Category: A News

Poster with a photo of Elizabeth Lochhead and text that says, new staff member

Elizabeth Lochhead Appointed New Senior Administrator

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) welcomed Elizabeth Lochhead as the new senior administrator, in late January.

By William Moncrieff, Communications Apprentice


Elizabeth comes with a wealth of knowledge, having previous worked in administration at Forestry and Land Scotland. She first became aware of the opportunity at SDS through former SDS employee Sharon MacDowell, who encouraged her to apply.

Although the job and its tasks are not entirely new for Elizabeth, she is embracing this “new challenge” and said, “It will be something new to get my teeth in to”.

As she settles in to the role, she is interested to developing her understanding of boccia.

“I am really interested in Boccia. I’ve been speaking to Jonathan (Boccia Development officer) who is in the office quite a lot and so I am keen to attend one of the boccia events.”

Elizabeth explains that she is into sports and exercising. This is evidenced by Elizabeth planning on completing the West Highland Way from Milngavie to Fort William later this year. It was originally seen as an opportunity to explore more of the country and to keep fit and healthy. However, she has now decided to fundraise for SDS after noticing, “How passionate they all are about fundraising”.

One task in her new role that Elizabeth is really looking forward to is adapting the website, to make it more user friendly for those who are less confident using a computer. She hopes that this development will result in more people being able to access the information online and attend events.

This is something that Elizabeth is keen to help further with. By developing her skillset in using new systems and procedures, she will be able to help others sign up for events or workshops. She said, “It’s something we can help with. We can make sure kids aren’t losing out because they don’t have the amenities to sign-up”.

Elizabeth views part of her role as being, “very visual in the office”. She aspires to be a helping hand to anyone in the organisation and anyone trying to contact Scottish Disability Sport.

Young boy tries Para canoeing indoors. The canoe is strapped on top of a wooden board with four wheels on the bottom. The boy has a paddle with rubber ends, which he can use to push off of the floor with to move around. A man is also pushing the back of the canoe.

Fife’s First Parasport Festival Proves Huge Success

By Emma Logan, Communications Manager


Disability Sport Fife welcomed 48 participants to their first ever Parasport Festival, on Thursday 22nd February.

The event allowed for children and young people with a physical, vision and hearing impairment to try boccia, athletics, swimming, basketball, football, badminton, paddle sports (canoe, kayak), cricket, tennis and water skiing before rounding off the day hearing from some elite Para athletes including Paralympian, Derek Rae.

It was an all-day event hosted at the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre in Glenrothes. Following its conclusion, SDS’ Regional Development Manager for Fife, Gayle Sloan, said that there were, “a lot of happy faces. Lots of excitement. They (the participants) were having fun and that’s got to be the main thing. That’s what we wanted to achieve today and that’s what we did.”

One of the main objectives of SDS’ Parasport festivals is to attract new people along to further highlight all the sporting opportunities and physical activities available in their area. 

42 out of the 48 participants had never attended a Parasport festival before. This included eight people who do not fully fully participate in PE at school. 

Kirsty Byrne, Disability Sport Fife’s Branch Coordinator and Administrator, commented on this, saying: “There were a lot of new faces that we hadn’t seen before coming from across Fife so it will hopefully be great to see them at our competitions and some of our sessions throughout the week. It’s really nice to see new faces and make new connections and relationships in order to facilitate that participation within sport.”

Kimberley Smith accompanied her son Patrick, to the Parasport Festival. Despite Patrick already attending sport sessions at both Pitreavie and Michael Woods, the Parasport Festival was still beneficial.

“Everybody is the same but different and it’s [Parasport festival] so inclusive. Some good tips and tricks for moving forward in to other games and just learning. Learning all the time with things like this”, said Kimberley Smith.

She continued to comment on how their learnings from the day could be applied at Patrick’s school: “It will be good for the likes of the football and boccia and other things that he could learn at school because he’s the only wheelchair user in the school. So, to learn tips and tricks here and take it back to the school and teach the school things, is just good. He can see it, try it, test it and take it back.”

Maree Todd, the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport attended 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.) 

Athletics was one of the sports available to try on Thursday. Pamela Robson from Scottish Athletics led the athletics sessions in the morning and remarked on participants having already requested follow-up information on the sessions available in Fife.

“It’s amazing. It’s exactly what you want and that’s the whole point”, said Pamela.

“We wanted to do this today so that people could take part in sport in their local community. We don’t want children with a disability to have to travel an hour to find a club that’s inclusive”.

Disability Sport Fife are planning a second Parasport Festival at the end of the year but opportunities to engage in sport and physical activity are ongoing through a variety of clubs and sessions. If you would like more information on the opportunities in Fife, please contact Gayle Sloan at: gayle.sloan@scottishdisabilitysport.com

For opportunities available outside of Fife, please contact the relevant Regional Development Manager here.

To find out more about your region’s Parasport Festival, visit here.  

Poster that advertises Muscular Dystrophy UK's Scottish conference in Stirling. It takes place on the 23rd March 2024 from 9:30am to 5pm.

Free Muscular Dystrophy Scottish Conference in Stirling

Join MDUK’s Scottish Conference for adults and parents of children living with a muscle wasting condition.

Hear from experts to help you live well and our own team who’ll be updating you on the advice and support services we offer. You’ll also have the opportunity to talk to other organisations working in the muscle wasting and weakening community.

Speakers on the day include Clinical Psychologist Dr Niamh Bergin and Clinical Associate in Applied Psychology Salla Kärki. They will both be sharing information on emotional and mental wellbeing. Panels on the day will discuss education. There will also be an introduction to Self-Directed Support (SDS) with Paul Barrowman. Sanjeev Mann will close they day talking about music and mental wellbeing.

This event is not only a great way to find out information, it’s also a really good way to connect with other people in the muscle wasting community, to share stories, experiences, tips and advice.

More information and to book your FREE ticket, visit: Scottish Conference | Muscular Dystrophy UK or scan the QR below.

Poster with information and QR code to reserve your free ticket for the conference.

Kayleigh Haggo smiling as she plays boccia

Parasport Festival Provided Pathway to the International Stage

Aspiring Paralympian, Kayleigh Haggo, shares the significant role Parasport festivals had on her sporting journey.

By William Moncrieff, Communications Apprentice


Kayleigh Haggo is an elite Para athlete that has competed on the international stage in both Para athletics (RaceRunning) and boccia. With World and European titles in RaceRunning under her belt, she’s now hoping to represent Team GB playing boccia, at this summer’s Paralympic Games in Paris.

Her sporting career all started with one of Scottish Disability Sport’s (SDS) Parasport Festival. She attended the West of Scotland Parasport festival when she was 14 years-old, during her first year of secondary school.

Kayleigh’s exclusion for participating in sport at school was a key factor in her attending the Parasport Festival. “When I was at school I wasn’t really included in P.E (physical education). The P.E teachers didn’t really know with my disability, how to include me in sessions”.

The West of Scotland’s annual Parasport festival soon became a yearly highlight for Kayleigh. She said, “When the Parasport festival came around every year and the school took me to it, it was one of the best days”.

Kayleigh really appreciated the opportunity to socialise with other young people at the Parasport festival and attended a total of five, throughout her time at secondary school.

What was important to Kayleigh was, “meeting up with people my age who also had cerebral palsy and understood what having cerebral palsy means”.

Once on her sporting journey, Kayleigh was a natural athlete and it wasn’t long until she competed in frame running on the international stage. Despite this international success, she continued to attend the Parasport festivals.

She said: “It was nice to just go to the Parasport festival and just have fun with it. It was never too serious or anything so that’s why I liked it so much.”

Nevertheless, she always aspired to do her very best. “I’m very competitive. I wanted to do every sport to the highest level when I was at the Parasport festivals”.

Kayleigh is now a full-time athlete and proud member of Boccia UK. She’s recently returned from a training camp in South Korea, where she trained alongside the hosts and the sport’s current world leaders.

Although Kayleigh is now a competent boccia player, it wasn’t love at first sight.

“I played boccia at the first (Parasport) festival I ever attended. I really didn’t enjoy it at all”. Laughing, she said: “The irony of it, now I am competing for Great Britain in boccia”.

It was also at the Parasport festivals where she first met Claire Morrison, her current Boccia UK coach. Together, Claire and Kayleigh hope to be selected for the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

“It would be a dream come true. Ever since I started sport at the age of 12, it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do,” said Kayleigh.

“Unfortunately, although I got to the highest level with frame running, this isn’t a Paralympic event so I couldn’t really take that any further but with boccia, I really have the opportunity to take that and compete at the Paralympic Games”, commented Kayleigh.

Like so many others, the London 2012 Paralympics had a lasting impact on Kayleigh. After watching some sport live in London with her mum, she remembered thinking: “That’s what I want to do. I want to be an athlete. I want to compete at the Paralympics”.

Kayleigh is a great example of how SDS’ Parasport festivals can provide a pathway to elite sport.

Kayleigh would recommend the Parasport festivals to anyone who has the opportunity to attend: “If you get the chance to attend the Parasport festival, I would definitely say go for it. It’s a brilliant opportunity to try new sports and meet new people”.

There’s still time to register for most of the remaining Parasport festivals in 2024. You can sign up for the West of Scotland’s Parasport Festival here. To register for all other Parasport festivals, visit here.


 

Watch below, Kayleigh Haggo being crowned the first ever women’s 100m RR3 RaceRunning world champion. (Dubai 2019, World Para Athletics World Championships.)

RNIB Connect Radio Quigley (the dog), hoodie & mic

A Celebration of Radio

By William Moncrieff, Communications Apprentice


On World Radio Day (13th February) SDS celebrates the essential service that radio stations provide globally, particularly to the blind and partially sighted community.

One of these fantastic radio stations is The Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) and their station Connect radio (RNIB Connect). They explain that: “RNIB Connect started in 2003 and we have just finished celebrating our 20th anniversary, with an aim to provide an entertaining range of essential information in an easily accessible format to our listeners.”

RNIB Connect is broadcast, “to an audience of blind and partially sighted people across the UK, on Freeview 730”.

The Connect radio team believe that their services are relevant and accurate by providing insight from first hand knowledge and experience: “Our presenters are blind or partially sighted”  and they talk, “to dozens of people from the sight loss community each week, ensuring our content is informed by lived experience”.

In a fast-paced, digital world, radio remains relevant and plays a significant role in society.

“Connect Radio provides an important and entertaining service to a community which can be hard to reach, is potentially isolated and is traditionally under serviced with information and opportunities”.

The Team at Connect Radio believe that they offer a supportive service to members of their targeted community: “People who have sight loss, particularly those who have recently lost some or all of their sight, often have considerable problems accessing important information both about their condition and in life more generally. In addition, the stereotypes that exist in society about what people with sight loss can do and more acutely the assumptions of what they can’t”.

They continued to say, “It’s impossible to overstate the significance of hearing from other people who are going through similar experiences and to know, you are not alone”.

In being inclusive, “RNIB Connect Radio provides blind and partially sighted people with a platform to share their stories, where they can talk about their challenges but also share their general experiences, aspirations and life hacks with other listeners”.

“RNIB Connect Radio is a crucial tool in the RNIB’s armoury of supporting blind and partially sighted people and offers an easily accessible window into all types of information, services, opportunities and support”, they said.

Tune in to the RNIB Connect Radio at 730 Freeview or via their website for international listening. 

Lynne Glen presenting to the YPSP about Branches

Largs Hosted YPSP Residential

By Grace | Member of the 2023-2026 Young Persons Sport Panel


This past weekend (10th – 11th February) was the first residential for the 2023-2026 YPSP (Young Persons Sport Panel) cohort. In this day and age, with so many online meetings, it was also one of the first times many of us had met in-person.

The first thing we did when we all arrived to Inverclyde was a SAMH workshop with Kirsty and Robert. This got a lot of interesting conversations going; our panel is really good at being open and honest, which is such a valuable skill for us all to have.

The peer mentors then ran their icebreaker – based off the TV gameshow, The Cube. This was our first real chance to mingle and have a laugh with our fellow panel members. Thankfully there were no arguments over the ridiculously hard tasks, though we did all enjoy with SDS staff struggling more than us! Later on, the peer mentors also talked to us about their experiences of being on the previous panels. I found this really beneficial, and it made me excited for the next 2 years. We heard all about the opportunities we will be given, and the changes we can make to our communities.

We then went around in groups and reviewed Inverclyde National Sports Centre for Euan’s Guide. Whilst we had our evaluating hats on, it was also good to get moving and get a sense of where we will be staying. Most of us had a very positive first impression of Inverclyde. From welcoming staff to smooth floors and lift access (great for wheelchair users) and floor to ceiling windows creating a spacious atmosphere, with lovely views to the surrounding Largs nature, Inverclyde earned a full five stars from us!

From there we had a wee break to play Boccia. Being the most inclusive sport, this was the perfect choice for the YPSP.

It was then time to venture out to the beach and (more importantly) Tony Macaroni’s and ice cream at Nardini’s. A residential tradition for SDS, this provided yet another opportunity to chat to some new friends and to refuel after our busy day.

Then came this most exciting activity – trampolining! If asked, majority would say this was be the highlight of the residential! There was lots of jumping, leaping and relaxing. Also a lot of falling over and flailing about in foam pits; not the best for our athletes with competition season coming up!

After some rest and recuperation in our rooms for the night, it was time for day two. After catching up over breakfast, we split into our sub-groups and brainstormed some ideas for 2024. I am really excited about our upcoming plans and seeing just how far we can go.

After a short break, William and Emma delivered some social media and content training. With social media being such a big deal these days, it was great to learn about this useful tool. It was especially helpful to learn about how you can make social media more accessible through alt (alternative) text and other practices.

We finished off the day with some First Aid training from Kevin. We covered CPR, defibrillators, recovery position, bandaging wounds and epi pens. Everybody got stuck in and enjoyed themselves. What great skills these are for us to take into the future, especially in a sporting environment.

Group photo of children, young people and adults, cheering inside a sports hall at the end of a successful Highland Parasport Festival

Highland Parasport Festival Proves Huge Success

By William Moncrieff, Communications Apprentice


The Highland Parasport Festival took place on Saturday 3rd February in the Craig Maclean Leisure Centre, Grantown-on-Spey. The event provided children and young people the opportunity to try a wide variety of sports including boccia, wheelchair basketball and swimming.

Highland’s regional development manager, Kathryn Talbot-Heigh, organised the Parasport Festival – her first since joining Scottish Disability Sport back in September 2023. Kathyrn’s nerves were quickly put aside as she saw what joy the activities were giving the participants.

“There were a couple of kids that were looking a bit nervous when they came in, and I am now looking around the hall and they are all smiling and totally enjoying it”, said Kathyrn during the morning session on Saturday.

As the development manager for the Highlands, Kathryn believes that it is extremely important to provide rural communities with a range of physical activity and sport opportunities.

Throughout Saturday, Kathryn was approached by several parents that shared this sentiment, saying that, “if this had been in Inverness their children wouldn’t have gone to it, as it would just be a step too far for them”.

Another parent explained that although they had been in contact with sport governing bodies, it could be challenging for them to attend events as, “a lot of it takes place in the central belt, so although we are part of a community we don’t get the chance to engage very often”.

The diversity of sports that participants could try, was a significant contributing factor for attracting children and young people. Participants could engage table tennis, curling, wheelchair basketball, swimming, boccia and dance.

One participant called Samantha, who is a keen basketball and tennis player, said that she was: “really looking forward to trying out Boccia for the first time”.

Kathryn was supported by several clubs that provided expert coaching and guidance on the day, including Brian Stevens from the Inverness City Lions wheelchair basketball club. He said, “I absolutely love these come and try days”.

“The main thing is they [participants] have all enjoyed themselves, there are a lot of smiles and lots of laughter”, continued Brain.

The Parasport Festivals provide an opportunity to reach more people and increase awareness about disability sport. One parent explained that their child had been, “reluctant to attend anything with a disability focus to it”. Saturday proved to be a was a gamechanger for her son, explaining that he, “has really enjoyed his day, and hopes to continue participating in the sports that he tried today.”

There were many staff and volunteers who played a vital part in the organising, smooth running and delivery of the event. Fiona Green, a colleague of Kathryn at Highland Disability Sport that helped out on Saturday, said that she thought, “it’s really important to allow young children to have the opportunity to try activities that they haven’t had the chance to try before, in a great, safe environment for them to all come together”.

Fiona also talked about the excitement of this event “becoming a regular fixture” in the future, explaining further that it would be great to, “see just how much this type of event can grow and see all the different clubs which we can, to get involved”.

To get involved or find out more about your local Parasport Festival, visit here.

Graphic that says, January Review. Text white and purple on a lilac background. SDS logo in top right corner.

2024: January Review

A Quick Recap of some of January’s Highlights

By Emma Logan, Communications Manager


 

It is time for January to bow out, as February waits in the wings. Here’s a quick recap of some of January’s top moments. 

Sport –  

There was a lot to cheer about in January as sporting events took off.  

Gordon Reid made headlines in Australia as he won his fifth consecutive men’s wheelchair tennis doubles title with teammate, Alfie Hewett.  More here.

Also representing Scotland on the court in Australia, was Young Persons Sport Panel member, Aidan Moody. Moody took part in the AOPWII championships and put in an ace performance, leaving Melbourne with a runners-up trophy from the double’s tournament. Stay tuned for the full review. 

Court action continued in Midlothian as Dalkeith School hosted the National Badminton Championships. A full review will be made available soon on Badminton Scotland Disability’s social media.  

Falling on the same Saturday (27th) was British Blind Sport’s ‘Have a Go’ day, at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow. Participants were given the opportunity to try out judo, athletics, curling, tennis and goalball.  

 

Education –  

SDS has been working with several Scottish Governing Bodies and organisations, to put inclusivity at the heart of their activities. This includes (but is not limited to), Pickleball Scotland and Cricket Scotland who are working in partnership with SDS to embed inclusive practice and DIT (Disability Inclusion Training) in certain courses and workshops.  

SDS is also supporting Scottish Gymnastics to embed inclusion into their new Baby Gym course. 

SDS has made good progress with the marking instructions for Nat 5 PE Boccia performance. Once completed, it will enable those with more severe physical disabilities to access qualification level PE. SDS hopes to repeat this procedure with Higher PE in due course. 

A benchmarking tool that could be used by SGBs to measure their impact in disability sport was under discussion at the Disability Sports Coaching and Education Group: Scotland meeting, which SDS hosted. Scottish Students Sport (SSS), sportscotland, Scottish Sports Association (SSA), Scottish Athletics and Scottish Sports Futures (SSF) were all present.  

Health  

GOGA Tayside’s women’s Yoga class continues to gain popularity in 2024.  

The sessions provide a safe and fully inclusive environment for women to participate in physical activity regardless of age, ability, religion, culture and confidence.  

GOGA (Get Out Get Active) provides opportunities for everyone to explore how physical activity can work for them. You can find out more about GOGA’s yoga classes here and if you have any questions, you can contact GOGA here.  

Portrait photo of Jonathan Kennedy, smiling to camera. White background with a SDS polo shirt on.

New Staff: Jonathan Kennedy Joins SDS

Scottish Disability Sport’s (SDS) newly appointed Boccia Development Officer, Jonathan Kennedy, is eager to further develop boccia in Scotland to help promote and increase equal opportunities in sport.

By William Moncrieff, Communications Manager


 

Kennedy joined SDS in November last year and since then, he has been busy working with clubs and coaches throughout the nation to understand how they can further work together to develop the sport.

“I was working with two local athletics clubs which was great”, said Kennedy, explaining his involvement in sport before joining SDS.

“I could help lots of regular attendees, within the clubs, but I couldn’t help anyone who wasn’t attending the sessions. I found that to be quite hard and frustrating. However, I saw this post to be a great opportunity to use my knowledge and passion to help more people and to provide a service”, added Kennedy.

“Sport changed my life and this boccia position is a fantastic opportunity for me to help others change theirs”, said Kennedy.

His new role involves collaborating and communicating with SDS Regional Development Managers and third sector organisations, such as Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland.

Another area of Kennedy’s role is to ensure that boccia clubs and sessions are sustainable, ensuring that there are relevant tools and resources, alongside making sure clubs and coaches are up skilled to a sufficient level.

Now that he has been in post for a little under two months, he described that he is most enjoying: “Getting out into the field, managing to meet loads of different people, and getting to understand how passionate they all are about boccia.”

He went on to say. “All of these people have such good ideas alongside their passion and I am getting really excited about helping these [ideas] come to fruition”

Kennedy believes that it is important that everyone has the opportunity to try the sport because, “this way if you like the sport great and if you don’t, great because then we can help you find a sport that works for you.”

In the coming months, Kennedy is really looking forward to playing a key role in the planning and delivery of the national schools boccia championship. This is the second time that the event will take place and he is keen to develop and take learnings from it.

The event is being held on March 20th at The Peak, Stirling. The event creates a competition between school pupils to ultimately, “crown the Scottish schools boccia champion”, said Kennedy.

He continued to say, “This event is a great opportunity for participants to meet others from around the country and play against each other, it brings people together to have fun, play to their best ability and to develop their skills”.

With 2024 being a Paralympic year, Kennedy sees this as a fantastic opportunity to, “engage and get more interest” in the sport. He continued to say, “It will be a great opportunity to host school sessions and events to showcase a possible pathway”.

Out with the Games in Paris, he is eager to: “work with the whole team at SDS to make sure we have opportunities for boccia in Scotland. This is what I am looking forward to the most”.

Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid lift the trophy after winning the Australian Open

Alfie Hewett, Gordon Reid and Andy Lapthorne Add to Australian Open Grand Slam Title Haul

By LTA | Tennis for Britain


Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid won their fifth successive Australian Open men’s wheelchair doubles title on Friday (26th) as Andy Lapthorne completed another tremendous day for British wheelchair tennis and players supported by the LTA’s Elite Wheelchair Programme as he partnered the USA’s David Wagner to their fifth Australian Open quad doubles title in 10 years.

Both partnerships had to come through two matches in a day after Thursday’s rain in Melbourne caused their semi-finals to be postponed, with Hewett and Reid defeating Daisuke Arai and Takashi Sanada 6-3, 6-3 in the second successive Australian Open semi-final between the two pairings.

The men’s doubles title decider saw the record-breaking partnership of Hewett and Reid contest their 17th final in 18 Grand Slams as they took on Takuya Miki and Tokito Oda, the same Japanese partnership they beat in three sets  in front of 10,000 fans in the 2023 Wimbledon final. But this time Hewett and Reid completed victory in straight sets, wrapping up their 19th Grand Slam title together 6-3, 6-2.

Hewett, who will now play Oda in Saturday’s men’s singles final, said: “Some of the points in that match really displayed the best of wheelchair tennis. The best bit about it is you feel the love and the excitement from the crowd as well. Like, you can tell they’re getting into the match.”

With the Brits supported by many of their regular teams of supporters from Norfolk and Scotland as they earned their two victories on Margaret Court Arena and Kia Arena, Reid added:

“There were some relatives and some Scots out there. Some of them have just flown over yesterday for this match. Obviously it was great to have them there. My parents are out here as well. It was my dad’s first time at the Australian Open. Hopefully he enjoyed himself today and enjoyed that match.”

Lapthorne’s victory alongside Wagner in the quad doubles final was especially poignant after he missed an uncle’s funeral during his bid for a 17th career Grand Slam title and his ninth Grand Slam title alongside Wagner.

The Anglo-American duo beat second seeds Australian Heath Davidson and Canada’s Robert Shaw for just the second time in six matches as they took their semi-final 6-3, 6-2 before later returning to Margaret Court Arena to beat South Africa’s Donald Ramphadi and Guy Sasson of Israel 6-4, 3-6, (10-2).

Lapthorne said:

“It’s 10 years this week since we one our first one and we’ve somehow managed to do it again, so big thanks to David. I lost my uncle about three or four days before I came out here, so that one’s for him.  

“(During the match) I played probably one of the best 10-15 minutes of tennis that I’ve ever played at a Grand Slam, in terms of just not missing a ball and feeling really confident.”