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.
Kat Gillies has been a volunteer within disability sport throughout Scotland for over 10 years. Kat started her volunteering journey at Stirling City All Stars Football Team. Following this, Kat found herself moving to Glasgow Disabled Scouts and Kat is now a regular volunteer at the Friday Multi-Sport and Boccia sessions in East Kilbride, representing Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) member branch, South Lanarkshire Disability Sport.
Kat started volunteering for the member branch one year ago and she has very quickly become a prominent figure in their volunteering network and community.
Since joining the branch Kat has decided to devote more time to disability sport throughout the region, with her now sitting on the branch’s committee, being an integral member. Kat has continued to put her hand up for new roles in the branch, joining various subgroups, which are designed to support the development of inclusive opportunities in South Lanarkshire.
Kat’s willingness to be involved in new aspects of the branch is evidence of how much she has enjoyed her time volunteering in disability sport. Kat explained how she would recommend that all people give volunteering a go.
“If you haven’t tried volunteering yet, please get involved. There are clubs out there for everyone and you will find it just as enjoyable and beneficial as I have. There is a reason I’ve been volunteering for over 10 years.”
Throughout this work, volunteering has been a great way for Kat to get involved in many different sporting groups, learning new skills and learning about new sports. Kat has also found herself being positively impacted in many other ways, with her being connected to numerous new and diverse friends and social groups. Kat’s volunteering has been great for increasing her physical activity, resulting in it greatly benefiting her mental health and wellbeing.
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.