Nationwide Celebration of Getting Active in Scotland

Scottish Disability Sport Week aims to highlight how and why everyone in Scotland with a disability should get active. 

From Monday 25th November to Sunday 1st December, there will be a Nationwide celebration of getting active and involved in disability sport in Scotland, through a predominantly online campaign called Scottish Disability Sport Week (SDSW). The campaign concludes just ahead of the United Nations’ International Day of Persons with a Disability on the 3rd. 

SDSW was launched last year (2023) and received widespread engagement across Scotland.  Over 50 Partners, local authorities and branches across the country have committed to the campaign alongside SDS (Scottish Disability Sport). The campaign aims to highlight and promote the opportunities and the impact physical activity can have on individuals, communities, clubs and society across Scotland.  

The SDSW will also provide a platform to showcase the intersectionality of participants within disability sport and share the message that everyone can participate in sport.   

Scottish Disability Sport’s CEO, Gavin MacLeod, said: “Scottish Disability Sport is delighted to be working closely with a diverse range of partners from across Scotland to co-ordinate the inaugural Scottish Disability Sport Week. This partnership approach will provide us with a strong platform to communicate the massive benefits of participation in physical activity and sport for people with disabilities.” 

The week-long campaign aims to encourage people with disabilities to improve their wellbeing by being more physically active, in a way that suits them.  

MacLeod added, “It will highlight the wide variety of opportunities available across the country and it is our hope that this campaign will encourage more people with disabilities, from all communities and backgrounds, to become more active.” 

Each day of the week will be centered around a specific theme to provide a focused discussion. Monday will explore the benefits of getting active and participating in disability sports, Tuesday’s theme addresses overcoming barriers, Wednesday looks at intersectionality, Thursday highlights the impact of clubs and communities, and Friday gives guidance on next steps. Across Saturday and Sunday, people are encouraged to continue the conversation by sharing their own stories of how they get active.

The campaign builds on the success of the previous, award-winning Be Active Be Well programme, run by SDS and SAMH, that provided online activity and wellbeing sessions.  

To get involved and stay updated on Scottish Disability Sport Week, make sure to follow SDS across social media and the website: Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram.