Disability Sport Fife (DSF) is privileged to enjoy a very special relationship with the Active Schools team in Fife. Staff members across Fife are constantly on the lookout for youngsters with a physical, sensory or learning disability who might benefit from DSF activities and in some areas of Fife Active Schools staff organise very successful inclusive weekly multi sports sessions and specific holiday programmes.
In the west of Fife for example there are well established early evening multi sports sessions at Beath Community Use HS and Dunfermline Community Use HS. When approached by Andrew Baird from the Active Schools team in the west of Fife for support with their 2016 October holiday programme, DSF was happy to approach partners, athletes and volunteer coaches to assist with the delivery of some sessions at Dunfermline Community Use HS for pupils with additional support needs.
DSF athletics coach Gayle Sloan from Dunfermline, ably assisted by athlete Callum Sloan, delivered a run and jump and throws session which was well received by all the enthusiastic young participants. Fresh from their exploits in Rio, Paralympian Kieran Steer from Crossgates and GB Boccia coach Claire Morrison from Dalgety Bay, followed up two days later with an equally challenging and exciting boccia session. Young senior high schools volunteers from local Secondary Schools were in attendance to offer their support.
The Fife model of inclusive programming and delivery offers the opportunity for more children to be more active, more often regardless of ability. The October Active Schools programme in west Fife involved a wide range of partners and the beneficiaries were the many youngsters with additional support needs who signed up for the sessions. Partnership working in Fife is the norm not the exception.
Photo: Claire and Kieran – Active Schools staff Murray McBain and Andrew Baird – Queen Anne HS volunteer Sophie
Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife