Tag: inclusion

08/04/2026

The Power of Resilience and Sport: Mike Thomas’s Story

By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer

35 years ago, Mike Thomas’s world was turned upside down when he was left with life-changing injuries following a skiing accident in Maribel, France. Mike was airlifted to hospital and what followed has been a journey of resilience, strength and hard work.

Mike had an active lifestyle growing up, often taking to the outdoors in search of his next adventure in sports such as cave diving or skiing. After his accident though, he found it hard to find the right sport for him. This was until he tried hand cycling.

He said: “I am paralysed from the waist down. It took a while to get out and about. I went back diving again and it wasn’t quite the same diving in a dry suit when you can’t control your legs. I discovered hand cycling about 25 years ago and it is just the best thing since sliced bread.”

Viewing it as one of the most accessible sports for individuals with a spinal injury, Mike feels like he is constantly benefiting from the inclusive sport.

“It gets you out and about, it’s great exercise, it gets you places you can’t go normally,” Mike commented.

His adventurous spirit soon found him embarking on a cycling challenge from Edinburgh to St Andrews but he hasn’t stopped there. Now aged 66 years old, Mike continues to sign up to the annual Ride to the Sun challenge – a 100-mile cycle route from Carlisle to Crammond. A feat that often takes him nine hours to complete.

Since taking up hand cycling, Mike has hand cycled 110,000 kilometers and he feels that the many physiological benefits have impacted him in his day-to-day life.

He remarked, “One of the most important things you can do with a spinal injury, is keep your weight under control. It makes things like transferring so much easier.”

Furthermore, he said: “It’s good for your health, your mental health, your wellbeing, it’s good socially. It’s a win-win.”

Having witnessed firsthand the many benefits sports and physical activity have, Mike has also become a volunteer. He hopes to show other individuals what inclusive sport can provide.

“I remember back to when I started – life changes when you have a spinal injury, it’s not as good as it was before and some doors shut and others open. You can still get out there and have a really decent life and I would say that hand cycling is a part of that,” Mike said.

Through his volunteering with Spinal Injuries Scotland, Thistle Outdoors and the Adaptive Riders Collective, Mike has been working hard to show people what is possible.

“If you have a spinal cord injury you need your wheelchair for mobility, your standing frame for your health and your hand cycle for your freedom,” he said.

Now sitting on the Board of Trustees with the Adaptive Riders Collective, Mike is extremely proud of the work that is being done by the charity. The charity provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to try cycling in a friendly, inclusive and accessible environment. Mike reflected o this, saying: “When he [Neil Russel, Founder of Adaptive Riders Collective] asked me to be a Trustee of the charity, I absolutely jumped at the chance, because what he is doing is absolutely fantastic.”

The sense of pride that Mike feels about the work that is being done is heightened whenever he has an opportunity to join the charity on a ride.

He said: “The mental health aspect to hand cycling is immense. They talk about green spaces, what we do with ARC, we are out around the Trossachs, and the views are amazing. You are getting to places you wouldn’t get to normally and it’s just really uplifting.”

If you would be interested in finding out more about the Adaptive Riders Collective, and how you can get involved, you can contact them via their website.

Alternatively, visit the Scottish Disability Sport website to find out about sporting opportunities within your region.

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

07/04/2026

Boccia Brings Families Together During Bespoke Family Day

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) hosted its first ever Family in Boccia Day which proved to be a resounding success, on Saturday 21st February supported by Shepherd Chartered Surveyors.

SDS’s Boccia Development Manager, Jonathan Kennedy, organised the event which aimed to create an opportunity for families to come together, try and play boccia in a non-competitive environment.

Jonathan said, “It is great to see so many young people and their family attend this event. The Family Boccia Days are all about introducing new young people and their family to boccia and enjoying themselves. Letting them experience the sport and signpost them to their local club or session if they want to play more.”

He continued to say: “Today, some of the deliverers are local coaches who have already linked in with the participants and their family about attending their local boccia session which is what this day is all about.”

The Family in Boccia Day allowed for families in central Scotland who had a child under 18 years-old with a physical disability as their main disability, to learn about boccia, practice skills and play some fun games with other families.

For many children with a disability that attend a mainstream school in Scotland, their access to physical education (P.E) is limited. This has so far been the experience for 6-year-old Amber, according to her mum Leanne, who attended the Family in Boccia Day.

“We find it really hard to find activities for her to do that are suitable for her”, said Leanne, who further commented: “In school she gets taken out when her class are doing P.E, when they’re doing gymnastics or other stuff that she’s unable to do, so this upsets her a lot. So having sports that she is able to do is just great.”

The event also provided Amber to socialise with other children with a disability: “Because she is in mainstream (school) it’s really good for her to be around other kids who are in a wheelchair, just like herself. It’s perfect, it’s ideal.”

Amber was an enthusiastic participant throughout the day, with Leanne remarking that: “I think this will be really good for her confidence, to do a sport that she’s also really good at.”

Boccia is a fantastic sport in bringing people together. It is the most inclusive sport that there is and this accessibility aspect did not go unnoticed.

Thomas, father of Ethan, said: “I thought it (Family in Boccia Day) was brilliant because of the accessibility aspect and the ramps because Ethan doesn’t have a lot of mobility, so it’s good for kids of all disabilities. People with mobility issues are able to play so it’s great.”

Ethan thoroughly enjoyed the day, commenting: “It was really fun and the social interaction was fun, we had a laugh. It was all good.”

Furthermore, the day proved to provide a welcoming environment for all. Participant Michael was quite anxious ahead of the day but his mum, Mary, said the relaxed setting prevented Michael from feeling overwhelmed and supported him to take part.

Mary said, “When he first walked in he (Michael) liked the atmosphere in the hall – the fact that he could wander about and he wasn’t ‘stuck’ somewhere before it started. Also, the games, they’re just so accessible. Sometimes when he plays things he can’t pick it up quickly and he finds that quite difficult and disheartening. Whereas today, he was able to do it and was scoring points.”

The social aspect of the sport plays a huge part within the boccia community and contributes greatly to player satisfaction and emotional health and wellbeing. Thomas commented on this, saying: Thomas: “The social aspect is really, really good because every kid is having fun and the time just flies by.”

The opportunity for families to connect was appreciated throughout the day.

Amber’s mum said, “It’s good for them (Amber and her sister) to play this sport together because her sister goes to dance and gymnastics and so again, Amber gets upset that she can’t do that and so this is nice that they can do this together.”

Ross, a young boy with cerebral palsy, was joined on the day by his mum and brother. His mum, Fiona, said: “He’s really enjoyed it. It’s something that the boys can do together and that’s great. There isn’t really a lot of things that they can do together and we three always come as a family.”

Next month (May) is set to host the second Family in Boccia Day in Moray, targeting families based in the north of Scotland. If you would like to register for this event, you can do so via the link below.

For more information about how to get involved in boccia in your local community, please contact: Jonathan.Kennedy@scottishdisabilitysport.com or call on: 0131 317 1130.

10/12/2025

69% Rise in Swimmers with a Disability Marks Major Leap for Inclusion

More children thriving in mainstream classes as Learn to Swim champions inclusion

SCOTLAND is seeing a major rise in the number of children with disabilities learning to swim.

New figures show a 69% increase in just one year with 81% of swimmers with a disability now learning in mainstream or non-disability-specific classes, highlighting a shift towards more inclusive and supportive lesson environments across Scotland – linking nicely to Scottish Disability Sport’s four-point Call to Action which calls for action to remove the significant barriers faced by people with a disability in accessing sport and physical activity.

A report published by Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water reveals that of the almost 82,000 children who took part in the Learn to Swim Framework up to March this year, 2,745 were registered as disabled, a significant jump from 2024.

Learn to Swim is a National Framework delivered by 38 leisure trusts and aquatic providers in more than 160 pools across Scotland, with the shared vision to create ‘Generation Swim’, a generation of confident, safer and competent swimmers who benefit from the wider health and social rewards that swimming can offer.

The figures have been published to coincide with the annual #SeeMyAbility campaign, run by the team behind The Learn to Swim National Framework – Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water. The campaign aims to break down participation barriers for individuals with disabilities and spread the message that swimming is for everyone.

“It’s great to see the Learn to Swim Framework reaching more children with disabilities and learning alongside their peers,” said Paul Wilson, Disability Performance Development Manager at Scottish Swimming.

“We recognise that the learning environment has to suit individual needs but the fact that more children are learning in mainstream classes shows how far we’ve come in terms of teachers’ understanding and ability to support children with disabilities.“

The Learn to Swim Framework is open to everyone regardless of age, ability or skill levels, with the partnership committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all.

Paralympian Toni Shaw is an ambassador for the National Learn to Swim Framework and spearheads the See My Ability campaign. She started swimming aged just one through the Learn to Swim Framework in Aberdeen. Born without a right hand, she has gone on to medal on the world stage and has represented GB at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics where she won a bronze medal in the women’s 400m freestyle S9 event.

“I think it’s so important for anyone with a disability to be in a mainstream club, I was really lucky that my parents put me into a mainstream class” says Toni. “It’s where my love for swimming started. I think it is just such an important message, that if you have a disability, you can thrive in a mainstream environment. Not everyone’s going to want to be a competitive swimmer but having the skill to be in the water and be safe is so important.”

The ‘See My Ability’ campaign has championed inclusivity since its inception in 2019 and encourages lesson providers to create the best environment available, and if appropriate adapt lessons, to ensure children develop and progress.

Peter Farrer, Chief Operating Officer at Scottish Water, said: “Ensuring people of all ages and abilities have access to learn to swim to help them feel confident and safer in the water is vital – especially in a country like Scotland where there are miles of lochs, rivers, reservoirs and coastlines.

“We’re proud to support a programme that is accessible to all – and this is not only important from a safety perspective, as individuals will also get to experience the wider social, health and fitness benefits that swimming can offer.

Paul Wilson added, “This is a great example of partnership working. Inclusion is high on the agenda among Learn to Swim providers and the Scottish Swimming-Scottish Water Framework supports this with resources, training and videos to help teachers better understand different disabilities.”

To learn more about Para swimming opportunities within your area, please contact your SDS Regional Development Manager via: Regional Contacts – .

To find out more about the Learn to Swim programme visit: https://www.scottishswimming.com/learn-to-swim

27/11/2025

NHS Try Sport Sessions: Creating Opportunities throughout Tayside

By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer.

Starting in 2019, Perth and Kinross Disability Sport, Scottish Disability Sport (SDS), NHS Tayside and local clubs have been working in partnership to deliver NHS ‘Try Sport Sessions’ to individuals with physical disabilities that are not taking part in sport/physical activity or participants seeking new sporting opportunities.

Any of the participants that are attending these sessions, have been invited through NHS Physio Therapist referrals. This allows the organisers to tailor the sessions to participants’ needs.

Flynn (participant) has found the sessions to be incredibly impactful. His mum, Jenna, commented:

“It has been incredible to watch Flynn go through his journey with sport.

“Flynn recently joined Cubs and it was a bike ride one week but Flynn can’t ride a bike, so he took a frame runner. He was excited to tell everyone about it and show them what he could do.” Jane Dernie, a member of NHS Tayside’s Physio Therapy team, commented on how enjoyable the day is for all involved: “The physiotherapists in Tayside love our yearly Try Sport Session that is done in partnership with Disability Sports. It enables us to join in and have fun with the children we are involved with, it lets us see their abilities and it lets us introduce new children to the Disability Sports community.”

The sessions are held yearly at Perth UHI’s Academy of Sport and Wellbeing and provide no cost for participation, with approximately 15 participants attending.

Graeme Doig, SDS’s Regional Development Manager for Tayside, and Perth and Kinross Disability Sport’s (PKDS) branch coordinator, has been a driving force throughout the delivery of this initiative. Graeme believes that developing strong links throughout the region has been a considerable factor in the programme’s continued success.

“Partnership work with NHS Tayside, Scottish Disability Sport and PKDS is crucial, not just helpful, for creating our Try Sport sessions that are safe, inclusive, evidence-based and connected to the wider community sport pathway.

“It ensures the sessions meet participants’ real needs and have the support and reach required to succeed”, Graeme said.

This focus on partnership collaboration has resulted in local clubs attending the ‘Try Sport Sessions’ to support with delivery, providing participants with an opportunity to try a variety of activities. Furthermore, their involvement helps strengthen routes into continued involvement in sport and physical activity. These local clubs include Perth Strathtay Harriers, Perth Eagles Wheelchair Sports Club, UHI Perth Climbing Centre , Salle Ossian Fencing Club , Perth Eagles Boccia Club , and Badminton Scotland.

These links into local clubs have been hugely beneficial, with participants grasping the opportunity to get involved following the ‘Try Sport Sessions’.

“I attend the Perth Eagles Wheelchair Sports Club every week and Perth Strathtay Harriers for Frame Running. My favourite sport to participate in is Wheelchair Basketball”, Flynn said.

Jenna followed this up by adding: “As Flynn can’t run or jump we didn’t think sport would be an option for him. We were directed towards Graeme Doig and Flynn started to attend the Eagles on a weekly basis and he immediately loved it. He quickly made friends and we found ourselves involved in a wonderful community.”

Eilidh, another participant, has been enjoying the opportunity to get involved in sport. She said, “After the Try Sport Session I have found my strength grow due to joining the Perth Eagles and Lothian Phoenix.”

Involvement in the ‘Try Sport Sessions’ and linking in with local clubs has been hugely beneficial for the participants.

“My newfound strength has helped me in day-to-day life by giving me more stamina to perform daily tasks and enjoy extra curricular activities”, Eilidh explained.

Whereas for Flynn, the social opportunity provided through sport has benefited him. He said, “There are lots of different sports to take part in and you can choose which one. I also like being part of a team.”

Understanding the many benefits that sport and physical activities provide, is a further reason why the NHS Physio’s are advocates for the Try Sport Sessions. Jane said, “Learning how sports can be adapted, and enjoyed by the children we look after is important as it helps us direct them towards Disability Sports.”Jane went on to add: “We witness the physical and social benefits that children and their families gain from getting involved with Disability Sport weather it be participation or competitively.”

Seeing the long-term impact that the NHS ‘Try Sport Session’s’ have had on participants, reinforces the importance of continuing to provide inclusive opportunities. Graeme commented: “For coaches, physios and our partners, watching that growth isn’t just enjoyable—it’s a reminder of the impact inclusive sport has on wellbeing, confidence, and long-term participation.

“It reinforces why these sessions matter and motivates us all to continue improving and providing new opportunities.”

Lynne, Eilidh’s mum, agreed with this: “Without these sessions we would not be on this incredible journey, so I think they are really important to let people with disabilities find their own path.”

Along with providing participants with physical, social and psychological benefits, the programme offers a wide variety of sports which allows for participants to take that first step on the performance pathway. This has had a positive effect on Eilidh.

She said, “The biggest highlight is the introduction to many sports, and I found my passion for wheelchair basketball, which I have now represented my country at U14 level. It has also given me many new friendships and a newfound confidence.”

Eight-year-old Flynn’s aspirations are set. “Flynn says he will be a Paralympian in the future and it’s amazing to hear him have ambitions connected to sport”, Jenna commented.

If you are interested in finding out about opportunities to get involved in sport and physical activity in your region, you can reach out to 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.

13/11/2024

New Job: Get Out Get Active (GOGA) Tayside Programme Administrator

Salary: £24,000

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Closing date: 9am on Friday 22 November 2024

Interviews: Friday 29 November 2024 (Time TBC)

Are you a dynamic and enthusiastic team player who has a passion for inclusion?

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS), in partnership with NHS Tayside and the Tayside Charitable Foundation is seeking to appoint a Get Out Get Active (GOGA) Tayside Programme Administrator to support disabled and non-disabled people to take part in fun and inclusive physical activity across Tayside.

The post holder will work in partnership with local partners to develop and deliver physical activity opportunities.

The successful candidate will have understanding and experience of administrative processes and procedures as well as being organised, IT literate and self-motivated with excellent communication, prioritisation and time management skills. Experience and knowledge of marketing, communications, website management and social media will also be required.

This post will be Dundee office/home based and will be line managed by the GOGA Tayside Programme Manager. Full time, part-time and flexible hours options will be considered for discussion with the successful candidate. SDS will also consider employment or secondment arrangements with agreement from current employer.

For a full job description, candidate specification and application form, see our website: www.scottishdisabilitysport.com or apply online using the links below:

If you would like more information on the post, please contact Iona McKay, GOGA Programme Manager on 07971 641208, or at iona.mckay@nhs.scot.

Scottish Disability Sport is an equal opportunities employer, and our recruitment, selection and assessment process is based entirely on values, skills and competencies required of the specific roles.

23/10/2024

2024 SDS Annual General Meeting and Award Winners

The Stirling Court Hotel welcomed a celebration of sport as it hosted the Scottish Disability Sport Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday 6th October.

The day provided the perfect opportunity to highlight the development of disability sport and inclusive practice being implemented across Scotland throughout 2023/2024.

The annual Branch Conference proceeded the AGM, with presentations and workshops covering a range of topics including: how to implement an accessible and effective communications strategy, Children’s 1st wellbeing and protection, athlete support. Paralympian, Hope Gordon, also attended to share her story about winning a Paralympic silver medal at the recent Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

The AGM itself, recapped on the success and areas of growth achieved throughout 2023/2024. A full review of the year, highlighting those key areas can be watched here:

Guest speaker, Martin Perry, delivered an engaging presentation which showed his journey from first trying table tennis at a SDS Summer Camp, to going on to represent ParalympicsGB at the Paris 2024 Paralympics in both Para table tennis singles and doubles.

Following this, to commemorate the 100 years since Eric Liddell won the gold medal in the 400m event at the Paris 1924 Summer Olympic Games, SDS is working with partner, Eric Liddell 100 Legacy Project, to recognise and celebrate the life of Eric Liddell.

100 Eric Liddell Pin Badges are being awarded across Scotland and during the AGM, SDS awarded one to each person from each member branch who demonstrates Eric Liddell’s values while developing disability sport in Scotland. The values being: passion (enthusiasm, dedication, optimism, self-belief), compassion (humility, selflessness, respect, care, community-minded) and integrity (discretion, loyalty, self-sacrifice, principled).

Pin Badges were awarded to:

Graeme Reid (Lothian Disability Sport)

Ron McArthur (Forth Valley Disability Sport)

Bryan Stevens (Highland Disability Sport)

Darren Thomson (Dundee City Disability Sport)

Eddie McLoone (Disability Sport Glasgow)

Christine Webster (Angus)

Kayleigh Haggo (Ayrshire Sportsability)

Fiona Smith (Grampian Disability Sport)

Ryan Evans (Borders Disability Sport)

Ben Sandilands (Disability Sport Fife)

Avril Starmore (Ability Shetland)

John Goldsworthy (Dumfries & Galloway)

Len Richardson (South Lanarkshire Disability Sport)

Stewart Lobban (Perth and Kinross)

As usual, the SDS annual awards ceremony rounded off the AGM – an opportunity to recognise key members of the community:

Russell Hogg Bursary – Alex Medley and Elliot Cooper

Community Champion Award – Jennifer Quinton and Eileen Ramsay

Special Recognition Award – Scottish CP Football SquadDedication to Para Football

Award – Ann Brown

John De Courcy Trophy – Gregor Anderson

Glasgow Trophy – Ron McArthur

Elspeth Watson Trophy – Isabel Reid

Russell Hogg Trophy – Mark Stevenson

Fife Trophy – Claire Morrison

Janice Eaglesham Trophy – Perth Strathtay Harriers

Findlay Calder Trophy – Samantha Kinghorn MBE

Brian Dolan Trophy – Stephen Clegg

Angus Trophy – Stephen McGuire

Gordon Brown Memorial Trophy – Stephen McGuire

Make to follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, X and Instagram, as well as on the SDS website.

30/09/2024

Great Success at Grampian and Highland Parasport Festivals

By William Moncrieff, Communications Apprentice

The Grampian and Highland Parasport Festivals took place over the weekend (Friday 27th and Saturday 28th, respectively), officially starting the SDS Parasport Festival 2024/2025 season.

Aberdeen Sports Village hosted Grampian’s Parasport festival, with Lochaber Leisure Centre was the venue for Highland’s.

Having just joined SDS in early June, it was Elizabeth Mills’ first time oragnising a festival in her area. She described the day as, “Absolutely amazing”, which left her a bit speechless.

She said, “I wasn’t expecting it to be so moving and touching and I think a lot of parents and volunteers and coaches have felt that as well. All the kids have just been absolutely incredible at what they do.”

The Highland Parasport festival was organised by Kathryn Talbot-Heigh, her second whilst in position as Regional Development Manager (RDM) at SDS.

“I think the Parasport Festivals are really good for being able to provide new sports to the participants who wouldn’t have had the confidence or opportunity to try before,” said Kathryn,

“We have a couple of children here today who are playing rugby for the first time, they are now asking to play it long term, this now means that we can try support the local rugby club to provide this in the area.”

Across the two Parasport festivals, participants got to try boccia, swimming, kayaking, rugby, shinty, bowls, cycling, table tennis, snow sports and athletics.

Not only do the Parasport Festivals provide participants with a fantastic introduction to sports but they can also provide an opportunity for personal growth and development. This is something that Jamie, a parent who brought their daughter, Bessie, to the Highland Parasport festival, noticed.

“Sport is a fundamental building block for children to have both inside and outside of school. Certainly, by introducing Bessie to a range of new sports and locations to do these sports has given her a lot of new confidence.” He continued to say: “She has definitely grown a lot as a person, meeting new people with their own needs and disabilities has helped. You can see with Bessie that the festival has also helped her overcome social anxieties.”

Elizabeth – also known as Wizzy – believes that the festivals are very important because, “they [parents, children] don’t know what’s out there. It’s really difficult to get that contact – to try and find other people to contact to get involved in that sport and if they don’t have my email where else are they going to go? So, this is a good introduction to the pathways which they can then follow.”

Reaching remote areas across the country is a crucial part of the work as a SDS RDM.

“Within the Highlands we won’t have the huge numbers but it is just as important that children in these rural areas have the opportunity to come and take part because they are still the same children in mainstream schools with disabilities that can’t always take part,” said Kathryn.

“It might be that we only have 10 or so children participating, but it is really important to have something that they haven’t had to travel long distances to access,” Kathryn explained.

Louise Gillespi, the National Development Manager at SDS, attended the event in the Highlands, and viewed it as a huge success.

“It’s great to be here in the Western Highlands. Usually we are around the Inverness area, so it’s nice to be in a new location.”

She continued to say, “It’s great to be here with some new sports like shinty to showcase, showing that these sports can be inclusive. It has been good to provide the participants with a range of sports, that way they can work out what works for them, hopefully they can then go and take this knowledge and find a regular sport throughout their local communities.”

If you would like to try a new sport in your area, find out more here or contact your RDM (via the same link).

Stay up to date with the latest news and opportunities by following SDS on Facebook, X and Instagram, as well as keeping tabs on the SDS website.

30/09/2024

Scottish Disability Sport National Survey 2024

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is excited to introduce its first ever National Survey. SDS aims to address inequalities experienced by people living in Scotland with a disability or a long-term health condition when trying to be more physically active. To make sure that these actions are making a meaningful difference, SDS would like to hear from adults (16+) living with a disability or long-term condition in Scotland. For example, what makes it difficult for you to take part in sport and physical activity and what would make it easier?  Even if you do not take part in any activity, we would still like to hear from you. Please share this survey with your networks and encourage anyone eligible to complete it as it will make a difference in the future.

We are working on producing an easy-read version for the next wave of circulation and if anyone should need any additional support in completing the survey please contact SDS on admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or on 0131 317 1130.

(This survey is created in collaboration with researchers at Queen Margaret University Edinburgh and builds on the report produced by the Observatory for Sport in Scotland and University of West of Scotland and SDS are grateful to all who helped support this survey, including our sister organisation Activity Alliance who provided invaluable insight from their survey experience).

LINK TO SURVEY – SDS NATIONAL SURVEY 2024

QR Code Link to Survey, below:

10/09/2024

Scottish Women in Sport Conference 2024 – Safe and Strong

Last month, the Scottish Women in Sport Conference featured a great lineup of inspirational speakers, including SDS’s YPSP Administrator Grace Stirling and Commonwealth Games Para Cyclist Laura Cluxton.

Laura Pilkington, SDS Board Director, hosted the session, during which Laura and Grace shared their experiences in sport.

They both delivered fantastic presentations highlighting sports’ positive contributions to their lives. They described situations where inclusive practice, implemented to support their safety and well-being, could have improved their experiences.

They challenged the audience to think inclusively to promote and support the safety, inclusion and well-being of participants and athletes with disabilities. The key messages from Laura and Grace were:

Focus on an athlete’s ability, not disability

Educate sports staff and coaches to embed inclusion in their practice

Athletes feeling safe will lead to better performance

Be proactive, not reactive

Small changes can make a big difference

Contact Scottish Disability Sport for support.

You can watch the highlights of the video here.

If you are an organisation that would like to offer more inclusive opportunities, please contact Scottish Disability Sport at admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or telephone 0131 317 1130.

And in other news… Scottish Women in Sport Awards!

Scottish Women in Sport are seeking nominations for this year’s awards. You can use this SW/S Nomination Form to submit the following. Deadline is this Friday 13th September!

Sportswoman of the Year

Young Sportswoman of the Year

Para Athlete of the Year

SW/S Inspiration in Sport

Team of the Year

Coach/Manager of the Year

Community Champion of the Year

Volunteer of the Year

Pioneer in Sport

Most Valuable Partnership

27/08/2024

Faye Rogers is Ready to Take on Paris

“Going to the Paralympic Games is just insane and I am so excited.” – Faye Rogers is ready for her Paralympic Games debut at Paris 2024.

By William Moncrieff

The 21-year-old Para swimmer – who studies at the University of Aberdeen – will be competing in the women’s 100m Butterfly S10, 100m freestyle S10, 400m freestyle S10 and the 200m individual medley SM10 in Paris.

Faye first found out that she was going to become a Paralympian after the Para swimming trials in April. She was nervous immediately after as she felt unwell and wasn’t completely happy with her performance. However, she got selected and was over the moon to get the news.

“It was so exciting to get that confirmation through,” said Faye.

“I just want to go and be my best, make all of that hard work pay off.”

Faye took up Para swimming after a serious car crash left her with life changing injuries. When looking back over the journey she has been on, Faye is incredibly proud with how she reacted.

“I am quite proud of myself for sticking with it and getting to this point”, said Faye, who has been swimming since aged nine.

She continued to say: “As much as my journey in swimming hasn’t looked as I expected it to look as a child, I am still just really proud of myself where I’ve got to.”

“I didn’t dare to dream about the Paralympics until a year and a half ago,” said Faye.

“Following my accident and impairment I didn’t know whether I would be good enough.” Faye made the Paralympics a goal of hers after trials for the World Championships in 2023. It was here that she realised her potential in the sport and consequently, she gave herself a pep talk: “I’ve got a year to work and get myself selected.”

Adding: “That was the point that it became a goal rather than a dream.”

Just a day out from the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Faye has had time to reflect on her journey as an athlete.

“I think having that goal and having that to aim for and work for has been pretty much the only thing that has got me through the last three years. Having a serious accident and being told that you aren’t going to be able to do something that you have done all your life, something you love, is really hard.”

She continued to say, “I think having in the back of my mind there is the Paralympics and I can achieve everything that I wanted to achieve was sort of life changing.”

All of the best of luck in Paris, Faye!

Make sure to follow the action live on Channel 4 and keep up-to-date by following SDS on Facebook, X and Instagram. More information and the competition schedule is available on the SDS website.