Tag: disability

18/06/2024

Newcomers and Squad Members Unite at Scottish Boccia Event

The National Scottish Boccia Closed Championships took place at The Peak in Stirling on Saturday 15th of July, with 25 athletes competing for the title of Scottish Champion.

A development squad was also present on the day, with 12 athletes joining to make it the biggest draw to date.

The development draw provided potential classifiable athletes the opportunity to compete and learn more about higher level competition; watching some of Scotland’s finest boccia players in action- proving to be a great experience for the development squad with plenty of learnings to takeaway.

Within the development draw there were two categories: a mixed BC1,2 & 4 category with 5 athletes and a BC3 development draw with 3 athletes and their ramp operators. For some of the athletes, it was their first time competing at a National competition, whilst for others, it was their first ever boccia competition.

“It has been a fantastic event with many close games,” said Jonathan Kennedy, SDS’s Boccia Development Officer.

“What is really great to see is the amount of players in the development draw coming to this event. I spoke to one who said that this is their first ever event and quite a few of the other players have spoken to the Scottish squad athletes.

“It’s great to see the Scottish squad players taking the time to talk and share their knowledge with the development players all in the same place,” said Jonathan.

There were some fantastic games played throughout the entire day. Podium placers per each category are listed here:

BC2:

Gold – Alex Medley
Silver – Kayleigh Haggo
Bronze – Lewis McConnell

BC3:

Gold – Patric Wilson & Meredith Greenwood
Silver – Ross MacNeil & Stewart MacNeil

BC4:

Gold – Stephen McGuire
Silver – Tyler McLelland
Bronze – Fiona Muirhead

Development Draw:

Gold – James O’Brien
Silver – Murrin Widley
Bronze – Layla McCloskey

BC3 Development Draw:

Gold – Zac Cameron & Kevin Davidson
Silver – Ellie MacLaren & Lisa MacLaren
Bronze – Caoimhe Potter & Katie MacMillan

Many thanks to all the officials who helped the event run smoothly and for providing support to the development athletes; ensuring that they understood the rules and call room procedures. Thank you also to Barclays volunteers who helped support the officials. A final thank you goes to Motability and their sponsorship of this event.

31/05/2024

GOGA Tayside Advocating ‘Movement in Medicine’

By William Moncrieff, Communications Apprentice

May has been themed “Moving For Mental Health” by sportscotland. This is providing the sporting community with fantastic opportunities to highlight the relationship that physical activity has with improved mental health.

Get Out Get Active Tayside (GOGA Tayside), one of Scottish Disability Sports’s (SDS) partners, has been at the forefront of this ongoing pursuit, using physical activity as a resource to improve physiological and psychological wellbeing.

GOGA Tayside are delivering several classes per week in mental health wards throughout their region. These consist of two sessions per week on four wards at Murray Royal Hospital and one session per week on four wards at Carseview Centre.

Lee-Anne Herbert, GOGA Tayside instructor, often delivers these classes with the goal of providing more people with opportunities to become physically active as well as supporting the inpatients to feel confident participating in the sessions and applying the tools once discharged, which has been the case on several occasions.

Lee-Anne explains: “Physical activity plays a crucial role in personal wellbeing as it is a simple tool to help improve overall quality of life and general wellbeing. A phrase I often share with clients is Movement in Medicine.”

Lee-Anne’s classes started a little over two years ago at Moray Royal Hospital and due to their success, they have since expanded. This is seen as a huge achievement.

“Activity supports the mental wellbeing of every individual & the benefits of simple movement shouldn’t be underestimated. The more that people can get moving in some capacity, the healthier our communities will be”, said Lee-Anne.

When classes are being delivered, there is a great opportunity to provide participating patients with an opportunity to be socially interactive.

“Social interaction is a huge part of many of the sessions. The closed ward sessions that I deliver are an easy way to encourage people out of their rooms and into a supportive environment to enable peer group interaction. It’s important to be able to give that opportunity”, commented Lee-Anne.

The sessions delivered are yoga and mindfulness. These provide every participant with an opportunity to become more physically active, whilst giving them practical breathing routines that they can implement into their everyday life. This has resulted in some great feedback.

“The ward activity coordinators often tell me that clients have been using the breathing techniques that I teach when they feel under stress. In a few specific cases, staff have offered feedback that the client is much more at ease in the ward and around other people since starting the sessions”, said Lee-Anne.

She went on to say: “Every session I see a difference from how people present at the start to how they present at the end. Sometimes, it’s a simple change in how high they are holding their shoulders and sometimes there’s such a difference in their whole personality, much more relaxed and open.”

GOGA Tayside’s work has been well received by many. Their work in the Amulree wards in Moray Royal Hospital received the Mental Health Nursing Practice & the Johnathan MacLennan Excellence Awards for ‘Innovations in Improving Physical Health and Wellbeing’ at the 2023 Scottish Mental Health Nursing Forum.

If you would be Interested in finding out more about Get Out Get Active (GOGA) Tayside, and how you can get involved, please visit here.

29/04/2024

Multisport Clubs Provide Great Opportunities in the Highlands

By William Moncrieff, Communications Apprentice

This year, sportscotland has dedicated April to celebrating sport around Scotland, particularly physical activity in rural areas. To coincide with this theme, it is worth shining a spotlight on SDS member branch, Highland Disability Sport (HDS).

The HDS branch offers three clubs a week, which give participants a chance to take part in a range of new and exciting activities.

“These sessions are vital in allowing us to offer disability specific sessions, as often we do not generate the numbers for sport specific disability sessions across the Highlands. This is a great place for participants to come along and try lots of different sports”, said Fiona Green, HDS’s Development Officer.

Fiona continues to say that these multisport clubs, “play a vital role in providing a safe and welcoming environment for children to come and try sports that they possibly have never tried before or thought could be an option for them”.

In addition, she believes that trying a range of sports is a valuable experience: “I think it is really important for all children to try lots of different sports. Everyone will enjoy or be good at different things, so by trying many [different sports] they have more chance of discovering the one they love”.

The multisport clubs often provide a sense of community and give participants and their guardians an opportunity to meet similar likeminded individuals.

“They are a great place for participants to meet new people and create friendships. It is also a great place to allow parents and carers to talk”.

The multisport clubs play a vital role in giving individuals an introduction into adapted sports. Once participants who attend the clubs have had an introduction into a variety of sports, they can take the skills that they have learnt and look to apply them in a local club.

“The hope is that if individuals come along to the multi sports sessions and find an activity that they like, they will then have the confidence to continue that activity in a sport specific club in their community or come along to the Highland Disability Sport events”, said Fiona.

Alongside the health and social benefits of attending the clubs, there is also chance for personal development to be a focus point.

“We can help to support individuals into community clubs. With some of our older participants we have supported them to become volunteers at the multisport sessions to help other young people get the same enjoyment that they did from the sessions”, Fiona commented.

There are three multisport clubs a week in the Highlands, being held at Dingwall Academy, Inverness Royal Academy and Culloden Leisure Centre.

To register and for more information about these clubs, visit: https://booking.highlifehighland.com

If you are interested about more opportunities for sport around Scotland, please email Scottish Disability Sport on: admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or call: 0131 317 1130.

31/08/2023

SDS receive Young Start award from the National Lottery Community Fund

We are delighted to announce that we have received a Young Start award from The National Lottery Community Fund.

This funding will empower more young people (aged between 16 – 24) living with vision impairment, hearing loss, physical and learning disabilities to gain new skills, qualifications and experiences with the support of mentors. We will support young people to become sports coaches and leaders within their local communities throughout Scotland.

The programme is for young people, designed by young people. Young people are truly at the heart of the design, development and review of the programme.

The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said:

“We are always keen to support projects that put Scotland’s young people at the heart of the development and running of services.”

Gavin Macleod, CEO of Scottish Disability Sport, commented:

“Scottish Disability Sport would like to thank the National Lottery Community fund for its continued support of our Young Start programme. This funding will make a significant impact on the lives of the young people involved and allow us to help participants meet their full potential through physical activity and sport.”

The SDS Young Start Futures team commented:

“We will be the voice of young people in Scotland. We are the future. We will inspire the future.”

If you (or someone you know) would like to benefit from the Young Start programme, apply before the 18th September at https://sds.justgo.com/workbench/public/events?ref=566174801C7E8E3ECB4E0C0AD63C909A765B94EB where you’ll also find more information.

09/08/2023

Scottish Success at World Para Swimming Championships

After weeks of top-level aquatic competition in Fukuoka, the baton has been passed onto Manchester, as the city gears up to host the World Para Swimming Championships from 31 July to 6 August.

Descending on the northern powerhouse are 546 swimmers from 67 nations around the globe – as the world’s best para swimmers set their sights on world titles, records and personal bests, one year out from the Paris Paralympic Games. Seven Scots will make a splash in the 2002 Commonwealth Games venue as part of a 28-strong Great Britain team, which features multiple Paralympic and World Champions. There were multiple medallists and finalist from the Scottish swimmers who were part of the GB team. Congratulations to all swimmers on their excellent performances

Relays

49 points mixed 4x 100m medley relay Stephen Clegg and his teammates finished 4^th

49 points mixed 4 x 100 medley relay Stephen Clegg and his teammates finished 4^th

34 points 4x100m Medley 34pts Relay, the quartet of Sam Downie, Faye Rogers and Ollie Carter with teammate , Maisie Summers-Newton came 6^th

34 points 4x100m Medley 34pts Relay, included Sam Downie, Faye Rogers and Ollie Carter with teammate , Grace Harvey came 8^th

S14 4 x 100 mixed medley relay Scott Quin and his teammates finished in Silver medal position

Individual Finalist

Faye Rogers (Grampian)

S10 100 metres freestyle – 7^th & Scottish Record

S10 100m butterfly – Gold & European Record

S10 200IM – Bronze

S10 400m Freestyle – Bronze

Toni Shaw (Grampian)

S9 400m freestyle – Bronze

SM9 200 IM – 7^th

S9 100m butterfly – 5^th

Stephen Clegg (Lothian)

S12 100m freestyle- Silver

S12 100 back – Gold

S12 100m fly – Silver

S12 50m freestyle – 4^th

Scott Quin (Lothian)

SB14 100m Breaststroke

Sam Downie (Lothian)

S8 400m freestyle – 7^th

S8 100m backstroke – Bronze

Louis Lawlor (Glasgow)

S14 100m backstroke – 6^th

Ollie Carter

S10 400m freestyle – 5^th

Speaking of the competition as a whole, Paul Wilson, Scottish Swimming Disability Performance Development Manager said:

“It’s fantastic to see the success of our Scottish Para Swimmers as part of the Great Britain team at the World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester this past week. There have been a number of standout performances.

If you or anyone you know would like to get involved in swimming please contact: admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or Telephone 0131 317 1130

06/05/2023

Wheels to Water 2023

Do you have a physical, vision, hearing or learning disability? Wheels to Water is coming back to Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park this June where you can experience the thrill of getting on the water in a safe and inclusive environment.

Date/Time: Saturday 24th June 2023, 11am – 3pm

Registration: Free

Venue: Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park

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

Wheels to Water is a partnership event involving Scottish Disability Sport, Scottish Canoe Association, Royal Yachting Association Scotland, Scottish Cycling, and Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.

For more information and to book in, visit https://wheelstowater2023.eventbrite.com/

30/08/2022

Summer Activity Success in Grampian

Children and Young People with disabilities from across Grampian had an amazing summer thanks to Scottish Government funding.

As part of the Get Into Summer funding available through councils, Grampian Disability Sport and the Grampian Regional Manager were able to secure £8,000 through Moray Council and Aberdeenshire ClubSport to run 14 outdoor adventure activities and activity days in the 2 local authority areas.

Additionally, SDS worked with Aberdeenshire Council’s education team to put on a further 16 activity days and sessions for young people living in Aberdeenshire.

Activities were offered as full and half day options at various activity centres, and standalone sessions in water sport disciplines were also up for grabs.

Our young people, who often face challenges and barriers when trying to access adventure and experience appropriate risk, had the opportunity to try a number of different activities including climbing, archery, clay pigeon shooting, surfing, karting, laser tag and off road driving.

Combined, 415 outdoor adventure opportunities were offered to children and young people aged 8 – 17 with disabilities and additional support needs living in Moray & Aberdeenshire.

Helen, parent of 2 children who attended the Moray activities, said “It was lovely meeting other families with similar struggles, and we can’t wait for paddleboarding and surfing this week! It’s made our summer holidays a little brighter!”

Paddleboarding in particular has been so successful this summer that a number of families have invested in their own equipment, and we’re investigating setting up a monthly session with one of the providers after an overwhelming number of requests from families.

Thank you to Live Life Aberdeenshire, Moray Council, Aberdeenshire ClubSport and Aberdeenshire Council for distributing the funding that made this possible.

If you, or anyone you know, lives with a physical, sensory or learning disability in Grampian or Shetland & is interested in getting involved in sport, please get in touch with Alison on alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com or 07828 744 848.

21/01/2022

Grampian Schools’ Sportshall Event Success

Grampian School pupils descended upon Aberdeen Sports Village to take part in the annual Sportshall Athletics Festival after a year’s break

Despite concerns that schools would be unable to support the event due to rising Omicron cases, over 40 pupils from schools all over Grampian were in attendance.

Additional COVID measures were in place including moving the event to ASV’s well-ventilated, large Indoor Athletics area, restricting the number of entrants, and a strict regime of hand gelling/sanitising equipment. However, this didn’t detract from the pupils’ enjoyment of the activities – a series of 6 athletics-based stations that tested pupils’ agility, speed, throwing and jumping skills. The day culminated in relays on the Village’s 400m outdoor track.

Participant, Lucy, said of the event “I totally loved it. I’m so glad I came”.

It is hoped that a team of pupils will be selected from the event to attend the National Adapted Sportshall Athletics Festival in March.

Thanks goes to to Jamie from Live Life Aberdeenshire for organising the event, Ruth from Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club for training the students and overseeing activities on the day, the students from North East Scotland College for leading the groups and activity stations, and placement student, Iain Boyd, for his assistance across the whole event.

21/01/2022

Adapted Cycling in Grampian Given Major Funding Boost

Grampian Disability Sport is excited to be moving forward with plans to grow and develop adapted cycling across the region thanks to a generous grant.

The Branch will receive £90,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Community Fund over the next 3 years, which will enable them to employ a part-time Cycling Coordinator to carry out the Branch’s plan of developing Adapted Cycling Bothies in local communities across Grampian. It is hoped that by developing these Bothies, appropriate bikes can be placed close by to those who need them, removing a barrier for becoming more active and encouraging people with disabilities to get out and about in their communities.

The funding will also allow the purchase of additional equipment and enable volunteer mechanics and ride leaders to be trained up to ensure the sustainability of the programme.