Category: A News

Scottish Government Social Security Experience Panels

Recruitment to the Scottish Government’s Social Security Experience Panels is now open.

The Scottish Government Experience Panels are 2,400 volunteers who are helping us to build a new social security system for Scotland. Panel members have real experience of the benefits which will be devolved to Scotland.  Their insight and assistance is helping us to make sure that our new service works for the people who will use it. 

If you have experience of these benefits and you want to contribute to the way we deliver in Scotland, we are recruiting for more Experience Panel members now. We are looking for people with personal experience of: 

  • Personal Independence Payment
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Carer’s Allowance
  • Funeral Expenses Payment
  • Cold Weather Payment
  • Winter Fuel Payment
  • Industrial Injuries Disability Benefit

You can find out more about the Experience Panels and register to join at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/social-security-experience-panels-faqs/ or by calling our Freephone number 0800 029 4974. People can register online, over the phone or by post. 

Being a panel member is voluntary, and panel members will receive regular invitations to take part in focus groups, interviews and surveys. There is no obligation to complete any amount of work and panel members can participate as little or as often as they wish. We work hard to make participating as accessible as possible. Our work with panel members informs key decisions in the design of social security in Scotland. 

Robyn Love competing in the 2016 Paralympic Games

Love Wins Silver at European Championships 

The 2019 IWBF Women’s European Wheelchair Basketball Championships took place between the 28 June and 8 July in Rotterdam, Netherlands and the event placed much significance on Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games qualification. 

Ayrshire born and former Lothian Phoenix player, Robyn Love, was the only Scottish representative in the squad but the 2016 Rio Paralympian was once again a central figure within the team. 

The GB side completed the tournament’s pool stage qualifying for the semi-finals having accrued three wins and two losses, one to Germany and a second to hosts the Netherlands. 

However, they faced Germany in the semi-finals two days after suffering a tough pool game loss to the team (48-61). In what was undoubtedly one of the most contested games of the Championships, Great Britain delivered a remarkable performance to come out on top 49-48 to claim their place in the final.   

The final saw Love, and her GB team mates, once again face the Netherlands, who are an extremely strong nation in the women’s game.  Once again it was a tough encounter against the side who had already defeated them in the group stages.  Sadly, the Brits succumbed to a 52-65 loss to the hosts but will be delighted to claim a silver medal. 

The Great Britain women’s team has grown and improved over the past few years and their performances are creating history. Within the space of 12 months they have claimed both a World and European championships’ silver medal, building on their 4th place finish at the 2016 Paralympic Games. 

GB’s #15 Robyn Love has been a key figure during this period of sustained success and summed up the feeling amongst the squad: 

“Incredibly proud – it’s hard to put into words at this moment about how I feel. When you do something you’ve never done before you can’t quite describe how that feels.” 

For more information please visit: 

Basketball Scotland 
http://basketballscotland.co.uk/  

British Wheelchair Basketball
www.britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk  

Jed Renilson Wheelchair and Hand Cycle 10k Race 2019

Borders Disability Sport would like to invite you to participate in the 16th Jed Renilson Wheelchair and Hand Cycle 10km Race, scheduled for Sunday 27th October 2019. The race is included as part of the Jedburgh Running Festival and will start at Bonjedward, Jedburgh.

In memory of the late Jed Renilson, founder of the wheelchair race, Borders Disability Sport are committed to carry on this legacy and hope to welcome new and experienced participants alike. For organisational purposes, entrants are required to submit their previous or best 10km race time.

The race route is an out and back, starting at Bonjedward Garage and heads down a steep hill before turning right onto the A698. The route then heads east along this road for 5km before turning and heading back West towards Jedburgh. Entries can be accessed through Entry Central – https://www.entrycentral.com/event/108652.

If you have any queries around the event, please contact Borders Branch Development Officer Alan Oliver on aoliver@liveborders.org.uk or 01750 700 110.

10k Wheelchair Race Flyers 2019

Jedburgh Wheelchair Race Invite Letter 2019

Fife AC athlete selected for Global Games

The news we have all been waiting and hoping for is out on the street. The UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability (UKSA) has announced that Sam Fernando from Gateside and Fife Athletic Club has been selected for Team GB, and on this occasion he is not heading back to Europe but to Brisbane, Australia.

Only two GB athletes will travel to the 2019 Global Games. Multi medalist, Declan Manning (Bungay, Suffolk) and double European medalist Sam Fernando will wear the British colours.

The Inas Global Games are scheduled 11th to 20th October 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. Hosted by Sports Inclusion Australia over 1000 athletes are expected to compete in 10 official Inas sports. The Global Games are the world’s largest high performance sports event for athletes with intellectual impairments. The Games are held every four years and there are over 80 countries in membership of Inas.

Congratulations from all of us in Disability Sport Fife to Sam on his second international selection in a matter of a couple of years. Well done to coach Ron Morrison on producing yet another world class athlete and to everybody in Fife Athletic Club and at Bell Baxter HS who has played a part in Sam’s amazing sporting journey to date. http://www.uksportsassociation.org/…/uksa-announce-cycling…/

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

PKDS Open Lawn Bowls Championships

On Saturday 29th June, bowlers from all over Scotland were welcomed to Blackford Bowling Club for the first ever Perth & Kinross Disability Sport Open Lawn Bowls Championships.

Blackford BC President Stuart McNaughton welcomed everyone to sunny Perthshire before the green was opened up for some fantastic competitive bowls across four categories:

  • Bowlers with a physical disability – wheelchair
  • Bowlers with a physical disability- ambulant
  • Bowlers with a learning disability
  • Bowlers with a visual impairment

The round robin format in each category meant each player got a minimum of three or four games before the top two in each group played off in the final to determine the champion.

Each final was played in great spirits with some brilliant shots determining our champions.

Elizabeth Jackson from Clackmannanshire won the wheelchair section after a great performance against Jim Eadie from Perth & Kinross. Stuart Chesby from Fife won the physical disability – ambulant section defeating Robert McCrackan from Perth & Kinross in the final. Graeme Panton from Perth and Kinross won the learning disability section after a very close final with Ryan Flynn from Forth Valley. Sylvia Johnston from Dundee won the visual impairment section with some great bowls against Lynn Barr from Lanarkshire.

Perth & Kinross Disability Sport Branch Coordinator, Graeme Doig, said: “Thank you to everyone who came along to play and support our first ever disability bowls Championships.

“This event has been a big success with some very competitive bowls and we hope to establish this on the bowling calendar in years to come.

“Thank you to everyone at Blackford Bowling Vlub for their support in organising this event and for the officials, volunteers and sponsors whose contribution helped make this an enjoyable experience for all.”

Ron Anderson, Bowls Development Officer at Blackford added: “We started this journey into supporting people with a disability to get involved in bowls three years with the help of Ron McArthur. We are delighted with the progress made with our coaching sessions and the success of a number of our bowlers at national competitions last year.

“Thank you to everyone who took part and we hope to see everyone again next year.”

Para Bowlers take on Australia at Birmingham 2022 Venue

Bowls Scotland has selected their B2/B3 Mixed Pair and B6/7/8 Open Triple ahead of a test event against Australia. The event will be held at Royal Leamington Spa – which is the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games venue – between Friday 12th July and Sunday 14th July 2019.

The Scottish players will be tested to the full as the Australians are the reigning Commonwealth Champions in both disciplines. Nevertheless, this will provide a great benchmarking opportunity for the Scottish players and coaching staff against arguably the best Para Bowls Nation in the world.

High Performance Para Bowls Co-ordinator, Bob Christie, said: “I’m delighted that our squad have been asked to compete in this test series alongside the mainstream bowlers. It’s a great opportunity for the players to play on the greens that will be hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games against top class opposition. This will assist all the players to continue to develop and gain experience.”

High Performance Coach, David Gourlay MBE, said: “I’m delighted that para-bowls will also be competing in the test series and this is a great opportunity for everyone involved to compete on the greens that will host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.”

The Scotland team is as follows:

B2/B3 Mixed Pair
B3: Robert Barr (Jordanhill BC)
B3: Melanie Inness (Coltbridge BC)

Directors
Sarah Jane Ewing (Abbeyview BC)
Chris Morrow (Willowbank BC)

B6/B7/B8 Triple
B6: George Guthrie (Maryhill BC)
B7: Glen Livingston (Cowdenbeath BC)
B7: Pauline Wilson (Willowbank BC)

SPFA Award for Forth Valley Athlete

The curtain was brought down on Riverside FC Powerchair team’s superb first season on Saturday at the Scottish Powerchair Football Association (SPFA) Annual Awards night at Hampden when Scott McIntyre was awarded the SPFA Breakthrough Player of the Year Award. Well done to Scott – a thoroughly well deserved award.

The team was formed last August when one player turned up at the first training session at Wallace HS. Numbers expanded rapidly and the team now has 10 players who attend training sessions at The Peak on a Monday night at 7.30 – 9pm.

The team plays in the MDUK National Championship and has won a number of matches. This is particularly impressive as the team all use NHS powerchairs and very often they played against teams using top of the range sports powerchairs.  It can seem like trying to run against Usain Bolt at times as the sports chairs are so much faster, but the commitment and will to win and compete are second to none.

The team also got a mention in the Scottish Parliament recently when Bruce Crawford MSP gave them a namecheck on a discussion about powerchair football.

The team would like express their thanks the support and help it has received from Scottish Disability Sport, Active Stirling, Scottish Football Association and everyone at the SPFA. It really is very much appreciated  and without it there is no doubt the team would not be thriving the way that it is.

If you or anyone you know is interested in taking up the sport please contact Ian Anderson on 0779 230 7175.

Grampian Parasport Festival Sees Surge in Attendance

The Grampian region was delighted to welcome 51 participants to this year’s annual Parasport Festival for school-aged pupils with physical & sensory impairments.

The event, held at Aberdeen Sports Village, saw a 71% increase in attendance compared to the 2018 Festival and was the best-attended Festival in Grampian since the shift to focus on participants with physical, visual and hearing impairments from mainstream education who are often greatly underrepresented in sport.

This year’s Festival focused on 8 sports – specially chosen to enable ongoing participation in community sessions in Grampian and to suit the abilities and disability types of those attending: Football; Athletics; Boccia; Table Tennis; Wheelchair Basketball; Bowls; Swimming; and Badminton.

Additionally, this year marked the first Grampian event to feature both a coordinated VIP presentation & tour for key stakeholders and a workshop for parents and teachers to learn more about the athlete journey and the work of SDS. The parent/teacher workshop also featured an inspirational talk by Gary Clow, parent of Grampian Commonwealth Games para athlete, Lewis.

The event would not have been possible for the 50+ amazing volunteers & helpers from Active Schools Aberdeenshire, Active Schools Aberdeen, Live Life Aberdeenshire, Sport Aberdeen, Aberdeen Sports Village, Aberdeen Indoor Bowling Club, Grampian Flyers Wheelchair Basketball Club, Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club, Aberdeen & District Table Tennis Association, Scottish Swimming, Scottish Disability Sport, Scottish Student Sport, BasketballScotland, regional athlete ambassadors, and the wider sports development network. We’re also really thankful for the parents & teachers who took the time to bring along the children they care for.

Initial feedback from the event suggests that the children and adults thoroughly enjoyed & benefitted from the event, and we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back for the 2020 event, which is set to take place in early September.

If you live with a physical, sensory or intellectual disability in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire or Moray (or know someone who does) and would like to get more involved in sport, please get in touch with Alison Shaw on 07828 744 848 or alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Photo courtesy of Marie Gilbert

Growing Numbers for Grampian Bowls Event

The sun was shining at Albury Outdoor Sports Centre, the hospitality was second to none, and the competition was fierce (albeit friendly & with copious amounts of banter) at this year’s Grampian Regional Lawn Bowls Championships.

The qualifying event for Grampian’s bowlers to reach the SDS National Lawn Bowls Championships was highly anticipated amongst the bowls community and saw bowlers with physical, visual and learning disabilities aged 20 – 88 from across Aberdeen City & Shire compete for the top spots on the day & a place at Nationals. The event also saw a tremendous 50% increase in entries compared to the 2018 event.

Thanks to the organisation skills of Grampian’s bowls lead, Kevin Duncan, participants were split into 3 pools for the day (seated bowlers & those using wheelchairs, ambulant bowlers with physical and learning disabilities, and bowlers with visual impairments) and competed in round robin matches against the others in their pool.

Following the event, the players, carers, parents and umpires retired to the club house where local hero & Albury Outdoor Sports Centre volunteer, Agnes MacDonald, ensured that everyone was suitably fed & watered with an afternoon tea. In turn, diners donated over £80 towards the Centre’s funds. The Centre is entirely run by volunteers & managed by Albury Community Sports Hub. SDS, Grampian Disability Sport & the players are eternally grateful to Agnes & her team for continuing to make sure everyone is looked after, both at our annual event & at the weekly Grampian Bowls Squad sessions, which take place on Saturdays from 13:00 – 15:00 at the Centre and are suitable for all ages.

Special mentions from the day go to first-time competitors Reggie Craig & Zoe Kane who performed incredibly well amongst our veteran entrants.

A huge thank you also goes to the team of umpires & markers, without whom the event wouldn’t be possible.

Congratulations to all of the competitors.

Results:

Section A (Seated bowlers & those bowling from wheelchairs)
Gold: Kevin Duncan
Silver: Reggie Craig
Bronze: Kerry Mathers

Section B (Ambulant bowlers)
Gold: Zoe Kane
Silver: Martin Morrison
Bronze: Kelly McDonald

Section C (Visually impaired bowlers)
Gold: Ali Burt
Silver: David Cox
Bronze: Jim Lamb

If you live with a physical, sensory or intellectual disability in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire or Moray (or know someone who does) and would like to get more involved in sport, please get in touch with Alison Shaw on 07828 744 848 or alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com.