voice programme, which helps to upskill young people with a VI with leadership skills and experience within the sporting sector. Taking the insights that young people have gained through their involvement in volunteering or being involved in the sport sector will help us understand the areas that still need to become more inclusive and what we can do to kick start real change.”

All information on the application process, including the Application Pack and Application Form, can be found on the webpage (these documents are also attached). Please click here to visit the BBS Youth Advisory Panel webpage.

For questions about the Youth Advisory Panel or the application process, please contact Tommy@britishblindsport.org.uk or Kian@britishblindsport.org.uk.

• Popstar Rick Astley to front single to celebrate Unsung Hero awards 2020 and raise funds for BBC Children in Need
• He will be joined by the Unsung Hero winners from 2019 and a host of sports stars will lend their support
• New for 2020, the Captain Tom: Young Unsung Hero award will also honour one young volunteer
• Awards to champion those who have made a big difference in their community through sport during Covid 19
• To nominate your Unsung Hero and Young Unsung Hero, simply visit bbc.co.uk/unsunghero

Music legend Rick Astley will front single, Every One of Us, to celebrate the Unsung Hero awards for 2020.

The 2019 regional winners of the Unsung Hero award, Captain Tom Moore and a host of sporting stars including Ben Stokes, Geraint Thomas and Dame Jessica Ennis Hill also lend their support to the campaign and there are a number of special cameos in the music video.

Olympic and Paralympic stars Tanni Grey-Thompson, Will Bailey, Kare Adenegan, Ellie and Beckie Downie, Sam Quek and Ellie Simmonds also appear in the video to show off their dancing and singing, along with Alex Scott, Gabby Logan and Gareth Thomas. Raising funds for BBC Children in Need*, the single will be the anthem for the awards in a year where keeping community spirits high has never been more important.

Rick Astley said: “When I was asked to launch a single in honour of Unsung Hero and to raise money for BBC Children in Need I didn’t hesitate. Both are brilliant causes and I hope the song can bring a bit of joy and solidarity during what has been a strange and unprecedented year.”

Alongside the single launch on the 22^nd September, nominations for the Unsung Hero 2020 awards will open from 6am.

This year will see a new addition, as the Captain Tom: Young Unsung Hero award will be up for grabs for one young volunteer, who like the main award nominees has made a big difference in their local community through sport during Covid 19. The Young Unsung Hero award will be named after Captain Tom in honour of his heroic efforts raising a whopping £38.9million for the NHS while walking laps of his garden in the run up to his 100^th birthday.

The young winner will be selected from nominations across the UK and must be under 15 to be eligible.

Both awards will see finalists from Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and each of the 12 English regions. Four nominees from the English Regions will join the national winners to form a top seven before the winner will be announced in December alongside the Young Unsung Hero.

The Unsung Hero awards will be supported by Made by Sport, a charity that champions the power of sport to change lives and to shine a light on the thousands of organisations successfully using sport to tackle major social issues.

The awards have also teamed up with BBC Local Radio’s Make a Difference campaign to shout about those who are helping their community during Covid 19. Launched by BBC Local Radio in March of this year, all 39 stations have been inviting listeners to highlight the stories of people making a positive difference in their area.

Keiren Thompson took home the Unsung Hero award in 2019. Keiren runs the community project ‘Helping Kids Achieve’ in Bulwell in Nottingham, one of the most deprived areas in the city. After being badly beaten in an attack and hospitalised as a teenager, he was inspired to make a change and help stop youngsters getting into similar situations.

Director of Sport, Barbara Slater said: “Unsung Hero is about honouring the people who show up rain or shine to inspire people to take part in grassroots sports and make a real difference in their local area. During what has been a very difficult year, 2020 will feel extra special as we recognise those volunteers who helped keep their community going.”

The single will be available to download on all streaming and download services from 22 September. All net profits will go to BBC Children in Need*.

To nominate your Unsung Hero and Young Unsung Hero by video, audio, online webform or via email, simply visit www.bbc.co.uk/unsunghero. Entries close on Sunday 25^th October at midnight.

After the success of the first cohort of the Young Persons Sport Panel (YPSP), Scottish Disability Sport are delighted to announce the recruitment of a second Young Persons Sport Panel. The new panel is supported by the National Lottery Community Fund and will be made up of 14 young people aged 16 and 22 who come with a huge amount of enthusiasm, knowledge and experiences to help shape the future of disability sport in Scotland. The SDS Young Persons Sport Panel was established in late 2015 with 12 members who have made a massive contribution to disability sport over the last 4 years.

“The Young Persons Sports Panel is an important group within Scottish Disability Sport. It allows the voice of young people with a disability to be heard and influence planning and delivery of all aspects of the associations work. I thank the outgoing members of the panel for all their hard work and look forward to working closely with the new panel members moving forward” – Gavin Macleod, SDS CEO.

SDS are really pleased that the 14 new members are coming from 10 out of 13 of the SDS Member branch areas which will allow the young person’s voice to be heard locally as well as nationally.

The YPSP members are:

• Thomas Boers (Grampian)
• Neil Ferguson (Lothian)
• Hayden Keir (Dumfries and Galloway)
• Samantha Louise Gough (Lothian)
• Maria Lyle (Lothian)
• Murran MacKay (Angus)
• Rory McKinna (Ayrshire)
• Laura Pilkington (Lothian)
• Fiona Rogers (South Lanarkshire)
• Caitlyn Ross (continuing on, Forth Valley)
• Callum Sloan (continuing on, Fife)
• Craig Smith (Glasgow)
• Cadyn Thomson (Perth and Kinross)
• Matthew Wynne (East Renfrewshire)

A huge thank you must go to Ross Foley (Lothian), Hope Gordon (Highland), Mitchell Graham (Forth Valley), Alan Gray (Lothian), Stefan Hoggan – Radu (Fife), Danielle Joyce (Ayrshire), Gemma Lumsdaine (Dundee), Colette Martin (South Lanarkshire), Lewis McConnell (Glasgow), Caitlyn Ross (Forth Valley), Callum Sloan (Fife), Shelby Watson (Dumfries & Galloway) for all of their contributions on the YPSP. The group helped to shape the SDS Strategic plan 2017-21 and also contributed to the development of the new plan beyond 2021. As well this the youngsters have influenced key partners on inclusive practice, gained continuous professional development and numerous qualifications and gained experience volunteering at many SDS Events. Some of the previous panel will now transition into becoming mentors for the new group and support with the programming of the YPSP.

Previous Panel member Gemma Lumsdaine shared her thoughts: “I have really enjoyed being part of the SDS Young Persons Sport Panel over the last five years. We have made real progress as a group in terms of creating more opportunities for young people with a disability to engage more in sport. Being involved in the panel has also helped us to grow as individuals with many of us now working in the sport sector. The new panel is full of passionate and proactive young people, I can’t wait to see what they manage to achieve over the next few years.”

For more information on the SDS Young Persons Sport Panel please contact Jennifer Barsby at jennifer.barsby@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Shuttlemark

On 16th July 2020 Lothian Disability Badminton Club (LDBC) became the first club to achieve the Shuttlemark Award in the Lothian Group area. LDBC is the 20th club in Scotland to sign up to Badminton Scotland’s accreditation scheme.

Carolyn Young, Convenor of the Lothian group is delighted about the achievements of LDBC: “Congratulations to Lothian Disability Badminton Club for achieving their Bronze and Silver status. Definitely a role model for clubs in the East of Scotland. Wouldn’t it be great to have all our clubs follow the lead of LDBC to achieve at least one of the Shuttlemark accreditations. I would encourage our clubs in Lothian to consider joining this scheme and take advantage of the help on offer and ultimately benefit from the rewards that will come with it.”

Badminton Scotland’s Shuttlemark Scheme was set up to help support clubs to develop and strengthen their infrastructure, plan for the future and in turn, increase capacity and grow. Badminton Scotland believes Clubs are key in providing quality opportunities for communities across Scotland to both participate & progress in badminton and believe this warrants recognition.

The Lothian Disability Badminton Club was established on 19th February 2008 and has experienced continued growth and development since then. Currently, the club has 21 members with a mix of ability, age and disability.

The club welcomes both the social and competitive players of all ages. Some members enjoy the social side of playing while others have achieved considerable success representing Scotland at international events all over the world including Colin Leslie, Fiona Christie, Bobby Laing and Mary Wilson.

Lyndon Williams (Chair of BS Disability Working Group, BWF Para-Badminton & Disability Tutor, former Welsh Internationalist & key member of LDBC): “This is an excellent initiative from Badminton Scotland and something the club was very keen to get involved in. A good benchmark for the club and ensures we set standards and hopefully maintain them before moving on and trying for Gold. We are always learning as a club and have benefited from this process, understanding where we had gaps and where we needed to strengthen our delivery. We have enjoyed many years of success at the club and now need to push on and make sure we give even more disabled players an opportunity to get involved with our great sport.”

Colin Leslie LDBC Chair & Lead Coach: “Badminton Scotland’s Shuttlemark has encouraged and inspired LDBC to look at its delivery and standards as well as its responsibilities towards its members. Achieving both Bronze and Silver has been a big boost and we are keen to continue to develop our opportunities and quality of offer to our membership and workforce.”

Lena Robertson from the City of Glasgow Badminton Club talks about their experience with the Shuttlemark programme: “Shuttlemark helped us focus on direct areas of importance and priority. Timescales are a good way of keeping the club focused and on track.  We appreciate Badminton Scotland’s support with the process and found it very helpful that we were and are able to contact our local RDO for further support and direction. Our committee has clearly defined roles and everyone is aware of roles which helped in order to have people in positions and going forward.”

David Gillespie from Glasgow Disability Badminton Club said: “Positive feedback includes a pop-up banner, which has allowed us to promote our club at events and thereby, increasing our profile. The majority of the needed documents were in place already before becoming accredited but it is useful for clubs who do not have it in place. Shuttlemark helped map out who is responsible for roles –eg  GDPR…., and prompted volunteers to undertake new roles. We are keen to try increase provision for those with physical disabilities.”

Both clubs welcome those new to the sport as well as experienced players, providing the necessary opportunities to learn new skills and improve on existing ones in a relaxed and supportive environment. Qualified and experienced coaches are present at both clubs together with volunteer helpers.

SIDC (Shuttlemark Disability Inclusive Charter)

LDBC is the first club to sign up to Badminton Scotland’s Shuttlemark Inclusive Disability Charter (SIDC).

Badminton Scotland believe people of all ages and abilities with a physical, sensory or learning disability should be able to participate in badminton.

The aim of Badminton Scotland’s SIDC is to support people with a disability by increasing provision and making opportunities available to access badminton at a local club. In addition, the aim is to support clubs to allow them to provide and deliver inclusive badminton activity. Providing accessible and inclusive opportunities to play badminton locally is key and we are keen to ensure clubs are part of this.

All clubs who have achieved Shuttlemark accreditation will be offered the opportunity to sign up to SIDC which is a bolt on to the scheme.

Ross Foley, player and long serving member of LDBC said: “It is important that LDBC are an inclusive and welcoming club to make sure that we encourage all people who have a disability to come and join in our sport.” “Our aim is to break down barriers and allow people with a disability to access clubs and to encourage more to sign up to Badminton Scotland’s Inclusive charter. We want people with a disability to access clubs with no barriers or obstacles on their way to achieving greatness.”

Colin Leslie Chair & Lead Coach: “Following on from Shuttlemark we were really keen to sign up to Badminton Scotland’s Inclusive Charter, refocusing our goal of providing the best service to all those with a disability. We hope to inspire other clubs to do the same.”

Within the next few weeks Glasgow Disability Badminton Club will also sign up to the SIDC and Badminton Scotland hope that other clubs will see the benefit of providing opportunities to all members of the badminton community.

To find out more information on Shuttlemark and the SIDC and how to apply please click here.

You can also contact Euan Murray at rdowest@badmintonscotland.org.uk, or Jane Russell on jane@badmintonscotland.org.uk