Month: May 2020

29/05/2020

Tuesday Night Live – Athlete Journeys

Beginning on 9 June at 1900, we are delighted to announce that we will be streaming interviews with para athletes who have a great story to tell.

Derek Rae (T46), Scottish and GB Para Athlete, 2016 Rio Paralympian and 2019 Para Athletics Marathon World Championship silver medalist, has kindly agreed to share his inspirational journey in the first of this series. He will be joined by Richard Brickley OBE MBE, who will be posing questions to Derek about his career to date following an introduction from Derek himself.

The evening will close with an opportunity, if time allows, for questions to be asked from the audience.

Please join the conversation by signing up with the link below:

Tuesday Night Live: Derek Rae with Richard Brickley

The next athlete will be Aileen Neilson, Paralympic wheelchair curling, on 23 June, with further dates announced shortly.

29/05/2020

Branch Communication Update 7

We have reached the tenth week of the official lockdown and are beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel about some return to sport. SDS sincerely hopes this continues to find you all well.

This is our seventh Branch Communication Update. As ever, any feedback on these – and any other aspect of SDS’s ongoing work is always welcome and appreciated.

Safe return of sport – key messages:
- The Scottish Government’s Route Map can be found here. Further detailed documents containing guidance on the other phases will be published in due course.
- The Key points about Phase 1
  1. This guidance relates only to exercise in Scotland
  2. Only exercise with people from your own household and/ or one other household
  3. Stay local to home
  4. Travel limited to “broadly” 5 miles from home
  5. Be kind, friendly and considerate to everyone you meet
  6. Follow Public Health guidelines for hygiene
  7. Maintain physical distancing
  8. No branch/ clubs or centre organised activity
  9. Exercise well within your capabilities

There is still a high risk of the virus is not yet contained and a continued risk of overwhelming NHS capacity. Our priority remains to protect the health of our members, volunteers and staff and the wider community and help to suppress the spread of the Covid-19 virus. We should all continue to follow the government’s and public health guidelines and stay at home as much as possible. If you or anyone within your household has coronavirus you should continue to self-isolate. If you have any questions about the guidance please don’t hesitate to contact admin@Scottishdisabilitysport.com

Activities that are not possible in Phase 1:

- Group Coaching, Leading and Guiding: This cannot take place in Phase 1 as the current Scottish Government advice allows for a form of daily exercise rather than “sport”
- Branch & Club activity: This cannot take place in Phase 1 as this phase only allows up to two households to exercise together. Club facilities should remain closed and there should be no club activity. Information about the reopening of clubs and centres in later phases will be shared as it becomes available.

SDS Strategic Plan 2021 Consultation
- FINAL REMINDER! SDS would welcome as many people as possible to feedback on our SDS Strategic Plan Consultation 2021 Onwards. Thanks to all those who have shared this already and please continue to promote and encourage people to respond. The link to the form can be found here and should take approximately 10-15 mins to complete.
2020 National Events Calendar & National Squad Cancellation: REMINDER
- You will have received an email during the week regarding the cancellation of all remaining National Events, Engagement Days & National Squad Training in 2020. The full statement can be found here
Special Olympics National Summer Games Postponed: Special Olympics have announced the 2021 Special Olympics GB National Summer Games, scheduled to take place in Liverpool next August 2021, are to be postponed. For more information please see this link
Sharing Ideas
- Ayrshire Sportsability: Through funding from the STV Children’s Appeal Ayrshire Sportsability has some online activities featuring athletics, football, rugby and dance. More information can be found on their Facebook page.
- Forth Valley Disability Sport Marathon Challenge: FVDS are encouraging people to walk 26 miles in the month of June. A great way of staying active daily.
- South Lanarkshire held their annual awards online. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners.
- Richard Vallis: 3 Charities Challenge: Richard Vallis, a long-serving volunteer from the Lothian Branch, is currently undertaking a sponsored walk fundraising challenge. Please support if you can by using the link at the start.
- Dumfries and Galloway – Ran an online session for athletes, parents and coaches. The session started with a treasure hunt around the participants home and then had a Q&A session with questions submitted to the branch before hand to discuss during the session. DGDS are supporting the Regional Sports Week encouraging all their athletes and participants to get active with plenty ideas and videos to keep them going.
#Giveitago
- Activity Inclusion Cards: Branch Challenge! 8 cards have been selected for participants to try over the coming 8 weeks. The first card appeared on Monday and people were challenged to complete the Snake Slalom. The next challenge for you and your family to complete is coming your way on Monday. There is still time to register here. SDS encourages all branches to actively promote this opportunity to their members and the wider community to keep everyone active and having fun. The taking part is definitely the important thing here! Please send in or tag us in your videos to @sds_sport on Twitter or on the Scottish Disability Sport Facebook and Instagram pages.
Virtual Parasport Festivals: If you were as disappointed as us when you heard that some of the Parasport Festivals in our series were cancelled, then don’t worry! Watch this space for more information about two events for you and your family to take part in. Guaranteed fun! Save the dates in your diary. Sunday 26 July and Sunday 23 August.
Free online Mental Health Course: UK Coaching, our awarding body 1^st4Sport and our partners – Mind and Sport England – have taken the decision to make this online course free to access until 31 August 2020 for the whole coaching community.
This week/ month is…
- National Walking Month 2020: for those of you involved with the Paths For All Step Count challenge, we hope you are finishing strongly for the last few days of the month to get your total as high as possible.
- Next week is Volunteers Week, 1-7 June: This takes place on the 1 – 7 June every year. It’s a chance to celebrate the contributions millions of volunteers make across the UK. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and in the absence of organised sport it has put into sharp focus the dedication and commitment made by our magnificent group of volunteers. Our member branches are led by a stalwart group with vast experience and expertise which continue to provide crucial opportunities. Aside from this at a national level SDS is fortunate to be able to call on the skills, knowledge and expertise of a passionate band of dedicated individuals.
SDS Member Branch Media: To keep up to date with what else is happening around our member branches please see the links below to their various media channels.

Angus Disability Sport

Ayrshire Sportsability

Borders Disability Sport

Dumfries & Galloway Disability Sport

Dundee City Disability Sport

Disability Sport Fife

Forth Valley Disability Sport

Glasgow Disability Sport

Grampian Disability Sport

Highland Disability Sport

Lothian Disability Sport

Perth & Kinross Disabilty Sport

South Lanarkshire Disability Sport

29/05/2020

SDS Guidance Paper PHASE 1 – Extension to Exercise: Outdoor Sport

This guidance is being produced to support athletes, participants with a disability, SDS Branches, coaches, volunteers and staff on phase 1 of the return of outdoor sport and recreation in Scotland.

IMPORTANT: Do not leave your home to undertake exercise or outdoor activity if Scottish Government advice means you should stay at home because you or someone you live with has or has had symptoms of COVID-19, or you are in the most vulnerable category and have been advised to shield from the coronavirus.

It has to be emphasised that phase 1 guidance does not mean a return to sport but is linked to the extension to exercise in a safe environment. It does not mean a return to competitive sport or taking part in clubs, sessions or coaching from an SDS perspective.

Some sporting activities can now be undertaken outdoors, providing all activity is consistent with current Scottish Government guidance on health, physical distancing and hygiene. Further guidance will be available from your mainstream Scottish Governing Body to advise you on the implications for your individual sport.

For the sport of boccia there will be no return to clubs, sessions or any other form of coaching or competition for the foreseeable future. SDS will publish further updates and guidance as they are announced relating to phases 2-4. https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-framework-decision-making-scotlands-route-map-through-out-crisis/

SDS key messages for the extension to exercise outdoor sport in phase 1.

This guidance relates only to exercise in Scotland
Only exercise with people from your own household and/ or one other household
Stay local to home
Travel limited to “broadly” 5 miles from home
Be kind, friendly and considerate to everyone you meet
Follow Public Health guidelines for hygiene
Maintain physical distancing
No branch/ clubs or centre organised activity
Exercise well within your capabilities

There is still a high risk that the virus is not yet contained and there is continued risk of overwhelming NHS capacity. Our priority remains to protect the health of our coaches, volunteers, athletes, participant, staff and the wider community and help to suppress the spread of the Covid-19 virus. We should all continue to follow the government’s and public health guidelines and stay at home as much as possible. If you or anyone within your household has coronavirus you should continue to self-isolate.

Information on Scottish Governments approach to managing covid-19 is available at www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/.

People who are shielding should not visit venues or undertake activities. People who are symptomatic should self-isolate for 7 days; household members for 14 days as per info on NHS guidance. No one who is self-isolating should attend an outdoor sports facility/activity.

Should a return to sport be possible for your sport during phase 1 in line with government and your sport specific Scottish Governing Body guidelines the following general guidance should be considered.

For further information on general guidance see below.

SDS Phase 1 Further Guidance

26/05/2020

Rebecca Lee out and about in the Bay taking photos and raising money for charity

Who else could have taken this photo but our own Rebecca Lee who was out and about in Dalgety Bay capturing local residents on camera? Rebecca’s project is entitled “the Lockdown Family” and just by chance she manged to take this excellent photo of Disability Sport Fife member Kirsty Brunton and family. The Bruntons were as usual out and about and active safely.

Rebecca refers to “doorstep family photos” that mark this historic period in all our lives. Not surprisingly she was at least two metres away from all her subjects and as well as helping her get back into the swing of taking photos, she was raising money for the Trussel Trust and SAMH. Rebecca took no fee but asked for a donation that would be split between the two charities.

Rebecca is a four times Commonwealth Games Team Scotland photographer and a winner of several major awards. She was a Team GB photographer at the London Paralympic Games and LensCulture International Portrait Award Winner in 2015.

Excellent initiative Rebecca and thank you for photographing one of Disability Sport Fife’s very talented all-round sportswomen and her devoted family.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees

25/05/2020

#GiveItaGo

It is time to get active with the first of eight weekly challenges – The Snake Slalom.

Scottish Disability Sport invites you to have fun and get active with your family using our activity cards which are posted on the website. The purpose is to challenge individuals, family and friends to give it a go each week using a different activity card. Click here to see the Snake Slalom.

How many weeks can you be involved and who will have the most points at the end?

To register click here.

10 points awarded for submitting your video
Bonus points will be awarded for creativity
The team with the most creative video each week will receive a £10 Amazon voucher
A new challenge is set every Monday afternoon
Closing date for entries is 6pm on the Sunday of each week
Everyone who sends in a video will appear in the weekly roundup montage.

Have fun. We can’t wait to see your videos!

22/05/2020

Young Fife boccia player remembers a very special coaching day

Tyler McLelland from Windygates remembers with great fondness the coaching sessions he thoroughly enjoyed from fellow Scot Stephen McGuire who is one of the leading BC4 boccia players in the world. Tyler also competes in the BC4 class and looks up to Stephen and all that he has achieved in the sport as Scotland’s most successful male boccia player. Tyler is on his personal journey in the sport, having been invited to join the Scottish squad last year for the first time.

The photo was taken on the competition court in the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre where the coaching sessions took place. Tyler also has a competition court at Auchmuty HS where he is a pupil. The court was laid with the full support of the PT Ally Jack and staff team in the PE Department. Tyler has been organising recreational boccia sessions within school time for fellow pupils.

Tyler is an a mission to follow in the footsteps of Kieran Steer from Crossgates who was a member of Team GB at the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016. Both players are members of Scottish Boccia and the national squad.

Parents Mark and Emma are fully involved with Tyler on his journey and mum Emma is Tyler’s official coach. Some years ago the Order of St John Fife paid for a new set of boccia balls for Tyler from Spain to add to the set already provided by DSF. This equipment completely transformed Tyler’s accuracy and consistency. Best wishes to Tyler and of course Kieran in the months and years ahead.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees

22/05/2020

Young Fife athlete raises £300 for Fairway Fife

Last week I reported that DSF athlete/swimmer Calum Robertson was planning to complete a marathon in three days and raise funds for Fairway Fife.

This week I can report that this very popular former Balwearie HS pupil has successfully completed his marathon attempt over three days in daily times as follows:

Day 1 9.08 miles

Day 2 11.5 miles

Day 3 7.93 miles

Total of 28.5 miles

Congratulations to Callum who has currently raised over £300 for Fairway Fife.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees

22/05/2020

We are all committed to regular walking – are you?

During the life of GOGA in Fife supported by Spirit of 2012, this group of DSF members became committed to regular walking. They also committed to using their pedometers, sometimes walking poles and most importantly recorded their daily totals.

Thank you to Active Fife and Bums off Seats specifically plus Paths for All for helping GOGA in Fife with the walking initiative. Walking is very firmly on the Disability Sport Fife programme now and after lockdown we shall be organising another series of GOGA Walks in the Park that were such a success last year.

During lockdown please try to walk whenever you can. No need to travel far to have a walk but remember the rules of social distancing. Stay home, stay safe but stay active.

Richard brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees

22/05/2020

Young Fife athlete staying home and staying active

DSF athletics coach Pamela Robson heard yesterday from young Dylan Hassan’s grandad and mum that Dylan is over the moon with his new KMX trike. He has not stopped smiling since it arrived and he is determined he is going to be active and often. The whole family is having such fun.

Dylan is a member of the Thursday DSF run, jump and throws session for juniors at Pitreavie Athletics Centre supported by Fife Sports and Leisure Gym. GOGA in Fife supported by Spirit of 2012 identified adapted cycling as one of its core active recreation sessions. With brilliant facilities like Lochore Meadows Country Park and Fife Cycle Park plus Fife’s amazing parks there are plenty of settings to push and pedal. Kirsty Brunton and Ken De Soyza have been leading the way in encouraging recumbent cycling for several years now.

Best wishes Dylan with your new “mean machine”. We look forward to seeing you in action on video at some time in the future. Dylan is yet another Fife youngster to share a good news story about being active in Fife during lockdown. The family are of course staying safe at all times.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of charity Trustees

22/05/2020

Paddling experience never to be forgotten

Last year Disability Sport Fife was honoured to be involved in an inclusive paddling project at Lochore Meadows Country Park. Our partners were Fife Canoe Activities Group FCAG, Scottish Canoe Association, Scottish Disability Sport and of course Lochore Meadows Country Park. The aim was to create a video that promoted inclusive paddling and that video has now been viewed extensively and hopefully will encourage disabled participants of all abilities to take to the water.

Four Disability Sport Fife members were key to the success of the video and promoting the case for inclusive paddling. Lara Ferguson, Kirsty Brunton, Carter Taylor and Graham McIntyre were the DSF stars of the project. All progressed significantly as a result of the training sessions on the water at the Meadows. FCAG club members could not have been any more patient, innovative, skilled and receptive to the objectives of the project. The video will hopefully inspire others to approach the club and head for the Meadows after lock down. Being outdoors on the water in the Kingdom is very special. On our doorstep we have some of the best and most welcoming facilities on the planet.

Inclusive paddling is here to stay in Fife and the Fife Canoe Activities Group is leading the way with the Scottish Canoe Association.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees