Tag: Para sport

07/11/2026

Ellie Finlayson at the Dylanwadu Conference.

Hi my name is Ellie Finlayson, and through being part of Scottish Disability Sport’s Young Start programme, I recently had the privilege of attending Disability Sport Wales Dylanwadu Conference in Aberystwyth alongside other members of Scottish Disability Sport, including Young Persons’ Sports Panel member Anna McBride. It was a brilliant chance to gain an insight into the work being done to level the playing field within sport and coaching for people with disabilities, and to look ahead at what still needs to change. Here’s how the trip went…

We drove to Aberystwyth the day before the conference fuelled by a good music playlist, quiz questions, and sweets, plus a highly anticipated stop for lunch at Tebay Services! The winding Welsh roads were less appreciated…

When we arrived, we went out for dinner with the Disability Sport Wales team. The promenade, which looked beautiful! Dinner was lovely, and it was a perfect opportunity to get to know some of the Disability Sport Wales staff in a relaxed, informal environment. We had some brilliant conversations about the work they do, and it was great to share what we get up to as part of Young Start and the Young Persons’ Sports Panel. Having some familiar faces to look out for on the day of the conference definitely helped ease our nerves too.

After an official welcome in the main auditorium, retired para archer and Sport Wales board member Pippa Britton gave a talk on her journey into sport, the setbacks, and the triumphs. Her story proves that you do not need to have been participating in sport from a very young age, nor do you need to be instantly good at it (in fact, you probably won’t be!), to get involved and thrive. Sport is for everyone, and first and foremost, it should be fun! It was so refreshing to hear such a candid, down-to-earth account of an athlete’s journey, especially from someone as successful as Pippa. It may not be straightforward or simple, but the hard work is always worth it. As a wheelchair user and para archer myself, I related to a lot of what Pippa was saying and felt very seen!

After this introduction to the day, we all split off into different workshops across the day. These covered topics such as intersectionality, the importance of non-tokenistic representation of disability sport in media, and the barriers to sports coaching with a disability and how these could be overcome.

I left the conference with such a sense of empowerment having spent the day amongst so many people who were clearly very passionate about disability sport. From the presentations and panels to the small passing moments of connection with other disabled attendees, there was such a positive atmosphere with a determined, hopeful view to the future of disability sport. I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to attend this conference, and I have taken a lot from the whole experience.

In light of it being Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week, I have been reflecting on the Dylanwadu Conference and the many powerful women’s voices I heard from throughout the day. It really highlighted how far we as a society have come in championing women’s perspectives. To all the women and girls who are reading this and feel like they might not have a place in sport, or are hesitant to say yes to an opportunity because they think someone else could do it better, my advice to you is do it anyway. Say yes, take the chance. Do it scared. Do it despite not having all the answers. Do it because you care. Your passion means something. You have earned your place just as well as anyone else has. You may not be the best in your sport, you may not be the loudest in the room, but you don’t have to be. As women, we all have something valuable to bring to the table, whether we are highly experienced with a lot to share, or are new to sport. So don’t forget your voice.

To find out how you can get started on your pathway in sport, reach out to Scottish Disability Sport at admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or contact your local SDS Branch.

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

03/11/2026

Ellie: From Spectator to Sports Leader

Hi my name is Ellie W , I am 19 and my sport is rugby. I am part of the young start program. I started watching the men’s six nations every year with my dad as he used to play rugby when he was younger. I thought I’d love to play rugby one day and didn’t start playing until I was 17. My friend started playing for our local women’s team and suggested that I join and we both went along for our first training session. We could train but only started doing contact at 18.

When I went into high school my mum had suggested a sports programme that was run by SSF [Scottish Sports Futures] called Twilight. It was multisport. It helped me fall in love with sport before I got involved with playing rugby. A couple of months later there was a young leaders programme that was also run by SSF to help me coach young people in sport. My coach, Maciek, from SSF encouraged me to join my clan rugby team as a participant and then help out as a coach. I have been to events and schools to talk about the clan and encourage people to come along and try it.

Maciek told me about the Young Start programme and I had to submit it that day and it sounded like such a good opportunity for me and I signed up and was very excited as I was getting to meet new people , learn new skills , develop my skills and get my level 1 rugby coaching. I had online courses the first one was communications and the second one was human connections and then we had the young start/panel residential September weekend with wheels to water , getting to try other sports , we got to know each other through ice breaker challenges , we went trampolining , had food and hung out. We did the disability , advocacy and sport course in the morning and then in the afternoon we did boccia which was very fun. I have also got to do my first aid course through young start and passed

02/11/2026

Sam Gough: Overcoming barriers, and the importance of education

Sam Gough MBE’s journey in sport has been one that showcases the power of determination, resilience, and an unwillingness to take no for an answer.

At just three-years-old, Sam was a budding young athlete, taking part in Mini Kicker football events, adding dancing, swimming, cross country running, and other sports to her ever-growing schedule over the following years. For all, it looked like Sam was destined for a life of sport and physical activity.

Sam was ready and willing to jump head-first into any opportunity provided, and had the full backing of her sports enthused family. At that stage, no one would have predicted that Sam would have been excluded from her physical education classes within a few years; when a lack of accessible equipment, and education of teachers around disabilities and vision impairments, saw Sam denied the opportunity of taking part in physical education.

Others may have found this hard – just like Sam did – not all would have had the resilience to bounce back, going on to have an incredibly impressive career in sport. Even more impressively, not all would have had the willingness to extend an olive branch, eloquently going down the disability advocacy route, and educating people on accessible practices.

The 23-year-old said: “The teachers saw my vision impairment as a hazard, to not only myself but to other pupils.”

“I thought that for a long time I was the problem, I felt like I was the reason that I couldn’t compete in sport.”

“I wouldn’t wish my experience during that period on anybody else, but what it has done, it’s lit a fire within me to create positive change.”

The feeling of being excluded was extremely hard for Sam, especially after just having selected physical education as one of her chosen subjects that she would study in third year.

However, Sam didn’t let this deter her from taking part in sport and physical activity, looking for out of school options, joining swim clubs in Midlothian, and attending Scottish Disability Sport’s (SDS’s) National Championships and Parasport Festivals.

At one of SDS’s Parasport Festivals, Sam’s perception around how she could be included in sport changed, when a badminton session was modified to make it more accessible, saying: “They changed the white shuttlecock to a yellow balloon, which meant I could join in. That just shows how simple it is to adapt sport for someone who has a disability.”

“Having that done for me made me feel really empowered, to know that sport can be adapted and can be accessible.”

Towards the end of education in high school, Sam made the decision to transfer to the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh.

Ultimately, this was a formative moment in Sam’s life, learning about herself as an individual with a vision impairment, and developing a new attitude to sport and physical activity. She commented: “In reality the Royal Blind School is where I learnt to advocate for myself, learn about my vision impairment, what it meant to be a young person with a vision impairment, and how it can empower you in every way possible.”

“There was an opportunity to attend a Para rowing session, and at the time I was doing a lot of other sports, and my physical education teacher didn’t let there be any barriers, he just said ‘Sam what’s one more sport, just give it a go’.”

So far in 2026, Sam has had an incredible year performing, reaching the podium several times in Para Rowing and Blind Football. Winning Quad bronze in the Spring Regatta, gold at the Henley Women’s Regatta, and winning two gold medals whilst representing Scotland at the Home International Nations Regatta, amongst a suite of other Para rowing medals. Also captaining the Lioness’s Blind Football team to silver in the World Championships and bronze at the European Championships “It’s been an incredible season, it’s probably been my biggest season to date, and I am just delighted that I could perform at that level, and show what is possible with hard work and determination.”

In June this year, Sam was awarded a MBE in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List for services to sport and the visually impaired community. Recognition which was well deserved after years of Sam’s advocacy for individuals with vision impairments and disabilities, not only as an ambassador, but also through SDS’s Education and Learning courses and National Advisory Forum, where Sam attends as an active athlete, providing great insight and lived experience.

Sam said: “My passion has come from being excluded from sport, and now I am able to advocate for others, it’s one of the biggest turning points in my life.”

“I’ve gone into this big advocator role, and I really enjoy it, I love advocating on behalf of individuals with disabilities, and for sport to be inclusive.”

“Education is one of the most important things when looking to make sport more inclusive, if not the biggest thing.”

“It’s not always even about sport being inclusive, it’s about disability awareness, and how that can transfer into day-to-day life, if people have knowledge of disabilities, it takes away different barriers, it’s really important.”

To find out how you can get started on your pathway in sport, reach out to Scottish Disability Sport at admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or contact your local SDS Branch.

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

02/11/2026

Championing inclusion: Rosanna Wood joins Scottish Disability Sport.

Rosanna Wood joins the Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) team, taking up the position of Communications Manager, where she will be hoping to impact change.

Coming to the team with an abundance of knowledge, that has been built up through several years of working within the sporting sector in Scotland with organisations such as JudoScotland, Rosanna is looking forward to the challenge that awaits, she said: “Working in Scottish sport over the past decade, I have seen first-hand the incredible impact sport can have, not just on individuals, but on wider society.
Scottish Disability Sport plays such an important role in championing inclusion, influencing policy and creating opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sport. Joining the team felt like an incredible opportunity to contribute to that work, help drive positive change and shine a light on the people and stories that demonstrate the true impact of disability sport across Scotland.”

Rosanna joined the SDS team, on Monday 2^nd November, the start of Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week, exactly three weeks before Scottish Disability Sport Week (23^rd – 29^th November) is being held. With both campaigns showcasing the power of inclusive sports, Rosanna is joining at an exciting time.

Looking ahead to what is achievable over the coming months, Rosanna commented: “I’m really excited to help tell the stories of disability sport in Scotland and raise its profile, celebrating the people, opportunities and achievements that make it so special.
Through my work with JudoScotland, I’ve already had a glimpse of the incredible work taking place across governing bodies, clubs and communities to break down barriers and create opportunities for people to participate in sport. I’m looking forward to meeting even more of the passionate individuals making this happen, hearing their stories and helping amplify their voices.
Ultimately, I’m excited to play a part in showcasing the impact of disability sport and helping more people see that sport really is for everyone.”

With Scottish Disability Sport Week providing opportunities to showcase every aspect of disability sport. From the Power of Participation, and Overcoming Barriers, to highlighting the importance of Intersectionality, recognising the many inclusive Clubs and Communities, the growing Accessibility, and emerging Performance Pathways, each of the week long campaign’s themes offer an opportunity to celebrate inclusive sporting practices. This is something that Rosanna feels is important, saying: “Sport is about so much more than medals. It means different things to different people, whether that’s friendship, fitness, competition or something else. Whatever the motivation, sport should be a place where everyone feels welcome, included and that they belong.
But for that to happen, people need to see what’s possible. By raising the profile of disability sport and sharing the stories of individuals across Scotland, from community clubs to the Paralympic stage, we can challenge perceptions, inspire others to get involved and show that sport really is for everyone. Representation matters, and the more visible disability sport becomes, the more we can help create a sporting landscape where everyone feels they have a place.”

A further opportunity to identify barriers to participation, opportunities for growth, and good practices, within disability sport, is SDS’s National Survey. The second edition of the National Survey was launched on October 28^th2026, where by listening to people with disabilities, learning from their experiences in sport, and gaining an understanding of issues faced by individuals when attempting to become physically active, SDS can promote and shape a sporting landscape where everyone feels like they have opportunities to be physically active.

As well as being passionate about increasing awareness around Para Sport, Rosanna is also extremely passionate about every aspect of inclusive sports, including women and girls, she said: “As with all forms of representation, you have to see it to be it. Having women working throughout the sporting sector, across all roles and at every level, helps challenge perceptions, create opportunities and show the next generation what’s possible.
It’s equally important that women’s voices and lived experiences are heard and valued. By listening to those experiences, we can shape more inclusive policies, practices and interventions that better reflect the needs of everyone involved in sport.
My own experiences of sport as a teenager shaped my understanding of how easily girls can lose confidence when they don’t feel they belong. Today, that drives my mission to help create a sporting landscape where everyone feels welcome, supported and able to thrive.”

To find out how you can get started on your pathway in sport, reach out to Scottish Disability Sport at admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or contact your local SDS Branch.

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

31/08/2026

Celebration of Para Sport: a Call to Action

During the Commonwealth Games, Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) held it’s first ever Celebration of Para Sport event at Team Scotland House, Glasgow. The event brought together leaders and key influencers from the sport, disability and third sectors, to reflect on the history of para sport in the Commonwealth Games, highlight the achievement of notable athletes and celebrate the success of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Furthermore, it was an opportunity for SDS to update everyone in attendance on the next important steps of the four-point Call to Action and what else needs to change in order for sport and physical activity to become more accessible for individuals with disabilities.

The day provided a welcome opportunity to celebrate Glasgow 2026 having the most inclusive events programme in Commonwealth history, and how as a wider workforce, they have ensured the Games legacy results in longer term involvement in sport.

The event reached it’s maximum capacity, as SDS were joined by leaders of varying sectors, notable attendees included David Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of ParalympicsGB, Forbes Dunlop sportscotland’s Chief Executive Officer, Maree Todd Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs, Gavin Thomson, Motability Scheme’s Managing Director of Scotland, and a selection of Chief Executive Officers and senior managers from Scottish Governing Bodies of sport and other third sector partners.

A series of fantastic guest speakers attended the event, who shared their journeys in sport, its impact on their wider lives and the progress of the Para sport movement.

One of these guest speakers was Finlay Davidson, a member of Team Scotland’s squad for Glasgow 2026, also a member of SDS’s most recent Young Persons’ Sports Pannel (YPSP). Interviewed by Grace Stirling a former member of SDS staff and YPSP member, who now works for Glasgow 2026, Finlay was able to provide fantastic insight into representing Team Scotland in Para Powerlifting at his debut Commonwealth Games, along with providing the audience with his valuable lived experience, where he discussed barriers he has had to overcome, representing his family in Glasgow, and how his journey to becoming part of Team Scotland’s squad transpired.

Maria Lyle was part of the guest speaker cohort, where the former Para Athlete with Team Scotland and Paralympics GB, and former SDS staff member and YPSP member was able to share her thoughts. Interviewed by Gemma Lumsdaine (Former YPSP member and current Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby player), Maria was able to share her experiences of being a multiple World, European and Paralympic medalist, along with reflecting on her experience representing Team Scotland at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, where she won a historic silver medal in the T35 100m. Maria was able to provide insight gained through lived experience into what policy and system changes are needed to make sport and physical activity inclusive, as well as explaining the vital role that education will have when changing perception of disabilities and Para Sport.

The event provided an important platform to highlight SDS’s four-point Call to Action which was published in September 2025. Created after the publication of SDS’s national survey, undertaken in partnership with Queen Margaret University, the Call to Action highlights the ongoing inequalities individuals with disabilities experience when accessing sport and physical activity. The campaign calls on government, local authorities, health boards, education providers, leisure trusts and third-sector organisations to recognise the rights of people with disabilities.

The next edition of the SDS National Survey is scheduled to launch on 1 September. Please do keep a look out for it, complete and share with all your relevant networks to ensure that the opinions of people with disabilities guide the policy and strategy for organisations across sport and physical activity.

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

20/08/2026

British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) is recruiting a Head of Belonging.

As the Head of Belonging (Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion), you will lead the development and implementation of BUCS’ Belonging Strategy and Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), ensuring EEDI is embedded throughout our organisation, programmes and culture.

Working closely with colleagues across BUCS and a wide range of external stakeholders, you will provide strategic leadership and expert guidance to influence positive change. From reviewing competitions and events through an EEDI lens to supporting governance, people practices and organisational policy, you’ll play a key role in helping us deliver our mission of placing sport and active wellbeing at the heart of the student experience.

Reporting to the Director of Business Operations, you will be a member of the Management Team and will lead organisation-wide initiatives that create lasting impact.

For more information, including the full Job Description and person specification, please click here.

03/08/2026

Applications now open for the Scottish Disability Sport Gordon Brown Memorial Trophy (Athletes’ Athlete Award).

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS), are delighted to announce that applications are now open for the SDS Gordon Brown Memorial Trophy (Athletes’ Athlete Award).

Nominations are sought for this prestigious annual award which is presented at the SDS Annual General Meeting and Presentation of Awards. This award is voted for by Scottish Para athletes actively involved at club and international levels. The performances of the individual must have taken place between 8 September 2025 and 6 August 2026; this should be considered when submitting your vote.

The closing date for nominations is 1st September 2026.

To submit a vote for an athlete, click on the below link:

Scottish Disability Sport Gordon Brown Memorial Trophy Athletes’ Athlete of the Year Award) – Fill out form

22/07/2026

Commonwealth Games: Powered By Volunteers.

This summer, from Thursday 23^rd July to Sunday 2^nd August, the Commonwealth Games will take place. Being held in Glasgow, Scotland, the upcoming edition of the Multi Sport event, will provide the Scottish nation with a front row seat to watch some of the world’s finest athletes perform at the highest level. Taking centre stage, the athletes will prepare to represent their countries, and everyone who has supported them throughout their journeys in sport.

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) are not only proud to play an ongoing part in Scotland’s sporting system, throughout grassroot sport and the performance pathway, supporting Scottish athletes as they make the transition from playground to podium. But to also have a committed team of staff and volunteers that will be supporting at Glasgow 2026.

SDS’s Education and Learning Manager, Alison Shaw, will be at the Games, as part of a dedicated Athletes Services team at Tollcross International Swimming Centre, covering the swimming and para swimming competitions. Alison will play a vital role in making sure that athletes have everything they need, in order to perform at the highest level.

Looking forward to the Games starting, Alison said: “I’m most looking forward to the buzz of the Games – just being part of all the excitement is such a great feeling. I’m also looking forward to meeting other volunteers and looking after the swimmers.”

“Glasgow 2026 is going to play a huge part in creating a whole host of role models. Not only will the Games feature athletes from a range of backgrounds – including different ages, abilities, impairments, sports and cultures, but the same can be said of the staff and volunteers who are just as diverse. The Glasgow 2026 team has done a lot of work to understand the needs of different groups, including working with the SDS Young Persons’ Sports Panel to make sure that the volunteering application process and opportunities was inclusive for disabled people, ensuring there’ll be a role model for everyone at the Games this year.”

Also at the Games, will be SDS’s Central Regional Manager, Mark Stevenson, who will have a busy schedule, being Head Coach for Team Scotland’s 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball squads. Through undertaking several positions in the sport, such as Great Britain’s U23 Men’s Wheelchair Basketball team’s Head Coach, Mark has made himself an integral part of Scotland’s Wheelchair Basketball network.

With Team Scotland’s Men’s and Women’s 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball squads starting their campaigns on Saturday 25^th July, Mark is excited for what is to come, he said: “I am extremely proud to be supporting the Scotland squad’s preparations. We have two great squads and are part of an absolutely amazing Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball 3×3 programme. The Commonwealth Games is the highest competition that we can compete in the Blue of Scotland, in Wheelchair Basketball, as it is TeamGB for Paralympics, European and Worlds. We cannot wait to do ourselves proud, compete with the best in the world and come home with medals.”

As Scotland’s governing body for boccia, SDS has built up an amazing network of dedicated volunteers, coaches and officials, who work to support the delivery of boccia sessions, clubs, events and competitions. One of these volunteers is Ling Man, who volunteers for Dumfries and Galloway Disability Sport, delivering boccia and swimming sessions.

At the Commonwealth Games, Ling will be part of the volunteer team at Scotstoun Athletics “As this is my first time volunteering at a major event, I am nervous at what to expect, as well as being excited to meet other volunteers and elite athletes. I do not currently know too much about what my role will be throughout the Games. However, what I do know is that Glasgow 2026 is an amazing opportunity to showcase Scotland’s passion for inclusive sport, and to demonstrate what people with disabilities can achieve at the highest level. I’m proud to be part of an event that celebrates talent, determination and community, and I’m looking forward to playing my part in making it a memorable experience.” Ling said.

Josh Thomson, SDS’s Events Manager, will also be at the Games this summer, undertaking the role of Commonwealth Games Association Assistant. Primarily providing administrative support to the Commonwealth Association of Papua New Guinea, Josh will play an important role, helping them to have a fun, successful and enjoyable experience during their time in Glasgow.

With an opportunity to have a front row seat to the sport this summer, Josh is looking forward to seeing the importance of major events in the sporting pathway “I think the Commonwealth Games is a vital sporting opportunity within the performance pathway. For young Scottish athletes in particular to see athletes in their sport competing internationally while wearing the Team Scotland jersey will be so inspiring and motivating. The chance for some athletes to get that first step onto the international stage in front of an incredible and supportive home crowd will help them so much and be a real benefit to their career development moving forward. The sharing of their knowledge and experiences from these games will undoubtedly help the next generation of athletes coming through. Overall, the games give belief to upcoming athletes that international sport can be achievable for them as well.” Josh said.

To find out how you can get started as a volunteer in sport, reach out to Scottish Disability Sport at admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or contact your local SDS Branch.

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

22/06/2026

Nominations Open for SDS Annual Awards

Nominations are invited from those connected with Scottish Disability Sport for their annual awards ceremony, that will be presented at the Annual General Meeting on Saturday 19 September 2026. It is important that there is a clear indication why the individual/group is being nominated.

There are 12 award categories, as listed below:

- - SDS Glasgow Trophy for Service to Sport – This award recognises individuals who have played an active role in the development of SDS in any capacity whatsoever. Length of service as an SDS volunteer is an aspect that has been taken into consideration in determining appropriate recipients in the past.
SDS Fife Trophy for Coach of the Year – This award recognises coaches who have played a significant role in supporting SDS members to achieve their full potential.
Russell Hogg Trophy for Development Coach of the Year – This award recognises emerging coaches who have committed to supporting Scottish athletes and players with a disability.
Findlay Calder Trophy for Athlete of the Year – Awarded to the athlete who has contributed most to disability athletics in the past year.
Brian Dolan Memorial Trophy for Swimmer of the Year – This award is specifically for the swimmer who has contributed most to disability swimming in the past year.
Angus Trophy – Awarded to the Sportsperson of the Year (excluding athletics and swimming).
SDS Dedication to Boccia Award – A brand new award for 2026. This award is being introduced to recognise a player, coach, official or volunteer who has contributed significantly to the sport of boccia in the past year.
Elspeth Watson Trophy – Awarded to an individual out with SDS who has contributed significantly to disability sport.
Special Recognition Award – This award recognises individuals who have made a significant contribution in raising the profile of disability sport in Scotland.
John de Courcy Trophy – This award is specifically for a talented newcomer.
Janice Eaglesham Club of the Year Award – This award was introduced in 2020 and has been generously supported by Neil’s Wheels. It will be awarded to a sports club that has demonstrated a sustained commitment to the inclusion of participants and athletes with a disability.
SDS Community Champion Award – Recognising an individual or organisation who has gone above and beyond to support the development of disability sport in their local community.

All nominations should be returned in confidence, before Monday 17 August 2026.

To submit, please fill out this form: https://tinyurl.com/fyf8c2xn

A list of former award winners can be seen on the website here: https://www.scottishdisabilitysport.com/sds-award-winners

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.