This year’s attendees were treated to taster sessions in 7 different sports including judo which was introduced for the first time in Grampian this year. Kayaking, a firm favourite in 2021, also returned along with football/powerchair football, boccia, wheelchair basketball, table tennis, swimming and athletics.

After a busy day of sport, the participants had a surprise visit from Paralympic skiing gold medalists, Neil Simpson MBE and Andrew Simpson MBE who took some time out of their busy training schedule to meet the youngsters and collect the Angus Trophy which was awarded to them at this years SDS Awards event in September.

The event, held annually in the first class accessible facilities at Aberdeen Sports Village, provides an opportunity for children and young people in mainstream education across Moray, Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire with physical disabilities, vision impairments or hearing loss to try out a range of adapted sport in a safe and welcoming environment. It also gives them the chance to meet other children with disabilities and for families to meet others with disabled children. The hope is that many of the attendees will try something new, develop an interest in sport and go on to participate in regular opportunities in their local area.

The Parasport Festival also serves as an invaluable education and CPD opportunity for coaches and students. It’s provides a unique experience of hands-on coaching and communication with multiple people with a variety of disability types and support needs in one location. We’re incredibly grateful to work in partnership with North East Scotland College, whose 75 Sports Coaching students and 40 Uniformed Services students underwent training and assisted with a variety of tasks including providing 1:1 support to participants, supporting coaches, directing traffic, liaising with operations staff, setting up equipment and leading groups of children.

The Parasport Festival wouldn’t be possible without the support of some of Grampian’s best clubs and organisations including Active Schools Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray, Scottish Swimming, Sport Aberdeen, Aberdeen Sports Village, Live Life Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen Kayak Club, Scottish Canoe Association, University of Aberdeen Canoe Club, Ultimate Judo, Banchory Community Football Club, Aberdeen & District Table Tennis Association, Aberdeen Amateur Athletics Club, Scottish Athletics, Grampian Flyers Wheelchair Basketball Club and Basketball Scotland.

Thanks also go to the Scottish Disability Sport staff who supported the event, and Grampian athletes (and Parasport Festival graduates) Jack Caird & Tegan Davidson who undertook registration and group leadership duties on the day.

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.