Tag: disability

01/06/2026

Impacting Lives Through Sport: John McClelland’s Story

By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer

Growing up able bodied, John McClellend didn’t expect to have his life turned upside down at the age of 43 when he was diagnosed with chronic lung condition. His treatment and high dose of steroids damaged his bones, which resulted in John ending up in a wheelchair. In 2014, John turned to disability sport to help navigate this transition; adapt to his new way of life and meet new people.

Today, aged 56, John finds himself devoting his time to ensure that others have access to the same opportunities. He said, “I really enjoy the volunteering side of it, as I get a lot out of sport, so it is good to give back.”

Having volunteered in several sports across Dumfries and Galloway, John has seen people be impacted by all the benefits sport can provide and the joy that it brings.

“I’ve been working with a young lady who is nonverbal and she has an amazing time in boccia and she is jumping about in her wheelchair. She is having a lot of fun, and that is enough for me,” said John.

Along with being a key volunteer throughout the region, John has had an incredibly impressive career when competing, becoming a National Champion in Wheelchair Curling in 2024. A moment he looks back on with immense pride.

“Yeah, it was really good. I had won the silver the year before, and the year before that. I won it just after Covid-19, so it was great to be up in that area of competition,” John said.

Just like he has seen when he is out volunteering, John gained a lot of benefits through participating. One of the elements he most enjoyed though, was getting the competitive fires roaring, saying: “As an athlete I quite enjoy the competition side of it because I’ve got quite a competitive nature.”

Following his successes on the curling rink, John was elected to Chair of the Scottish Wheelchair Curling Association. He has put his energies into growing the sport.

“One of my big things, was to raise the profile and to get it out more. I got the local TV, ITV Borders, to come along and to do a few of the games,” John said.

A recent volunteering highlight for John, was when he helped coach the Team UK in Wheelchair Curling at the Invictus Games in Canada. John helped train the team over the course of a year, passing on all the tricks of the trade.

The work that John and all of the other coaches put in paid off, with the team delivering a fantastic performance, narrowly missing out on gold.

He said: “It was really good. It was the first time it had ever been in the Invictus Games as it was the first winter sport hybrid games and to do it out in Canada in Vancouver last year was great. I felt really proud of the guys, for all of the work that they had put in. All of the training camps, they really did themselves proud.”

He continued to say: “It was good to sit there and watch them [the team] grow, to see the smiles on their faces and just to see them generally come on.”

As John continues to volunteer, he finds himself being impacted in many ways. Recently, he has found volunteering to be a great source of education: “It’s been good to give me a lot of knowledge of different types of disabilities, how people function with them and how they overcome barriers.”

To ensure longevity of sport throughout the region, John has joined the board of Scottish Disability Sport’s Member Branch, Dumfries and Galloway Disability Sport. Here, he is keen to help reach as many people as possible, saying: “I enjoy it, where we are down here in Dumfries and Galloway, it can be one of these forgotten corners, so it’s just about getting the word out there that there are things out there for people to do and we do have a lot of things running here.”

Having committed countless hours to volunteering, and seeing how sport impacts people daily, he would urge more individuals to try volunteering throughout their region.

John said: “I would recommend volunteering to anybody; you will always get some sort of enjoyment from it. I’ve never met anybody who hasn’t got anything from it.”

A group photo of people in wheelchairs and some people standing behind them, on the wheelchair curling ice sheet. They are Team UK wheelchair curling team. John McClelland is on the far left.

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

25/05/2026

Parties in Power: What Shapes Priorities

By Mark Gaffney, Head of Policy at Scottish Disability Sport

While whichever party is in control undoubtedly frames legislative direction, influence in Scotland is more nuanced than simple majority rule.

The governing party (or parties) set budgets, shape national strategies (such as sport and health frameworks), and control most legislative time.
Opposition parties influence through First Minster Questions (FMQs), scrutiny, amendments, and committee work.
Smaller parties and individual MSPs can exercise disproportionate influence where parliamentary margins are tight.

For disability sport, this creates several practical realities:

Policy Windows Are Political

Investment in inclusive sport and physical activity often aligns with broader agendas—public health improvement, tackling inequality, or community regeneration. Engagement is most effective when framed within those priorities rather than positioned as a standalone “special interest.” Historically – and indeed, currently – the challenge has been to get the Scottish Government and opposition parties to see sport as a priority area. This remains the central challenge for SGBs and other associated organisations in Scotland.

Cross-Party Support Matters

Disability sport rarely divides along party lines, but it can fall between them if not actively championed. Building relationships across parties increases the likelihood that:

Issues are raised in debates regardless of who is in power
Amendments are supported during budget negotiations
Committee inquiries include disability-specific evidence

Committees Are Critical

Much of the meaningful work happens away from headline debates. Committees covering health, education, and social justice are key sites where disability sport concerns—such as access, funding equity, or data gaps—can be formally examined. This is why evidencing impact through data, research and insights is important.

Engagement Through a Disability Sport Lens

If the structures of power are complex, so too must be the approaches to engagement. Disability sport provides a particularly strong framework because it connects visibility, participation, and rights.

From Storytelling to Evidence

Personal stories matter—but on their own they are often insufficient to drive policy change. Effective engagement pairs lived experience with:

Participation data (who is excluded and why)
Cost-benefit analysis (e.g. preventative health savings)
Comparisons with non-disabled participation rates
Strength in numbers – join forces with organisations with similar aims and objectives

MSPs—especially those in committees—respond to evidence that can shape policy, not just illustrate gaps.

Local Anchoring, National Framing

A wheelchair user unable to access a local sports hall is a constituency issue. But when that story is repeated across regions, it becomes a national policy failure.

The most effective engagement strategies:

Start with constituency MSPs to resolve or highlight the issue
Escalate through regional MSPs and party spokespeople
Feed into committee evidence, cross-party groups and national campaigns

This layered approach mirrors how decisions are made.

Aligning With Existing Policy Agendas

Disability sport gains traction when linked to broader government priorities. For example:

Health: Positioning participation as reducing long-term NHS demand
Education: Highlighting inclusive PE and transitions into lifelong sport
Economy: Emphasising employment pathways within sport for disabled people

This alignment makes it harder for policymakers to treat disability sport as optional.

Barriers to Engagement Still Persist

Despite structural opportunities, there remain persistent barriers:

Accessibility of political processes: Meetings, consultations, and documents are not always accessible or inclusive (although improvements have been made recently)
Capacity of disabled people’s organisations: Many are under-resourced and cannot sustain ongoing engagement
Fragmentation: Sport, health, and disability policy often operate in silos

These barriers mean that opportunities for influence are unevenly distributed—and often exclude those most affected.

What Should Change in This Parliamentary Term

If the post‑election period is to deliver meaningful progress for disability sport, three shifts are needed:

Proactive Outreach by MSPs

Rather than relying on organisations to initiate engagement, MSPs—both constituency and regional—should actively build relationships with disability sport groups and participants, so feel free to hold them accountable for doing so.

Embedding Disability Sport in Scrutiny

Committees should consistently examine inclusion within sport, not as an occasional topic but as a recurring accountability issue.

Supporting Participation in Decision-Making

This includes:

Funding for representative organisations
Accessible consultation processes
Paid opportunities for disabled people to contribute expertise

A System That Requires Navigation—and Change

The Scottish Parliament offers multiple routes to influence, but they are not always obvious or equally accessible. For those working in disability sport, success depends on understanding how constituency advocacy, regional influence, and party dynamics interact.

The challenge after this election is not simply whether disability sport appears in policy documents—it is whether disabled people can consistently shape those policies at every level.

Because real inclusion in sport is not achieved on the field, court or sports hall alone. It is built in how decisions are made, who is heard, and whether power is genuinely shared and proportionate.

Scottish Disability Sport has launched a four-point Call to Action that calls on organisations across Scotland to take urgent action to remove the significant barriers faced by people with a disability in accessing sport and physical activity.

The four-point Call to Action follows the publication of a new national survey by SDS, which highlights the ongoing inequalities experienced by people with a disability and the impact this has on their quality of life.

Key actions called for include:

Plan to Include
Deliver an inclusive whole system approach
A benefits and social care system that equips individuals to be active
Champion intersectionality through a person-centred approach

More information about the Call to Action, can be found via this link: https://scottishdisabilitysport.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/BC-and-AGM-CTA-Presentation_PDF-for-Website.pdf

View the key findings of the National Survey can be found via this link: https://scottishdisabilitysport.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SDS-National-Survey-Findings-CEO-Circulation.pdf.

25/05/2026

Mapping Power and Access Following Scottish Election

Mapping Power and Access: Disability Sport, MSPs and the Routes to Engagement After the Scottish Election

By Mark Gaffney, Head of Policy at Scottish Disability Sport

The post‑election landscape in Scotland is not just defined by which party holds power, but by how that power is distributed between constituency MSPs, regional MSPs, and parliamentary committees. For disabled people—particularly those engaged in or excluded from sport—understanding this architecture can be crucial. Influence does not sit in one place, and neither do opportunities for change.

This is especially true for disability sport, which cuts across portfolios: health, education, transport, local government, and social justice. Any serious effort to improve access and participation depends on how effectively these levers are used—and how well disabled people can engage with those holding them.

Constituency vs Regional MSPs: Different Roles, Different Levers

Scotland’s Additional Member System creates two types of MSPs with distinct but complementary roles:

Constituency MSPs are directly elected and often act as primary casework advocates (i.e. support offered if someone in their constituency needs support). They are typically the most visible and locally embedded representatives.
Regional MSPs are elected from party lists to ensure proportionality, often covering broader areas and multiple constituencies.

For disability sport, this distinction matters.

Constituency MSPs tend to be the most effective route for:

Raising local issues such as inaccessible leisure facilities, transport barriers to clubs, or funding decisions by councils
Supporting grassroots organisations clubs and campaigning alongside local organisations
Convening local stakeholders (health boards, councils, schools)

Regional MSPs, meanwhile, are often better placed to:

Bring recurring issues across multiple areas into parliamentary debate
Champion systemic change (e.g. national funding models, Active Scotland priorities)
Sit on committees shaping legislation and scrutinising government policy

Too often, engagement efforts focus only on constituency MSPs. A more strategic approach—particularly for disability sport organisations— will use both and remains the challenge for SDS and its member branches: localised evidence paired with regional amplification.

Key actions called for include:

Plan to Include
Deliver an inclusive whole system approach
A benefits and social care system that equips individuals to be active
Champion intersectionality through a person-centred approach

More information about the Call to Action, can be found via this link: https://scottishdisabilitysport.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/BC-and-AGM-CTA-Presentation_PDF-for-Website.pdf

View the key findings of the National Survey can be found via this link: https://scottishdisabilitysport.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SDS-National-Survey-Findings-CEO-Circulation.pdf.

25/05/2026

Overview of the Scottish Election Results

Total MSPs: 129 (65 needed for majority). Result (seats):

SNP (Scottish National Party): 58
Labour: 17
Reform UK: 17
Scottish Greens: 15
Conservatives: 12
Liberal Democrats: 10

Key takeaways

SNP remains largest party but short of a majority.
Opposition is fragmented, with Labour and Reform tied second.
Conservatives saw a major decline, while Greens and Lib Dems made gains

Policy context: disability & social care

Adult Disability Payment (ADP): Scotland’s replacement for PIP, providing support for daily living and mobility needs regardless of income.
Designed to be less assessment‑heavy and more person‑centred than UK benefits.
Self‑Directed Support (SDS): enables people to control social care budgets (often linked to participation, including sport and community activities—highlighted in policy discussions with MSPs).
One of Scottish Disability Sport’s key asks within the Call to Action is for a consistency of approach in removing policy barriers to physical activity and sport using the devolved powers of Adult/ Child Disability Payments and Self-Directed Support

Notable impacts in elected members

Shortly after John Swinney was confirmed as the First Minister following the procedural voting he announced a slimmed down Cabinet. Some familiar faces returned and others were shuffled about a bit. Neil Gray moves from health to justice with Angela Constance taking on the health and care Cabinet post. Given Angela Constance’s background as a social worker and mental health officer there is an obvious route to engagement and a potential sympathetic ear to the plight of people with disabilities and the barriers to sport and physical activity they face through their benefits having overseen the development of Scotland’s devolved social security system.

Shirley-Anne Somerville retains her role with social justice and housing but Jenny Gilruth moves on from education to become the Deputy FM with a finance and local government oversight. Mairi McAllan continues her impressive rise by securing the education portfolio. With no obvious background in the sector it is set to be a baptism of fire for her given the rhetoric surrounding the SNP’s performance on improving education in their twenty-years in power. The pragmatic Ivan McKee is elevated to a Cabinet post with a view to potentially beginning to broach the oft-mentioned £5 billion shortfall annual spending gap.

Sport retains an explicit reference in a junior ministerial position, as it was within the last Scottish Government and, as widely expected, the previous incumbent Maree Todd has been awarded this area again with a slightly wider portfolio of Minister for mental wellbeing, public health, sport, alcohol & drugs policy. Although missing out in her constituency, Maree was elected via the Regional list.

Another junior minister that will certainly hold a relevance to the areas of work are Simita Kumar who follows Kaukab Stewart as the Minister for Equalities. Kaukab was an ally for disability sport and SDS engaged strongly with her team through the implementation of the first phase of the Disability Equality Plan which resulted in a successful bid to the Improving Access Fund to support young people in accessing coaching and leadership opportunities in sport.

As we know, disability cuts across a number of portfolio areas so engagement with those mentioned above from a Scottish Government perspective will be key to securing positive outcomes related to the SDS Call to Action.

A number of MSPs who were very pro-sport have left (either not standing again or not re-elected). The CEO of Bowls Scotland (and former Strategic Partnerships Manager for sportscotland) Malcom Dingwall-Smith astutely points out that five former MSPs who held responsibility for sport either at Cabinet or Junior level have departed – along with a number of others who championed sport (and often disability sport) in the chamber and on strategic committees.

Previously, two of the biggest supporters of disability rights were Jeremy Balfour – who moved from a Conservative to an Independent MSP towards the end of the last term – and Pam Duncan-Glancy – who was a Labour MSP for the majority of the last parliament before becoming an Independent in the final few months. Together, they often fought for disability rights and convened the Cross-Party Group on Disability. Both are disabled – Pam was the first permanent wheelchair user in the Scottish Parliament and a frontbencher – and were strong advocates of inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities. Both Jeremy and Pam will not be represented in the Scottish Parliament in 2026.

The Scottish Green Party have made gains in representation and as the party with the most explicit referencing to disability within their manifesto, there are likely to be routes to engagement there.

Useful Links: Election 2026 | Scottish Parliament Website

05/05/2026

A Call to Action Scotland Cannot Ignore

A Call to Action Scotland Cannot Ignore: Making Sport and Physical Activity a Right for People with disabilities.

By Mark Gaffney, Head of Policy at Scottish Disability Sport

As Scotland approaches another pivotal election on Thursday, we are rightly focused on the kind of country we want to be. One that values fairness, equality of opportunity and wellbeing for ALL our people; or one that continues to accept deep and preventable inequalities as inevitable. Nowhere is that choice clearer than in sport and physical activity for people with disabilities.

Sport and physical activity can be a source of joy, connection and lifelong health. Yet for thousands of people with disabilities across Scotland, it remains out of reach. Countless studies – including our own National Survey – show that people with disabilities are significantly less likely to be active than non‑disabled people, not because of a lack of interest or talent, but because of structural barriers that persist year after year. These barriers are not accidental. They are the product of policy and strategy choices, funding decisions and accountability gaps. That is why Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) launched its Call to Action in September 2025 (following the findings from the first ever National Survey) and why it must be central to the next Scottish government’s priorities.

The benefits of sport and physical activity are well‑evidenced. They improve physical and mental health, reduce loneliness, strengthen communities and increase confidence and independence. For people with disabilities, these benefits can be transformative. Yet all too often people with disabilities face inaccessible facilities, a shortage of inclusive opportunities, inadequately equipped teachers and coaches in inclusive practice, limited transport options and patchy local provision – despite the fine efforts of the SDS Member Branches to support as many people (including, critically, adults with disabilities who are often overlooked when it comes to opportunities). These barriers compound wider inequalities in health, employment and social participation.

Scotland has no shortage of strong words or progressive intentions. Strategies on health, equality and inclusion repeatedly recognise the importance of physical activity – particularly for those least active if we want to start moving the dial on reducing inequalities in health to counter Scotland’s place as the “Sick Man of Europe” with the lowest life expectancy in Western Europe. However, people with disabilities have learned the hard way that recognition alone does not equal change. What is missing is consistent delivery, co‑design with people with disabilities, and long‑term commitment backed by proactive intentional change, resource and accountability.

The SDS Call to Action sets out a practical, proactive and engaging framework to change this. At its core is a simple principle: People with disabilities must have the same right to be active as everyone else as laid out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. This means embedding inclusion across the whole sporting and physical activity system, not treating it as an optional add‑on, a “nice to do” or a short‑term project.

First, we must address leadership and accountability. Inclusion cannot sit on the margins of government portfolios or be passed between agencies and left to fall between the cracks. The next Scottish Government should clearly assign responsibility for people with disabilities’ access to sport and physical activity to the sector as a whole, with measurable outcomes and transparent reporting. Without this, inequalities will continue to fall through the cracks. It may be too optimistic at this juncture to ask for a Cabinet Secretary post in sport alone, but it shouldn’t be beyond the realms of reason for it to achieve a prominence alongside a complementary portfolio area such as Culture and for those incumbents to work with those in the Equalities portfolio amongst others to engender better outcomes for people with disabilities.

Investment matters. Inclusive provision costs money—whether that is adapting facilities, supporting specialist equipment, or ensuring clubs have the support they need to welcome disabled participants. Yet inclusive investment is not an additional luxury; it is a preventative measure that saves costs across health and social care in the long term. Funding models must recognise this and provide sustainable, multi‑year support, particularly at local and community level where impact is greatest.

People and skills are key. Teachers, coaches, volunteers and staff want to do the right thing, but many lack confidence or training in inclusive practice. A strengthened national approach to workforce development is essential, ensuring inclusion and disability awareness are core components, not optional extras. This is about empowering people to say “yes” rather than defaulting to exclusion through uncertainty.

If all our trainee PE teachers, Primary teachers and sports coaches are educated in inclusive practice at source then by extension the chances of a better experience for people with disabilities at school or within community activity suddenly look more hopeful. The same is true for health and social care. Inactivity should be treated with the same weight as other harms such as smoking, drugs, alcohol and poor diet and suitable and appropriate activity (not just gym referrals with are not appropriate for many) must be prescribed and facilitated at every stage of a person’s care journey. From there, clear pathways to lifelong, sustained engagement should be straightforward and supported. Links between education, healthcare, local authorities, governing bodies of sport and third sector need to be joined up and systemic.

A major barrier that continues to be impactful for people with disabilities in Scotland is the lack of clear guidance and robust policy to reassure people with disabilities that being active will not affect their government financial support they rely on so heavily to just live. We are hearing anecdotally that the move from the UK system to Social Security System appears to have generally gone smoothly and on the face of it is a more compassionate and supportive system, however, more needs to be done to ensure people are not penalised for engaging in efforts to improve their health. Current benefit rules and systems can discourage participation and engagement in sport and physical activity. Although Self Directed Support is designed to prioritise choice and control, inconsistent implementation around accessing physical activity is limiting these choices. Physical activity should be seen as a critical and substantial need for individuals to allow them the freedom to pursue health and wellbeing gains. It has been proven that it can cost an average of £1100 a month more to have a disability than to not, clearly difficult choices need to be made for individuals for the most basic of needs before determining whether expensive sporting opportunities are accessible to them. This is why we back a mandated inclusive strategy where all bodies who receive any public funding ensure that they are accountable for providing affordable and accessible opportunities for people with disabilities and furthermore provide a discounted rate to participate.

Finally, people with disabilities must be at the heart of decision‑making. Policies designed for People with disabilities too often fail because they are not designed with them. Co‑design is not a buzzword; it is a necessity. People with disabilities are experts in their own lives, and their voices must shape facilities, programmes and policy from the outset. At SDS we talk about taking an intersectional approach to inclusion. But what does this mean? Essentially, it means that we know that people are not made up of one characteristic alone, individuals have many identities – and these very identities can layer multiple and varied barriers to being active. One-size-fits-all approaches will often miss key needs. Collaboration with informed organisations, individuals and co-design will benefit future policy and planning.

This election presents a clear test. Parties across the political spectrum will talk about prevention, wellbeing and tackling health inequalities. The question is whether they are prepared to act when it comes to people with disabilities’ right to be active. Platitudes are not enough. What we need are clear pledges aligned with the SDS Call to Action, setting out how the next government will reduce barriers, close participation gaps and deliver lasting change.

Scotland has the talent, the evidence and the infrastructure to lead the way on inclusive sport. What has been lacking is the political will to treat this issue with the urgency it deserves. If we get this right, the rewards will be felt far beyond sports halls, playing fields and leisure centres—improving health, strengthening communities and affirming the value of people with disabilities’ participation in every aspect of Scottish life.

As voters prepare to make their choice, I urge them to ask a simple question of those seeking office: Will you turn inclusion into action? For People with disabilities across Scotland, the answer cannot be postponed any longer.

The SDS four-point Call to Action Graphics are available to download via the links below:

Tomorrow, Mark will take us through a summary of each of the main party manifestos and what they mean for people with disabilities in Scotland.

18/03/2026

Wheels to Water Returns in 2026

SAVE THE DATE!

Are you aged 10+ with a physical, vision, hearing or learning disability and enjoy adventure?

Wheels to Water returns to Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park this June where you can experience the thrill of getting on the water and adapted cycling in a safe and inclusive environment.

Date/Time: Saturday 13th June 2026, 10am – 3pm

Cost: Free

Venue: Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, Lochwinnoch

Come and join us with your family and friends where you can try inclusive cycling and a range of watersports! Registration opens soon!

Wheels to Water is a partnership event involving Scottish Disability Sport, Paddle Scotland, Royal Yachting Association Scotland, Scottish Cycling, Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park and a range of Kayak, Sailing and Cycling clubs.

This event is being ran by young people from Scottish Disability Sport’s, Paddle Scotland’s and RYA’s youth panels and is kindly supported by National Lottery’s Young Start fund.

03/12/2025

Scottish Disability Sport Seeks Members for National Advisory Forum

YOUR SPORT. YOUR VOICE. YOUR IMPACT

• Are you passionate about shaping the future of disability sport in Scotland?
• Do you have lived experience of disability and want to make a difference?

Join the National Advisory Forum at Scottish Disability Sport – a dynamic group of individuals who bring real-world insight, experience, and ideas to influence positive change.

Type of role: Voluntary
Commitment: 4 meetings per year (mainly online with occasional in-person)
Duration: 2-year term with the possibility to serve for a further term
Reporting to: SDS Governance Subgroup
SDS Liaison: SDS Head of Policy
Deadline: 12pm, 4 February 2026
Interviews: Week beginning 9 February 2026 (Time TBC)

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is fully committed to being an organisation that co-designs with our athletes and participants to ensure the voice of those with lived experience is heard and directs the work of the organisation. SDS is particularly keen to ensure all disability groups and backgrounds are represented on the forum. Any reasonable adjustments required throughout the application process and for the duration of the forum will be met.

This is your chance to:

Advocate for inclusion and equality in sport and physical activity,
Advise on policies and programmes that matter,
Inspire the next generation of athletes and participants.

Your perspective matters. Together, we can create a sporting landscape where everyone
belongs. Our strategic plan, which directs our work, can be found on our website at
www.scotishdisabilitysport.com alongside our Call to Action which urges all our stakeholders to engage in meaningful change to remove barriers to sport and physical activity.

To apply, please submit a one-page cover letter or 1 minute video indicating your suitability for the role to: Mark Gaffney, SDS Head of Policy at: mark.gaffney@scottishdisabilitysport.com by 12pm on 4 February 2026.

If you would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Mark at the email above or by phoning 0131 317 1130.

05/09/2025

Nominations Open for Glasgow’s Sport Awards 2025

Scottish Disability Sport is delighted to partner in the 2025 Glasgow’s Sport Awards.

The awards bring together athletes, coaches, volunteers, schools and community organisations to celebrate sport, physical activity and wellbeing in Glasgow.

Nominations are now open across 10 categories so let us know who gets your vote.

Who Gets Your Vote?

To nominate a person, organisation or project that has made a real difference to sport, physical activity and wellbeing in Glasgow visit here: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/sport/glasgows-sport-awards-2025/

The website contains full descriptors and criteria for the awards with the link to our online nomination form. If you have any questions then get in touch with: gsa@glasgowlife.org.uk

Glasgow’s Sport Awards Categories
Glasgow Business Contribution Award
Glasgow Coach of the Year Award
Glasgow Community Impact Award
Glasgow Disabled Athlete of the Year Award
Glasgow Health and Wellbeing Award
Glasgow Lifetime Achievement Award
Glasgow Sportsperson of the Year Award
Uniting Glasgow Award
Glasgow Unsung Hero Award
Glasgow Young Sportsperson of the Year Award

Nominations close at midnight on Tuesday 30th September 2025.

27/08/2025

Scottish Disability Sport Coaching Apprenticeship Programme – Applications Closing Soon

Are you aged 16 – 24, based on Scotland, have a disability and are keen to get involved in coaching sport? If so, read on!

The Young Start Programme (Funded by National Lottery’s Community Fund) is now welcoming applications for the 2025/2026 cohort.

We have space for up to 12 young people with physical disabilities, vision impairment, hearing loss and/or mild learning disabilities to gain a Level 1 (SCQF Level 5 or Level 6) coaching qualification and coaching experience.

Apprentice coaches are supported by their own mentor, have access to a £200 training budget, are invited to attend a whole host of CPD workshops, and can join the annual Young Start and Young Person’s Sports Panel residential at Inverclyde.

There are only a few more days left until applications close. To get involved & for more information, complete the application form by 15th September. Contact alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com with any queries.

To find out what our current cohort have gained from being involved in the programme, check out our Young Start Article from June this year.

02/06/2025

Refereeing In Boccia Is A Family Affair

By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer

Every family has its own favorite hobbies and for the Thomson family, it’s all about boccia. From parents Sam and Darren to their sons Fraser and Martin, the whole family shares a passion for the sport.

Darren (52 years-old) explained what it is like to have his family involved in the sport that he has devoted 25 years to.

“I think for me, it’s just the fact that we can all do it together and be together. We are a boccia family and we do everything as a family.”

Each member of the Thomson family has got involved in the sport in different ways, with Sam (51 years-old) now being actively involved for 10 years. However, it took a bit of persuasion to get her to start: “Heather Loudan said to me, ‘do you not fancy getting your Level One (referee qualification)?’. Well, I am now a Level Three thanks to Heather’s persuasion,” Sam said.

Whereas for Martin, it came around a lot more naturally: “I was just around it constantly. I was taken along to help and I just enjoyed being around it,” the 32-year-old said.

Each member of the Thomson family enjoys a different aspect of boccia. Fraser (24-years-old) appreciates the sense of community that surrounds the sport.

“I haven’t been at a competition for some time but I will still have gifts sent to me through my mum and dad. There will still be everyone asking after me and I will be asking after them. It’s a very welcoming family (the boccia family).”

He continued to say: “Now that I am out of education, I would like to get back into it because I do really miss it. I like the atmosphere, even if it is not as a referee role it is still a great atmosphere.”

Martin enjoys the process of being involved in the technical side of the sport, often enjoying the pressure that can come with volunteering at a busy event. “I was at one of the events, and it was getting a bit hectic, and I thought, right I will step up. Just doing that makes me feel good, it makes me feel good because I am there because of what I know,” he said.

With Darren being a Level Four International Referee, he often takes up the role as head referee at competition – leading and managing the referees.

He said: “Generally, in Scotland I am the head referee at the vast majority of competitions, so it’s good to have that role where I am overseeing the family at most events and venues.”

This can make Darren’s job easier, knowing exactly what they can bring as volunteers and how passionate they are about the sport. “All three of them have done an absolutely brilliant role for me across Scotland. They’ve all stood up and done something within the sport to give something back.”

In May of 2026 Darren put his Officiating skills to the test, as he made a return to the international stage at the World Boccia Challenger Pajulahti. As Scotland’s top boccia referee, Darren welcomed the opportunity, saying: “I was delighted to get back into full international competitions in Finland this year. To come back to a World Boccia Challenger event allowed me to get reconnected with the players, organisers and other officials at the event, some of whom I had not seen for a long time. The thrill of being on court with these top athletes is something that is difficult to describe but it is where I am happiest. Pajulahti, is a beautiful town and to have the opportunity to visit and officiate there was a pleasure.”

Sam shared that the family has always enjoyed refereeing and helping out at events, as each week brings new opportunities to learn. “We always say if we are coaching, if you don’t come away from a competition having learnt something, it’s not worth going to.”

She continued to say: “It doesn’t matter how long you have been doing it for, you are still learning.”

“As a family, it doesn’t matter where we are traveling home from, the journey is usually spent discussing what we have done and learnt.”

Darren explained how they still make time to talk about boccia off court. “When a new set of rules come out, we sit in the living room, with a set of boccia balls and work out, ‘right what does this actually mean’.”

Sam was quick to add: “We do actually have a life outside of boccia, just not much of one.”

It’s not just boccia that the Thomson family work closely on, with all four members either being current or former employees of Active Dundee.

Both Martin and Fraser have noticed how their experiences and time spent volunteering, has supported them during their work for Active Dundee. Influenced by Darren and Sam’s strong passion for inclusion, Martin shared his thoughts on the impact it has had: “I have been able to take that knowledge of disability sport into my work. Being in and around boccia has helped me in everyday life.”

Fraser agreed with this, saying: “When I was working for Leisure and Culture Dundee, I was a sports coach – predominantly working out in the community. We would have so many different types of people, and because of what I have grown up around, I have been able to adapt really well and easily to whoever wants to join our sessions.”

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.

If you are keen to get involved in boccia as a volunteer, coach, official or player, reach out to your Regional Development Manager or contact SDS’s Boccia Development Officer, Jonathan Kennedy, by email: jonathan.kennedy@scottishdisabilitysport.com.