To celebrate National Volunteers’ Week (2nd–9th June), SDS are highlighting some of the many volunteers throughout Scotland, Who have devoted time and effort to help provide more opportunities in disability sport throughout their region.
19 year old Kai hunter has become a leading volunteer within Scottish Disability Sport’s (SDS) member branch, Disability Sport Glasgow. Kai has been swimming all of his life and has recently been volunteering with the Glasgow Seals Swimming Team.
Due to Kai’s hard work and ambition he has become one of the main coaches with the Glasgow Seals. This has rubbed off on all of the participants, with all of them enjoying his coaching styles and looking forward to his deliveries.
With Kai also being a current swimmer for Glasgow Seals and West of Scotland, he is recognised by participants and parents as being a fantastic role model, with all members of the club and community admiring his professionalism and love for the sport.
Kai’s love of swimming has now transferred in to his professional life, with him now being a coach for Glasgow council and a lifeguard throughout the city. However, Kai hasn’t let his busy schedule impact his commitments with the club.
Kai explained how his volunteering and coaching have helped him pursue a career in swimming. He said: “My work within the club has helped me to make a career (in swimming), whilst working to the best I can.”
Kai continued to explain how this has helped him with coaching: “This has helped me train and coach my swimmers better.”
Throughout his time volunteering, Kai has developed many more skills, including; confidence, communication, planning, patience and understanding.
One of Kai’s favorite elements of being a volunteer is when being at a competition. Kai loves this due to the buzz and atmosphere at the events. This is also when Kai comes into his own as a volunteer, making sure all of the participants are ready for their races, whilst consistently making sure to provide them with words of encouragement.
A further element of volunteering that Kai enjoys is seeing all of the swimmers develop.
Kai said, “I enjoy volunteering with the seals, as I get to see the swimmers progress and develop. It allows the swimmer’s to keep fit and socialise.”
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
If you would be interested in volunteering within disability sport in Scotland, check out all the current opportunities on the SDS website, here.
SDS NATIONAL EXHIBITION EVENT
If you would be interested in finding out more about SDS and how sport and physical activity can support you, sign up to attend SDS’s first ever National Exhibition Event. The event is free and is being held at the University of Stirling on Saturday 14th June. The event will allow people from all over Scotland to interact with all elements of SDS in one place.
You can also find out more about what sporting opportunities are available in your community by contacting your Regional Development Manager. To keep up-to-date on all of the ongoing work, make sure to follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, X and Instagram, as well as on the SDS website.