At the excellent Kirkcaldy & Central Fife Sports Council Annual Sports Awards evening at Fife College, Disability Sport Fife (DSF) President Richard Brickley received a £500 cheque from Greig Hopcroft, KCFSC development officer. The cheque was in response to a grant application submitted by DSF for continued Sports Council support for the very successful inclusive gymnastics programme at the Enigma Gymnastics Club.
DSF and the Enigma club have been working in partnership for 18 months on a series of initiatives that have resulted in around 15 young gymnasts with additional support needs being threaded into the club’s training sessions. With initial support from parent Paula Ryce and Meg Buchanan of Active Fife, Head Coach Jenn Mann and her team of dedicated coaches established a series of separate sessions for gymnasts with Down Syndrome specifically.
Disability Sport Fife helped with education, training, registration and publicity and Kirkcaldy and Central Fife Sports Council provided grant aid to cover gymnast governing body registrations. Enigma gymnasts with additional support needs are now threaded throughout the club and a significant number of Enigma coaches play a part in their learning and development. The Enigma model, with partner support, is a wonderful example of successful inclusive sport in action. Disability Sport Fife and Enigma are working together as part of Get Out Get Active (GOGA in Fife) supported by Spirit of 2012. This is a UK wide programme aimed at creating inclusive active recreation opportunities for inactive individuals with disabilities. DSF leads the GOGA in Fife programme.
Enigma head coach Jenn Mann was recognised in the coach of the year section of the awards evening and received her runners up trophy from Heather Birrell from Dundas Estates and Development. Outstanding Enigma volunteer Linda Cameron was also recognised at the awards evening for the invaluable role she plays in the running of the Enigma club. Sadly I did not manage to take a photo of Linda but the full record of presentations will be captured on the KCFSC web site.
Thank you KCFSC for your continued support and interest in DSF members and also the Enigma coaches and families for creating a very special inclusive sporting environment.
Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife.