Age: 36

Home town: Hamilton, South Lanarkshire

Sport: Boccia

Events: BC4 Individual & BC4 Pairs

Classification: BC4

Name of club: Boccia UK

Coach: Claire Morrison

When and how did you get involved in sport?
I got involved with boccia back in 2005 as I had a passion for the Paralympic Games. My dream was to compete for ParalympicsGB at a major championships and through researching the Scottish Disability Sport website I came across boccia. The GB lead coach at the time was also the Scottish coach Jacqueline Lynn who invited me along to try. It was the perfect fit for me and since then I have played international each year.

Career highlights:

• 2016 Individual World Champion
• 2017 Individual European Champion
• 2017 World Open Champion
• 2017- 2018 World Number One
• 13x British Champion
• 9x Scottish Champion
• 5x World Open Champion

How many Paralympic Games have you competed in?
London 2012, Rio 2016 & Tokyo 2020

What are your ambitions in Tokyo?
My ambition in Tokyo is to reach the podium. We have a young squad which is filled with potential, mixed with experience. I have finished 4th a few times at Paralympic level and would like to reach the podium in Tokyo.

Do you have one bit of advice for an aspiring athlete?
Do what you love, follow your passion. There is a pathway for many sports, find what you enjoy then seek out a local club.

Twitter: @bocciabhoy

Facebook: Steph McGuire

Instagram: bocciabhoy

Age: 21

Home town: Strathpeffer, Highland

Sport: Cycling

Events: Pursuit, Road Race & Time Trial

Classification: C3

Coach: Currently John Hewitt, previously Andrew Pink, Dave Daniell & Steve Cronshaw

When and how did you get involved in sport?
I have been involved with sport from a very young age! Grew up close to the MTB trails of Glentress in Peebles which was amazing to have that right on the doorstep so was so good in the development of my riding.

Career highlights:

Winning my first world cups in Canada in 2019! Bronze medal at the recent road world championships in Portugal and also being selected for the upcoming Paralympics.

How many Paralympic Games have you competed in?
This will be my first.

What are your ambitions in Tokyo?
As it’s my first I don’t want to put to much pressure on myself but I would love to come away with some silverware but I’m just looking forward to the experience and giving it my all and then if a result comes from that it’s a bonus!

Do you have one bit of advice for an aspiring athlete?
I think the main bit that I always remind myself is just to enjoy it! Yes there are big races but in the end it’s just another race and you’ve done plenty before so you know what you’re doing and if you go in stressing you are not going to come away with the best performance. Nerves are a good thing but not when it is detrimental to your performance.

Twitter: @FinGparacyclist

Facebook: @FinGparacyclist

Instagram: fin_graham22

Age: 35

Home town: Edinburgh

Sport: Paratriathlon

Classification: Guide

Coach: Alasdair Donaldson

When and how did you get involved in sport?
I swam as a kid to a national level and rowed at university so have always been involved in sport. When I moved to Edinburgh 12 years ago I started doing triathlon for fun and as a way to meet new people.

Career highlights:

• Guiding Alison Peasgood to Paralympic silver in the Rio Paratriathlon.

How many Paralympic Games have you competed in?
Rio 2016 & Tokyo 2020

What are your ambitions in Tokyo?
To support my athlete as best as possible. With the climate being pretty extreme I think the event is wide open.

Do you have one bit of advice for an aspiring athlete?
Remember to enjoy the training and competing and appreciate the people you meet along the way.

Twitter: @babygiraffe42

Instagram: @babygiraffe42

Age: 30

Home town: Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway

Sport: Archery

Events: Individuals & Mixed Team

Classification: Compound Open

Name of club: Balbardie Archers

Coach: Rikki Bingham

When and how did you get involved in sport?
My father and myself started shooting as a way to spend time together before my accident.

Career highlights:

• European Silver

How many Paralympic Games have you competed in?
Rio 2016 & Tokyo 2020

What are your ambitions in Tokyo?
Bring home the bling.

Do you have one bit of advice for an aspiring athlete?
Be patient and persevere, no one is world class when they first start.

Twitter: nathanmacarcher

Facebook: nathanmacarcher

Instagram: nathanmacparaarcher

Age: 26

Home town: Dundonald, South Ayrshire

Sport: Boccia

Events: BC3 Singles & BC3 Pairs

Classification: BC3

Name of club: Boccia UK

Coach: Glynn Tromans

When and how did you get involved in sport?
I met a Scotland coach (now Boccia UK Coach Claire Morrison) at a disability sports come and try event who asked me to attend Scotland national team training and see the sport. Things progressed from there and the rest is history.

Career highlights:

• BC4 2012 British Champion
• BC4 2013 European Pairs Champion
• BC3 2018 British Champion
• BC3 2017 European Singles Champion
• Rio 2016 Paralympian
• Represented my country in 2 classifications.

How many Paralympic Games have you competed in?
Rio 2016 & Tokyo 2020

What are your ambitions in Tokyo?
Win a medal and get on the podium at the very least.

Do you have one bit of advice for an aspiring athlete?
Be prepared to work hard and always listen to your instincts (gut feeling) when making decisions.

Twitter: @JamieMcCowan3

Facebook: Jamie McCowan

Age: 30

Home town: Exeter, Devon

Sport: Wheelchair Basketball

Classification: 4.0

Coaches: Simon Fisher, Steve Caine

When and how did you get involved in sport?
I started playing when I was 16 in 2007 at the local wheelchair basketball club, Exeter Otters. Within a year I had been long listed for the Beijing Paralympics and was selected for my first European Championships in 2009.

Career highlights:

• 2x Paralympian 2012 and 2016, soon to be three time
• 2nd in Europe and the World

How many Paralympic Games have you competed in?
2

What are your ambitions in Tokyo?
The team is going out there with the intentions of putting out our best performances and believe this will put us in a position to come home with a medal.

Do you have one bit of advice for an aspiring athlete?
Respect the grind, nobody is world class over night. Remember to look at where you’ve come from and appreciate the journey, don’t focus on the end result too much.

Twitter: @hamer_jude

Instagram: @Jude_hamer

Photo courtesy of Will Johnston and British Wheelchair Basketball

Age: 42

Home town: Blairgowrie, Perth & Kinross

Sport: Shooting

Events: R2 & R8

Classification: Sh1a

Name of club: Alloa & District Shooting Club

Coach: Andrew Ross

When and how did you get involved in sport?

2011 after injury in Army.

Career highlights:

• 2013 European silver medal in R8
• 2021 Bronze medal and quota place secured at Lima Shooting World Cup

How many Paralympic Games have you competed in?
Tokyo 2020

What are your ambitions in Tokyo?
To be on the podium. To leave the games a stronger person.

Do you have one bit of advice for an aspiring athlete?
Never give up on your dreams.

Recruiting body: Highland Disability Sport

Closing Date: 1 February 2021

Highland Disability Sport (HDS) is a voluntary sport group where the main aim is to lead in the development of sport for people with physical, sensory or learning disabilities in partnership with key local agencies, High Life Highland and Highland Council. HDS is a member branch of Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) who are the governing body of sport for athletes and players with a physical, sensory or learning disability. HDS have achieved SDS Minimum Operating Requirements (MOR) which ensures all governance is up to date and appropriate. The committee of HDS now wishes to appoint new committee members to join the branch.

Role Title – Committee Member (voluntary)

Organisation – Highland Disability Sport (HDS)

Responsible to – Highland Disability Sport Executive Committee

Location – Highland

Contract – This is a voluntary position. Committee members will be expected to attend branch meetings (held 4-6 times per year), support the branch to maintain SDS Minimum Operating Requirements and support the chairperson in driving the branch forward. Committee members may be asked to lead on a specific role and/or support ad-hoc projects within the branch The Level of time commitment is flexible and will be tailored to suit the applicant’s current commitments and the needs of the branch.

Term – Co-opted until AGM in late 2021. with option of election for future years

Skills Required and main duties:

• Excellent communication skills
• Enthusiasm
• Well organised
• Attend Board meetings and report back on matters arising if required
• Attend Extraordinary and Annual General Meetings as required
• Contribute to decision making when necessary
• Passionate about the development of disability sport and a strong commitment to work towards the development of sustainable opportunities for people with a disability to take part in sport and physical activity
• Support the Chairperson in the work of HDS

 What we offer you

• Training opportunities
• A variety of roles and responsibilities suited to your particular skill set and interests
• The opportunity to make a difference to children and adults with disabilities
• A volunteer experience where you help to maximise potential for every athlete with a disability

Applications

All applicants should send a note of interest or curriculum vitae to Kirsty Ewen on Kirsty.ewen@scottishdisabilitysport.com detailing why you are interested in the role and any relevant skills and experience.

ACTIVITY & WELLBEING PRACTITIONER X 2

1 SPORT PRACTITIONER / 1 ACTIVITY PRACTITIONER

Help for Heroes believe those who serve our country deserve support when they are wounded. Every day, men and women must leave their career in the Armed Forces as a result of physical or psychological wounds; their lives changed forever. Help for Heroes help them, and those still serving, to recover and get on with their lives.

Do you enjoy working within the community and have experience of developing community-based opportunities in activity and sport? Do you have a proven track record in developing and nurturing organisational and individual partnerships? Do you have experience of working with the veteran community? If you are keen to join this world leading military charity as it develops its new community-based recovery programmes this could be the role for you.

About the Role

This is a community-based position with an element of home working across one or more regions. The successful candidate would develop and deliver community-based opportunities in fellowship, Activity and sport to veterans and their families.

The programmes you will offer veterans and their families will provide quality interventions to combat social isolation, increase activity levels, develop peer support schemes, social networks, and opportunities to engage with the wider community.

About the Team

The Activity Sport and Fellowship team consists of 4 staff who are accountable for the delivery of sport activity and fellowship across Scotland and Northern Ireland. Team members are enthusiastic, compassionate, professional, and dedicated to developing and delivering a high-quality cost-effective community-based recovery programme.

If you feel you are the right person to develop this challenging role then please apply here!

Job Advert

Job Description: Activity & Wellbeing Practitioner – Sport

Job Description: Activity & Wellbeing Practitioner – Activity