Some brief thoughts from Disability Sport Fife
Greetings fellow Branch members, friends, and partners. These are tough times for us all and we can only do what we can do and hope that it is enough to see us through to the “new normal”. As we are based in a Fife Sports and Leisure Trust leisure centre, Disability Sport Fife has not had access to office space, computers, files etc. The Association has been run form my home with our major communication medium being the DSF Facebook page www.facebook.com/disabilitysportfife. Interestingly and surprisingly we now have 6,200 followers and rising by the day which makes our efforts more meaningful and worthwhile. In response to Jen’s plea for Branch information I thought I would share with you what we have been up to over these past few months.
- Our virtual Annual Awards had an attendance of 107, largest number to date. DSF (SCIO) has continued to hold Board of Charity Trustees meetings and we recently managed to squeeze in our AGM within 15 months of the 2019 event. The Fife Disabled Sports Trust AGM was also held during lockdown and we have submitted applications for funding and received a few significant donations. We continue to prepare for the introduction of two part time coordinators with support from Fife Council and the Robertson Trust. Non access to the office has slowed down our plans but we are in regular contact with FSLT and live for the day. Key of course is to open our activity sessions as soon as possible and coaches, volunteers and peer mentor volunteers are standing by. The decision rests with FSLT and significant others but opening date cannot come soon enough.
- As far as the Facebook page is concerned, I have tried to keep it fresh and interesting and have managed up to six submissions daily. I receive and upload submissions from families, individuals and partners and try to tell their stories on how they have retained their commitment to physical activity including sport. It has been an opportunity to write about people, organisations and events in the past that have shaped the present and our future. I have extended the net across Scotland and attempted to include great Scots who have achieved great things in my 40 plus years in disability sport. Maybe it is because I studied history for so long that I feel committed to looking back to looking forward. We have much to be proud of as a Branch but Scotland has so much more to be proud of as a nation.
- DSF has tried to encourage our members to be active during lockdown. Some of our coaches have run brilliant virtual sessions and I have publicised daily the brilliant programme offered by Fife Sports and Leisure Trust and other national agencies. DSF has tapped into the SDS programme of events, talks, workshops, webinars etc and when asked Fife tutors have contributed to the national programme. It is a productive way of working but hopefully will not replace the face to face contact that we are used to. Some Fife coaches and volunteers have continued to promote walking and running/pushing/adapted cycling as a way of life. Walk buddies have been active and several coaches and volunteers have created virtual social occasions with quality outcomes.
The longer non access to the office goes on the more challenging it will be to sustain these short-term measures. I do not doubt that other Branches have similar challenges, but I thought it might be useful to share our experiences. DSF has remained active, committed, enthusiastic and I cannot thank my fellow Trustees, athletes, coaches, volunteers, peer mentor volunteers and partners for their support and commitment. DSF remains a strong SDS Branch and we look forward to meeting up with you all at the Annual Branch Conference.
Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees