Children and Young People with disabilities from across Grampian had an amazing summer thanks to Scottish Government funding.
As part of the Get Into Summer funding available through councils, Grampian Disability Sport and the Grampian Regional Manager were able to secure £8,000 through Moray Council and Aberdeenshire ClubSport to run 14 outdoor adventure activities and activity days in the 2 local authority areas.
Additionally, SDS worked with Aberdeenshire Council’s education team to put on a further 16 activity days and sessions for young people living in Aberdeenshire.
Activities were offered as full and half day options at various activity centres, and standalone sessions in water sport disciplines were also up for grabs.
Our young people, who often face challenges and barriers when trying to access adventure and experience appropriate risk, had the opportunity to try a number of different activities including climbing, archery, clay pigeon shooting, surfing, karting, laser tag and off road driving.
Combined, 415 outdoor adventure opportunities were offered to children and young people aged 8 – 17 with disabilities and additional support needs living in Moray & Aberdeenshire.
Helen, parent of 2 children who attended the Moray activities, said “It was lovely meeting other families with similar struggles, and we can’t wait for paddleboarding and surfing this week! It’s made our summer holidays a little brighter!”
Paddleboarding in particular has been so successful this summer that a number of families have invested in their own equipment, and we’re investigating setting up a monthly session with one of the providers after an overwhelming number of requests from families.
Thank you to Live Life Aberdeenshire, Moray Council, Aberdeenshire ClubSport and Aberdeenshire Council for distributing the funding that made this possible.
If you, or anyone you know, lives with a physical, sensory or learning disability in Grampian or Shetland & is interested in getting involved in sport, please get in touch with Alison on alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com or 07828 744 848.
Today marks one year to go until the 2023 IBSA World Games. Following a successful joint bid to host the event from British Blind Sport, Birmingham City Council, Sport Birmingham, UK Sport and the University of Birmingham, the World Games is set to take place in venues across Birmingham and the wider region from 18th-27th August 2023. It is the largest high-level international event for blind and partially sighted athletes. Over 1,250 athletes will travel from across the world to compete in 11 different sports ranging from powerlifting, tennis and archery. Football (B1 men), goalball (men and women) and judo (men and women) events will also act as qualifying tournaments for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. This will be the first time the Games have been held in the UK.
Almost 2 million people are living with sight loss in the UK. Of these, around 360,000 are registered as blind or partially sighted. Hosting the Games in Birmingham provides a unique opportunity to showcase blind and partially sighted sports to a global audience and to encourage those with sight loss to take part in sport. It will also build on the city’s major events legacy following the success of the Commonwealth Games.
British Blind Sport is the national disability sports organisation that represents blind and partially sighted people in sport and physical activity. As an organisation, we’re supporting the development of facilities for the event and regional legacy plans to help more people living with sight loss to participate in physical activity. We are confident that the 2023 World Games will accelerate our aspirations and contribute to our mission of empowering blind and partially sighted people to get active and enjoy sport, whether it is taking their first steps or securing talent pathways to encourage individuals to reach their full potential.
Sallie Barker, Chair of British Blind Sport, said: “With just 365 days to go until the Games begin, British Blind Sport and the 2023 IBSA World Games organising committee have been working hard to ensure that the Games leave a lasting legacy. With world-class facilities in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, brilliant partners and passionate crowds, we look forward to giving the athletes and spectators a World Games to remember.”
Alaina MacGregor, Chief Executive Officer at British Blind Sport, said: “As Birmingham marks one year to go until the 2023 IBSA World Games, we’re committed to maximising the impact of the Games at a grassroots level. We will be working closely with our partners at local, national and international levels to deliver the event, build the capacity of communities to deliver inclusive opportunities and create a lasting legacy. Bringing such a diverse range of sports together promises to be a truly inspiring event.”
The 2023 Games are forecasted to attract over 1,700 athletes and support staff, 136 international officials and 400 volunteers. For more information on the IBSA World Games, go to: https://www.ibsagames2023.co.uk/ For more information on British Blind Sport, visit: https://britishblindsport.org.uk/
Are you passionate about enabling disabled children and adults to have life changing sporting opportunities and experiences? If the answer is yes, let’s bring achievement, pride and joy to their lives – read on!
Disability Sport Glasgow (SCIO) known as DSG is a voluntary sport group where the main aim is to lead in the development of sport for people with physical, sensory or learning disabilities in partnership with key local agencies and local authority areas in Glasgow. DSG is a member branch of Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) who are the governing body of sport for athletes and players with a physical, sensory or learning disability. DSG have achieved SDS Minimum Operating Requirements (MOR) which ensures all governance is up to date and appropriate. The Board of DSG now wishes to appoint new Board members to join the branch.
GDS are now seeking to fill the positions of Board Member and Communications Board Member, full information below:
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games came to a close last week with Scotland’s para athletes celebrating a fantastic haul of 12 medals won across 5 different sports. This total surpassed the 7 medals won at Glasgow 2014, making Birmingham 2022 Scotland’s most successful Games of all time from a para sport perspective.
31 para athletes were selected for Birmingham across seven sports, another all time record, making up 12% of Team Scotland. The 2022 Games were the most inclusive ever held with 46 medal events, meaning that Scottish athletes won 9% of all para sport medals.
Team Scotland took home an amazing 51 medal from the Games and the 12 medals won by para athletes accounted for 23.5% of this total. A real indication of the inclusive nature of Scottish sport and the commitment of Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport to ensuring equality of opportunity for performance athletes with disabilities.
SDS’s role in supporting the development of these athletes is also evident with 68% of the para athletes at Birmingham having been supported by SDS and its local Branches during their careers.
SDS would like to congratulate all 31 para athletes on their selection for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and would also wish to recognise the parents, coaches and support staff who have been such an import part of this success.
The breakdown of the statistics from Birmingham along with the full list of medal winners are as follows:
Statistics
Team Scotland was represented in 7 out of 8 para sports in Birmingham: athletics, basketball, cycling, lawn bowls, powerlifting, swimming and triathlon.
31 para athletes were selected to represent Team Scotland in Birmingham (12% of Team Scotland).
This was the largest number of para athletes competing for Team Scotland at a Commonwealth Games.
58% of the para athletes on Team Scotland were female
23% of the para team were blind or visually impaired
26% of the para team used a wheelchair for sports
32% of the para team were ambulant with a physical disability/li>
Birmingham 2022 was the most successful commonwealth Games for Scottish para athletes with 12 medals won.
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Total
Glasgow 2014
3
3
1
7
Gold Coast 2018
2
1
0
3
Birmingham 2022
4
4
4
12
Team Scotland won a total of 51 medals in Birmingham with the Scottish para medals making up 23.5% of the total medal haul.
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Team Scotland Medals
13
11
27
Para Medals
4
4
4
Para % of Total
31%
36.5%
15%
The breakdown of medals by sport was as follows:
Sport
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Athletics
0
1
1
Basketball
0
0
0
Cycling
1
2
1
Lawn Bowls
3
0
0
Powerlifting
0
0
1
Swimming
0
1
1
Triathlon
0
0
0
Medal Winners
Kevin Wallace & Garry Brown
Gold – Lawn Bowls Para Men’s Pairs B6/B8
Rosemary Lenton & Pauline Wilson
Gold – Lawn Bowls Para Women’s Pairs B6/B8
Robert Barr & Sarah Jane Ewing (Director) and Melanie Inness & George Miller (Director)
Gold – Lawn Bowls Para Mixed Pairs B2/B3
Neil Fachie OBE & Lewis Stewart (Pilot)
Gold – Para Track Cycling Men’s Tandem B – 1000m Time Trial
Silver – Para Track Cycling Men’s Tandem Sprint B
Aileen McGlynn OBE & Ellie Stone (Pilot)
Silver – Para Track Cycling Women’s Tandem Sprint B
Bronze – Para Track Cycling Women’s Tandem B – 1000m Time Trial
Nominations are now open for the Athletes’ Athlete of the Year Award which will be presented at the AGM on 25 September 2022.
Nominations will be accepted from Scottish para athletes actively involved in sport from club to international level. The performances of the individual between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 should be considered when submitting your vote and these have been listed on the nomination form.
Have you been inspired by the para athletes or the volunteers at the Commonwealth Games? Our team of regional managers can help you find the right opportunity to get active and get involved.
We believe sport and physical activity are for everyone – getting involved can be life changing for you.
Watch the video below to hear first-hand from participants with disabilities about how being active has improved their lives.
If you would like to find out where you can participate please contact Scottish Disability Sport on admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or 0131 317 1130.
Would you like to get involved in disability sport as a volunteer?
Did you know:
14,000 volunteers supported the Commonwealth Games
25% of males and 28% of females volunteer across Scotland
Volunteers in disability sport are crucial to ensuring opportunities take place for participants with disabilities.
If you have been a volunteer at the Commonwealth Games – or have been inspired by them – we are here to find the right volunteering opportunity for you!
Our 14 SDS member branches and their clubs offer many and varied roles including assistant coaches, coaches, committee member and occasional event volunteers. There is something for everyone that will suit you and your availability.
Benefits of volunteering in disability sport:
Gain confidence: volunteering can help you gain confidence by trying something new and building a real sense of achievement.
Make a difference: volunteering can have a real, valuable positive affect on people, communities and society.
Meet people: volunteering helps you meet different kinds of people and make new friends.
Be part of a community: volunteering makes you feel part of something outside your friends and family.
Learn new skills: volunteering will help you learn new skills, gain experience and sometimes even qualifications.
Take on a challenge: through volunteering you can challenge yourself to try something different, achieve personal goals, practice using your skills and discover hidden talents.
Have fun! Most volunteers have a great time, regardless of why they do it.
If you would like to find out more about the range of volunteering opportunities available across Scotland please contact Scottish Disability Sport on admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or 0131 317 1130.
Scottish Disability Sport are delighted to be supporting the return of the 2022 Discovery Games delivered in partnership by Dundee City Disability Sport (DCDS) and Leisure & Culture Dundee (LACD) held between Sunday 11 September and Sunday 25 September.
This will be the 23rd year of this fantastic multi-sport event, which gives opportunities to people of all ages with physical, sensory and learning disabilities compete against others from across Dundee, Tayside and beyond.
3×3 Wheelchair Basketball – 11th September, 10am-4pm at Dundee International Sports Complex, Mains Loan, Dundee, DD4 7AA
DCDS and LACD supported by basketballscotland and Dundee Dragons WSC are delighted to invite entries from across Scotland to Discovery Games first Wheelchair Basketball 3X3 Championships.
CLASSIFICATION/ELIGIBILITY
Athletes must have a classification ratified by basketballscotland
Classifications are permitted between 1.0 and 5.0
Maximum number of team points on court at any one time is 9.0
TEAMS
Teams will be grouped in ability level pools prior to the start of the tournament
Mixed gender teams are permitted. When a female player is on court 1.0 will be added to the team classification allowance
Junior players over the age of 14 will play to their full classification
Players under the age of 14 will play in a junior 3X3 competition if there are enough teams entered
Badminton – Saturday 24th September – 10am – 4pm, Regional Performance Centre, Mains Loan, Dundee, DD4 9BX
Dundee City Disability Sport, in partnership with Leisure and Culture Dundee and supported by Badminton Scotland and Scottish Disability Sport are delighted to invite entries from across Scotland to Discovery Games first Badminton Championships.
There will be seven sections of the competition.
A – Open Class for Players who use a wheelchair.
B – Open Class for Players with an ambulant Physical Disability
C – Open Class for Junior Players with an ambulant Physical Disability (under 18 years)
D – Open Class for Players with a Learning Disability (please provide player rating) – Three Divisions
E – Open Class for Short Stature Players
Round robin matches will be played first to 21 with extended scoring to 30. Semi Final and Final will be 3 sets to 21 with extended scoring to 30.
Powerchair Football. Sunday 25th September 2022 – 10am – 4pm, Regional Performance Centre, Mains Loan, Dundee, DD4 9BX
Dundee City Disability Sport, in partnership with Leisure and Culture Dundee and supported by Scottish Powerchair Football Association are delighted to invite entries from across Scotland to Discovery Games 2022 Powerchair football event.
Entry is available through Scottish Powerchair Football Association by contacting Craig Peattie, email: info@thespfa.org.
GOGA Tayside supporting mental health inpatients to utilise physical activity for recovery, intervention and prevention
Since March 2022, GOGA Tayside have been delivering physical activity opportunities in General Adult Psychiatry wards within Murray Royal Hospital, Perth to aid patients with their rehabilitation.
The programme also looks at helping patients sustain activity beyond discharge by helping them to explore different types of activity, teaching them new skills and providing a pathway of opportunities to attend sessions both out in the community or online as part of the GOGA Tayside programme – all of which remain fun, free and suitable for all abilities to make them easily accessible.
The purpose of this is to offer patients a better quality of life by using a holistic approach to their care, which will improve their overall wellbeing and, in turn, reduce the likelihood of relapse and re-admission. The feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positive, to such an extent that this service is being extended and adapted to other specialist wards within the hospital, offering activities such as gardening, which will provide a range of benefits alongside the increased activity levels, such as the lasting legacy of the gardens for new patients, education around nutrition by growing vegetables (then to be used within cooking classes to aid rehabilitation), socialisation and teaching people new life skills. Due to the success at Murray Royal Hospital, there are plans to expand this across other sites within Tayside.
In addition, GOGA Tayside have been expanding their programme by offering various activities in communities, continuing their online activities, and collaborating with partners on opportunities, such as Scottish Disability Sport and NHS Tayside Trauma & Rehabilitation providing activities for individuals with acquired disabilities, and the University of Dundee on their Wellbeing, Safety and Support event, to name but a few.
More information to follow about an exciting GOGA Tayside event offering taster sessions of activities, that are fun for all ages and abilities, at the Riverside in Dundee on Sunday 28th August.
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