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.