As we waved goodbye to winter and welcomed spring, March was a jampacked month with plenty to celebrate. Here’s a brief overview of some of those top moments. 

By Emma Logan, Communications Manager 

There were a further five Parasport Festivals in March that provided hundreds of children and young people the opportunity to participate in a great variety of inclusive sports. The West festival attracted over 100 participants, one of which has been scouted by Basketball Scotland and invited to join the National Academy.  

Tayside welcomed 20 new people to their first ever Parasport Festival – a positive indicator of the increase in Para sport awareness within the region. The East of Scotland and Shetland festivals had participants kayaking in the indoor swimming pool whilst Forth Valley offered a great range of sports, thanks to the support from 11 clubs and governing bodies. Michael McKenzie, the Regional Development Manager for Central, said, “My overall highlight was the fantastic new opportunities for first time participants such as cricket and table cricket.” 

10 festivals were held throughout this Parasport festival season, with a total of 395 children attending, 18 different sports being delivered and all were supported by local authorities, active schools, local clubs and SGBs (Scottish Governing Bodies). Regional Development Managers will now follow up with every child to support them into local opportunities.

Outside the Parasport Festivals, SDS hosted two National championships: the National Cross-Country Championships and the National Schools Boccia Championships.  

121 runners took part despite the terrible weather conditions at Alexandra Park, for the cross-country event. Athletes competed over 1km, 2km, and 3km distances. Thanks to Scottish Athletics, Shettleston Harriers, Glasgow Disability Sport and Milnbank Housing Association for their support before, during and after this event. I think we have all just about dried off… 

47 athletes from 11 branches descended to The Peak in Stirling for the second National Schools Boccia Championships. The competition was comprised of finalists of regional championships and selected athletes from SDS member branches competing in three different categories: athletes with a physical disability, learning disability and athletes using an assistive device. The full review is available here.  

A big thanks to the team of boccia officials and staff from Active Stirling for supporting the day. A special mention to the four members of our Young Person’s Sports Panel for taking on officiating and results keeping duties: Dana Brand, Grace Lawther, Finlay Davidson and Charlotte Askham. 

We were also grateful to be visited at this event by Calum from PSL, as the new staff kit was showcased. A closely contested boccia match took place between Calum, Gavin MacLeod (SDS CEO), Peter McGuire (former Paralympian in boccia) and Theresa Campbell (SDS Vice Chair).  

In more boccia news, Alex Medley from Perth Eagles Boccia Club competed at his first individual international event, the Disability Sport NI International Challenger in Belfast. Alex, who trains with the Tayside regional and Scottish National Development squads, may have missed out on a medal at this event but the youngster is brimming with talent and maturity – taking many positives away from the experience. You can read an interview with Alex following his return home, here.   

Tayside was also represented in the officiating team, with four referees from the region supporting the event. Well done to Catherine Carruthers, Darren Thomson, Sam Thomson and Graeme Doig. 

In other news, SDS was delighted to be invited to SAMH and Scottish Women in Sport’s Young Women in Sport Leadership Programme to deliver boccia to their cohort. The one-year programme run by SAMH and Scottish Women in Sport, funded by Active Scotland, aims to empower the next generation of young women in sport to be confidant leaders. Boccia was invited along as an example of a sport that everyone can participate in and gain both physical and mental health benefits from.  

 SDS had two board members present: Sarah Pryde-Smith and Aileen Neilson. Sarah took on the role as mentor to the young group of women whilst Aileen shared her story and took part in a question-and-answer session. 

The event further developed the partnership between SDS, SAMH and Scottish Women in Sport to support the development of sport and its leaders; continually striving to promote inclusivity and highlight the benefits of getting active. 

Off the court, funding from Motability has allowed for a range of fully funded SDS educational workshops to be offered to branches. A great opportunity for branches to upskill and develop in areas of their choice.  

SDS is also working with the Scottish Sensory Centre and Education Scotland, to track interest from schools and local authorities for fully-funded ‘More Than a Bell Ball’ and inclusive PE workshops. It is estimated that up to 1,000 learners will benefit from attending these workshops. Consequently, thousands of people with disabilities are predicted to benefit as they will have an increased access to quality opportunities in community sport, PE and school sports.  

Make sure to follow SDS on Facebook, X and Instagram to stay up-to-date on SDS news and activities.

Selection of Top Moments from the Month

By Emma Logan, Communications Manager

There was plenty of activity happening throughout the shortest month of the year. Here is a quick recap of some of February’s highlights.  

February saw the start of the Parasport Festivals. The season kicked off in Highland followed by Fife, Orkney and Dumfries & Galloway. Children and young people got to try out and participate in a whole variety of sports. At the Highland Parasport Festival, boccia proved to be popular as one participant was inspired to attend the regional championships that took place at the end of the month. 

Emma Roddick, Minister of Equalities, Migration and Refugees, didn’t shy away from taking part in some of the sports on offer. She said: “It’s been great to see the kids getting involved. We know that sport is so important for physical, mental health, addressing social isolation and loneliness, something that we know is more difficult for people in rural areas and particularly young folk and disabled people. 

“So young disabled people getting opportunities here in the Highlands to get together, have some fun and experience sport is just fantastic to see”, said Emma Roddick. 

Fife held their first ever Parasport Festival and it was a resounding success.  48 children/young people attended, most of them having never previously engaged with any Fife’s sessions or events. Maree Todd, the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport also joined in the afternoon to see first-hand, the impact Parasport Festivals can have. “I really believe in the power of sport,” she said. 

“This is a wonderful occasion. It’s a real celebration. There’s lots and lots of different clubs here who will carry on that relationship and that inclusion. It’s really powerful work that’s happening in here and everyone’s having a great time.” 

(Maree Todd MSP’s full interview is available here.) 

Dumfries & Galloway held their second ever Parasport Festival and attracted nearly double the participants from its first year.  

Regional Development Manager for Dumfries & Galloway, Dianne Campbell, was delighted with the event, saying: “So many positive comments from teachers, parents and children attending. We are already looking forward to next year’s event!” 

As well as featuring at all the Parasport festivals, boccia has seen significant developments taking place throughout February. Forth Valley hosted a Senior Boccia Championship, which welcomed nearly 40 participants from regions across Scotland. The championships were a great success and thanks to Nicola Moriarty and Forth Valley Disability Sport for their support in organising such a fun event.  

Grampian saw the launch of fortnightly boccia session being held in Aberdeen. The sessions welcome people of all ages and it is the first open boccia session to be available in the area since pre-covid. Initially run by Grampian Disability Sport, the sessions will run in partnership with the Community Sport Team at SportAberdeen. 

Highland welcomed a good mix of young leaders, active school coordinators and other community members to their Boccia Leaders Course, with the aim of taking their learnings into schools, care homes and other receptive environments.  

Scottish boccia held their first camp of the year, alongside Northern Ireland at Inverclyde sports centre in Largs. The camp struck a good balance between training and fun, which boccia coach, Peter McGuire, reports on in his review.  

Meanwhile, in Dumfries and Galloway – cricket is thriving in the Stranraer area with two champion clubs and three weekly sessions in Stranraer, Newton Stewart and Castle Douglas.  

Good news for Ayrshire Sportsability as they received funding from Trefoil Trust. The funding will support a club/coach conference that will focus on implementing inclusive practice in the clubs and sessions run throughout Ayrshire. It will also allow for coaches to receive the relevant training and skills to adapt their sessions.  

The Young Person’s Sport Panel had their first residential of the year, hosted also at Inverclyde sports centre in Largs. You can find out more about the weekend by reading YPSP member Grace’s blog here. 

Grace was also one of four YPSP members attending the Children 1st event in Stirling. Joining her were Dana and Charlotte, who helped to run the day, whilst Grace and Rae gave a presentation on their experience of PE and sport to date. Their presentation reflected on how their experiences affected their children’s rights before providing ‘top tips’ to ensure the rights of other children with disabilities are met through PEPAS (Physical education, physical activity and sport).  

Once again, Grace wrote a blog to recap the day’s activities. 

To find out more about upcoming SDS events, please view the SDS Calendar of Events on the events page.