Disability Sport Fife relies on partnerships and there are few that compare with the partnership we enjoy with Health and Social Care in Fife. Since the mid 70s, the three community support services in Fife (previously Fife day centres) have played a key role in the development of disability sport in Fife. Many adults with additional support needs associated with these agencies have represented Fife locally, nationally and internationally with great distinction.
It is not so much the agencies but the staff and service users within these agencies that have really made the difference. On March 15,th Brain Herd the Community Support Coordinator at East Fife Community Support Services will retire. Brian has been an outstanding ally of Disability Sport Fife in all the various roles he has played within Fife Council Social Work Services and Health and Social Care. Brain will be greatly missed and I have no doubt that the exceptionally strong relationship that DSF enjoys with this area of Health and Social Care is due to Brian’s belief in DSF as an asset to EFCSS service users.
For over 30 years DSF has had the privilege of benefitting from the skills and abilities of Brian Herd. As well as being a support coach to the Robert Gough Centre members, Brian travelled with Fife and Scottish teams throughout Great Britain and overseas to Northern Ireland and Spain. Brian was one of a small number of Scots to be selected as an athletics coach for the one and only Paralympic Games for athletes with a learning disability in Madrid in 1992. Brian played a significant role in support of DSF when Fife Special Olympics was part of the responsibilities of DSF. Selecting, preparing and funding Fife SO teams was a major challenge for all of us but made easier because of Fife Council staff like Brian Herd.
East Fife CSS and the Robert Gough Centre have always been active members of DSF. Brain Herd has always been supportive of the DSF mission and where possible has facilitated the involvement of EFCSS service users. The legacy of Brian Herd is a strong community support service and lots of active adults with additional support needs of all ages and abilities who enjoy active recreation including sport.
Thank you Brian for years of support, encouragement, friendship and expertise. You will be greatly missed by all of us associated with Disability Sport Fife.
Richard Brickley MBE – Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees