Tag: administrator

Photo of Grace smiling to the camera. She has a bright orange backpack on her back, holding on to the strap over her right shoulder with one arm. She is wearing a dark blue top that says Scottish Disability Sport and sportscotland on it, in white text. Her blond hair is tied in a low ponytail and she has on red rimmed glasses. She is standing in front of a backdrop that has the Enable, Scottish Government, Europe in Action Glasgow 2024 logos on.

Grace Lawther: Advocating for Young People with Disabilities.

By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer

 

Grace Lawther joins the Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) team, taking up the role of the Young Persons’ Sport Panel (YPSP) Administrator.

“I am really looking forward to everything from an insights point of view, getting to understand how the organisation runs and gaining an understanding of what everyone does,” said Grace.

Grace steps in to the role as a current member of SDS’s YPSP, a position she has held for the previous two years and one that she has thoroughly enjoyed.

“When we go down to Inverclyde (for the YPSP residential) and spend a weekend there, that is a real highlight. It is very nice to spend time in person.  We don’t get that often as the panel is made up of people from all over Scotland,” she explained.

“It is also a very independent experience. When I first went down to the residential I hadn’t spent a night away without them (her parents) and so I was very independent however, I knew I was going to be supported a lot throughout,” Grace commented.

Grace’s time on the panel definitely influenced her decision to apply for the administrator role.

“I just felt like I had a lot to offer. It’s a lot better when someone has been on the panel, they really understand everything from both perspectives,” Grace said.

With the current cohort of YPSP panel members having started their third and final year on the panel, Grace feels like there is a fantastic opportunity waiting to be grasped.

“It feels like there is a lot to be done, everyone is really excited as we are stepping into our third year.”

With this opportunity, Grace wants everyone on the panel to be able to look back fondly. She said, “I want everybody to be able to leave with really positive memories.”

On top of making sure that all panel members continue to have a positive final year, Grace would love to encourage and support panel members to be able to stay involved in disability sport throughout Scotland.

“The YPSP is such a great experience and I would like people to stay involved, whether it is in their local areas or with SDS,” she explained.

Grace has also really enjoyed the social aspect of being a panel member. She said, “It is very exciting, as I do feel like I am going to know these people for a very long time.”

Grace continued to explain that she is extremely grateful for this.  After seeing how long these friendships can last for.

“The first time I went to SDS’s Branch Conference and Annual General Meeting, Laura Pilkington and Grace Stirling (both former YPSP members) were there and they were both just sitting and chatting. I can remember thinking, it would be really nice if I can make some friends like that,” said Grace.

As well as the panel impacting Grace socially, she feels like being on the YPSP has helped her develop many skills.

“I joined the panel when I was 18, it just gave me so much confidence. SDS just really showed that people care and want to listen to what you have to say.”

Grace believes that some of the experiences as a panel member, have helped her confidence: “Outside of the residential, my favourite part of being on the panel has to have been getting to deliver some talks with SDS,” said Grace.

A particular project that members of the YPSP have been working on has been completing Euan’s Guide reviews for sport facilities, including the Inverclyde sport center. This is a task that both SDS and the YPSP are passionate about for its purpose is to increase reviews of sport facilities to accurately inform and reassure individuals with disabilities which facilities within their areas are accessible.

This is a particular project that Grace is looking forward to progressing with over the coming year. She said, “I am really looking to help people on the panel to start to do this.”

 

If you are interested in finding out more about Euan’s Guide, you can do so by visiting their website.

To find out how you can get involved in disability sport throughout your area as a participant, coach, official or volunteer, contact your Regional Development Manager.

To keep up to date with all things disability sport across Scotland, follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Photo of Grace smiling to camera. She is wearing a pink jacket and is standing in front of a river. Boats are sitting on the water and on the other side of the river is a street of multi coloured houses.

Grace Thrives in New Role as YPSP Administrator

Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you applied for the role of the Young Person’s Sport Panel (YPSP) Administrator?  

 I am currently going into my final year as a Sport Studies student at Stirling Uni.  I’m a past member of the SDS YPSP and current member of both the sportscotland YPSP and Forth Valley Disability Sport YPSP.  I’m also a FitForGirls tutor with sportscotland and a tutor with SDS. 

Growing up with a disability and participating in sport as a Para swimmer, I have experienced many different barriers and challenges which have driven my passion for inclusion and my desire to make a difference to the sporting world.  I joined the Young Start programme at a time where I wasn’t sure where I fitted in sport as I had recently dropped out of swimming but the Young Start programme and the SDS  YPSP provided me with a new purpose and a love for volunteering. The confidence I gained through the Young Start programme and the YPSP encouraged me to get involved in other opportunities out with disability sport.  When I graduate next year, I plan on working within sport fulltime. 

 I applied for the role of YPSP administrator because I wanted to give back to the panel which had given me so much. I know the importance of the role that the YPSP administrator has on the YPSP members and I wanted to ensure that the panel members get the most out of their time on the panel.  I want to ensure that the current YPSP members have the same and if not better experience than I had on the YPSP. 

 

 What have you been up to since starting the new role? Are you enjoying it? 

Since starting the role, I have been catching up on what the YPSP have done so far and what they would like to do in the future. I want to make sure I listen to YPSP members and understand the opportunities they want to participate in during their time on the panel.  I was grateful to have people who listened to me during my time on the panel.  The YPSP have been busy creating lots of videos for social media, and I have loved working with them – it is great to hear them share their story!  I also enjoyed getting to know the YPSP members and look forward to our first meeting together in July.  We also have an in-person day at the end of July, so it will be lovely to meet everyone in person.  

 

Why do you think it is important for SDS to have a YPSP?  

I’m a huge advocate for the importance of listening to and valuing the voice of young people.  I am passionate about the impact the voice of young people can have and the way we can use it to make a difference to sport.  I believe it is important for SDS to have a YPSP because it provides SDS with the chance to speak and listen to the first-hand and current experiences of people with a disability.  Young people also offer a different perspective and they are the future generation, therefore it is important that organisations like SDS ensure that their work considers the needs and interests of young people.  Having a YPSP also provides young people with the opportunity to feel like they are making a real difference to their sporting experience, their community and for those around them. 

  

Do you think this role will help you develop your skills and if so, why?  

This role will allow me to gain so many different experiences and skills which will benefit and support me in my future career in sport.  I believe that you are always growing and developing as a person and I’m excited to see what I will learn and how I will grow in this role.  One opportunity that this role offers is the chance to work directly in collaboration and partnership with both my SDS colleagues and external organisations, in order to offer a range of opportunities for the YPSP. This will provide me with the chance to learn about a range of organisations and I’m looking forward to being able to grow my network within the sporting sector. 

 

 Why do you think young people should get involved in the YPSP?  

The YPSP is a fantastic opportunity to meet other young people who have a disability and who are like-minded and have a passion to make a difference to disability sport.  The YPSP provides young people with so many different opportunities to gain new skills, knowledge and experiences which will benefit them throughout their life.  YPSP members can influence disability sport at the highest level in Scotland, and SDS welcomes and values their thoughts, opinions, beliefs and experiences in their work! The YPSP was such a positive experience for myself and I got to experience so many different things that I wouldn’t have thought possible! It gave me confidence and self-belief which has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. The YPSP opened so many doors for me and has encouraged me to follow my passion to change sport for the better!