We are delighted to announce details for the upcoming Scottish Disability Sport Tayside Parasport Festival 2020

Date:     Wednesday 4^th March 2020

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

Venue: Dundee & Angus College, Gardyne Campus, Gardyne Road, Dundee, DD5 1NY

The Parasport Festival is designed to introduce pupils with a physical, visual or hearing impairment, aged P1-S6 to try new and exciting sports. It has been identified that these groups 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 – https://youtu.be/JdkfhV4KwNc 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, Angus, Dundee and Perth & Kinross Disability Sport Branches, Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport along with local club coaches, to offer sessions in badminton, boccia, powerchair football, wheelchair basketball, athletics, tennis, football, bowls and curling to young people across Tayside. This year’s event is supported by the Celtic FC Foundation and we would like to express our gratitude for their ongoing support.

Booking information

Please see below event information and online application form, with a closing date of Friday 28^th February 2020 – https://scottishdisabilitysport.com/tayside-parasport-festival-2020/

Alternatively, please contact Graeme Doig for a paper or electronic copy of the information and registration pack.

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

Graeme Doig – SDS Regional Development Manager for Tayside – graeme.doig@scottishdisabilitysport.com / Phone: 07999544549.

There were many successes in the GOGA in Fife programme, supported bySpirit of 2012, that will have a long lasting effect on the way Disability Sport Fife (SCIO) delivers services to its members. A key objective of the GOGA programme was to increase the range and quality of inclusive active recreation opportunities that are offered to participants with additional support needs across Fife. One GOGA initiative involved working closely with mainstream sports clubs and one of the first clubs to sign up was the Enigma gymnastics club that is based in the Levenmouth area.

Enigma Gymnastics Club is an impressive community club serving learners of all levels of ability. The club has a committed head coach, very enthusiastic Trustees and an impressive team of coaches and volunteers. Over the years the club has built up an excellent stock of equipment and developed a strong relationship with Fife Council. The school based club facilities are more than fit for purpose and have served successive generations of learners.

The GOGA in Fife team met with key Enigma personnel and a plan of action agreed that involved a series of practical workshops to help volunteers with inclusive practice and delivery. Initially sessions were specifically established for learners with ASN but the model in 2020 involves learners being allocated slots appropriate to their availability and abilities.

Governing Body registrations are expensive and grant aid was negotiated withKirkcaldy & Central Fife Sports Council to keep down costs. In the early years there was a specific emphasis on learners with Down Syndrome but more recently gymnasts with a range of conditions have signed up.

The Enigma/GOGA in Fife programme has been running for more than three years and some of the highlights of 2019 are as follows:

75% of the gymnasts with ASN took part in the Enigma floor and vault club championships. This involved learning to sequence floor skills and perfect and refine vaults practiced in class. Gymnasts either competed in the championships or were judged in class, if it was felt the event would be too overwhelming.

At the club championships each award category was sponsored by local companies. Boogie Bounce sponsored the Parallel Award for gymnasts with ASN. The award was presented to the gymnast with additional support needs who had demonstrated most progress in their gymnastics skills over the previous term.

50% of learners took part in the 8th Annual Enigma Birthday Celebration Festival. This event involves all gymnasts coming together in their class groups to perform in front of a sold out audience of over 300 spectators. The individual groups create themed routines to music.

All gymnasts with ASN will be taking part in the British Gymnastics proficiency scheme. This involves learning new skills and being tested at the end of each term.

The Enigma experience has been hugely positive and the young learners and their families are very much part of the overall club culture. The Enigma club is listed as a sport specific session on the Disability Sport Fife programme of weekly sessions that run throughout the year.

Gymnastic enquiries to the DSF office are directed to the Enigma club and the Head Coach and her very inclusive team of volunteers take over. The Enigma club model was the first set up by GOGA in Fife and provided a blueprint for other club partnerships that evolved between 2016 and 2019. Over the next few weeks I shall post articles outlining their progress and experiences. GOGA supported by Spirit of 2012 made it all possible.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees

A few weeks ago I received a call in the DSF office from Gilly Eason. Gilly started running in January this year and has raised £1300 for charity.

Gilly runs with the Kirkcaldy Wizards who are linked to the very inclusive Fife Athletic Club. I guess the Wizards are part of the Jogscotland initiative supported by Scottish Athletics? Gilly trains with the Wizards on Monday and Wednesday for an hour at the Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy and enjoys Parkruns and other social running occasions. She told me that sometimes there are as many as 80 runners involved with the Wizards.

Rosie Broadley turned up at the Wizards and expressed an interest in the couch to 5K programme. Rosie lost her sight this year and is now dependent on a cane. Rosie was accompanied by her daughter and Gilly introduced herself. Little did they realise how much of an influence they would have on one another for the remainder of the year.

Gilly was calling the DSF office to ask about guide running and supporting a runner with a visual impairment. It was an easy task on my part to pass on a few references and within no time Gilly had purchased a tether and volunteered her services to support Rosie on “Wizard Nights”. For over ten weeks Gilly and Rosie trained on together on grass, track and roads until she graduated couch to 5K with her fellow Wizards. The dynamic duo took over the park in true Wizard style.

Gilly told me they have a Wizard of the month every month on the first Monday. The accolade is reserved for those who are not the fastest or run the furthest. The award is about people who help and inspire others. Gilly was delighted and proud that this month it was Rosie!! There were tears from Rosie because she believes she is “just Rosie”. Rosie does not see herself as special despite having had a brain injury, stroke and lost her sight all in one year. Being part of the programme has had an amazing impact on her life and all those she have come to know her through the Kirkcaldy Wizards.

I learned when I was pulling this article together that Rosie has won a free trip to Vegas with GMTV!! The show is running a segment about “new beginnings” and Rosie’s daughter Sam emailed her story to GMTV. Not surprisingly she won the trip because she inspired the judging panel just as she has inspired her fellow Wizards throughout her ten week programme.

Congratulations Rosie on all that you have achieved to date. You are most definitely an inspiration. Well done of course to volunteer Gilly who has contributed so much to Rosie’s training, progression and safety. Wonderful story of the power of inclusive active recreation to change lives. Get Out Get Active in Fife (GOGA).

Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees

Cycling UK and Edinburgh All-ability Cycling are pleased to inform you that the Edinburgh Handcycling Experience is in full swing.  Based at Saughton Park in Edinburgh, Edinburgh Handcycling Experience has several handcycles available for use, for a variety of abilities and ages, at no charge.

Handcycling is accessible to nearly anyone with a lower limb impairment. It’s also great for people with chronic pain, balance issues, arthritis, and amputees. No previous cycling experience is necessary and coaching is provided by a L2 cycling coach. In addition to introductory sessions to get you started we will also be planning rides for a variety of rider experiences. Not only is handcycling a great activity itself, but it’s also perfect for cross-training for other sports.

Bikes are available for kids from approximately 5 years old and up. We also have recumbent and longseat configurations (a more upright style) as well as a Tetra-ready bike with electric assist and a TriRide wheelchair clip-on, also with electric assist. For those that need assistance in transferring, we also have a height-adjustable stool allowing for level transfers off your chair and into the bikes.

Please see the flyer below and contact Ken (ken.talbot@cyclinguk.org) for more information. Additionally, visit our Facebook page (Edinburgh Handcycling Experience) for more updates on schedules and events.

Edinburgh Handcycling Experience flyer