Tag: parasport festival

17/02/2025

From Parasport Festival to Representing Scotland: Farn’s Journey

By William Moncrieff, Communications Coordinator

The Impact of the Parasport Festivals: from trying a sport for the first time to performing on the national stage, the Parasport effect.

Just five months after trying wheelchair basketball for the first time at a SDS Parasport Festival, Farn Surgenor found himself competing on the basketball court for Scotland U14’s wheelchair basketball squad.

August 2024, Farn Surgenor (13 years-old, from Glasgow) was selected to compete in the final of British Wheelchair Basketball’s National Junior Championships 2024.

The U14’s squad put in a valiant effort, which saw them finishing in second place, heading home from the University of Worcester Arena with a sense of pride and a silver medal, just to top the week off. Farn described the opportunity as being: “really fun. It was nice just playing with a team as well.”

Farn first tried wheelchair basketball at the West of Scotland Parasport Festival. Farn went along to the Parasport Festival after it was recommended to him by a doctor. The festival provides young school children with fantastic opportunities to take part in a range of fun, inclusive and engaging activities that are delivered by some of the best coaches and clubs in the region.

One sport that was there and provided a meaningful impact for all participants was basketball, delivered by Tina Gordon from basketballscotland. Fraser Kennedy, the West of Scotland Regional Development Manager, explained that individuals attending like Tina Gordon, help to ensure that there are opportunities for regular involvement in physical activity after the festival.

“I think it’s really important to have sports where there are local opportunities and pathways to progress after the Parasport [festival] so that we can engage young people in sustained, regular activity in the community but also providing opportunities to progress through a performance pathway,” said Fraser.

Tina Gordon was part of the delivery team that introduced Farn to wheelchair basketball at the festival and he proved to be a natural player.

“I found it quite easy, as when I was younger, I had a wheelchair and I was used to using it. I also used to play basketball when I was younger as well,” Farn explained.

He continued to say, “I just feel chuffed” and, “I really liked the social aspect of it.”

Going into the festival, Farn was not aware of wheelchair basketball and the endless amount of opportunities that it can provide. “I didn’t know it was a thing up until then,” he said. The fact that Farn wasn’t aware of the sport is one of Fraser’s favorite aspects of the day. Fraser added, “My favorite thing about the Parasport festivals is seeing children getting the opportunity to try new sports they might have never have seen or tried before.”

Following on from the festival, Farn started to attend training with Lothian Pheonix. This training has helped Farn continue to develop in the sport, commenting: “It was quite fun, I was learning quite fast as well.”

Hopefully, Farn will continue to develop in the sport and have more opportunities to represent Scotland.

To be just like Farn and to find your passion for physical activity and sport throughout your region, contact your Regional Development Manager. If you have enjoyed reading about the Parasport festivals, make sure to have a look at the SDS website, with registration now being open for the 2025 Parasport festivals.

Make sure to stay up to date on all opportunities throughout Scotland, by following Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, Instagram and X, as well as on the SDS website.

15/01/2025

Kirsty Byrne Appointed Fife Regional Development Manager

Using sport as a vehicle to empower change, meet the new Regional Development Manager for Fife, Kirsty Byrne.

By William Moncrieff, Communications Coordinator

Taking up the role of Scottish Disability Sport’s (SDS) Regional Development Manager for the region of Fife, Kirsty is looking forward to getting started throughout the region and hopes to, “use sport as an avenue to empower young people and adults to believe they can achieve anything that they want to, despite any barriers.”

Helping empower athletes of all abilities is something that Kirsty is incredibly keen to continue working towards in her new position. “It’s the reason I do my job, to give the athletes and participants the ability and opportunity to achieve anything they want to.”

“To play a part in helping provide individuals with opportunities to become physically active is just so special.”

Kirsty takes up the Regional Development Manager position after formerly being in post as Branch Coordinator for Disability Sport Fife and will be continuing her role as SDS’s events Coordinator, alongside her new position.

Throughout her previous roles as Branch Coordinator and Events Coordinator, Kirsty has had the opportunity to witness athletes come through the branch and events pathway which has provided her with a unique insight into the development and continued development of athletes. Last summer at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Disability Sport Fife celebrated the golden success of their athlete, Ben Sandilands. “We have worked with Ben and his family a lot. To see him win a gold medal and set a new world record is something I will always remember.”

“It was a special moment for everyone in Fife and at Disability Sport Fife.”

Kirsty became involved in disability sport towards the end of her time in high school, where there was an opportunity for senior pupils to volunteer in the attached ASN school. Throughout this time, Kirsty had opportunities to help in physical education classes. It was here that she saw firsthand the benefits of sport.

“I could see straight away the important role sport has on young people and the difference it can make. Just seeing the smiles on their faces when they achieve something they didn’t think was possible, for me that is everything”, explained Kirsty.

In 2024 as the Fife Branch Coordinator, Kirsty played a key role in the delivery of Fife’s very first Parasport Festival. For Kirsty this was an amazing day, further showcasing the benefits of physical activity. She said: “That was definitely one of my highlights from 2024, having so many participants in the room at one time, experiencing and engaging in sports for the first time, highlighting what is on offer around Fife.”

Furthermore, it showcased the importance of partnership working within the region. “Following on from that [Parasport festival], we had engagement (with clubs and organisations) throughout, participants are now involved in swimming sessions and tennis sessions for example. It just showcases what you can do when everyone comes together and celebrates sport”, Kirsty said.

This use of partnership working is something that Kirsty is keen to continue working on in her new role. “Having that conversation and sharing knowledge of what is available, just being able to support each other, because ultimately at the end of the day, at the center of everything, is the participants”, said Kirsty.

If you would like to know more about the opportunities available in Fife, please contact Kirsty on: kirsty.byrne@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

If you are based elsewhere and keen to learn more about your local opportunities, please contact your Regional Development Manager

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

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.

13/03/2017

Tayside Parasport Festival Set to Soar in Dundee

The 3^rd annual Tayside Parasport Festival is set to take place in Dundee on Wednesday 15^th March 2017. The event will be hosted at Dundee & Angus College, Gardyne Campus and will be supported by Scottish Governing Bodies, coaches and Dundee & Angus College students.

The Parasport Festival is a great opportunity for children with a physical or sensory impairment to come and try a range of sports and meet other children. It is open to children at both primary and secondary school.

For further information, please contact Jennifer Scally on 07703 793 901 or jennifer.scally@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

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