Kallow is striving to get more people active throughout 2024.
New Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) team member comes with years of experience and fresh ideas.
By William Moncrieff, Communications Apprentice
Helen Kallow joined the SDS team in September of 2023, taking up the role of East Regional Manager which covers the areas of Edinburgh, Lothian and the Borders. This role includes delivering Para sport sessions, working alongside both member branches (Borders and Lothian Disability Sport) and communicating with active schools’ coordinators to ensure that there is a range of accessible activities being delivered. Kallow will also be responsible for working with healthcare professionals to act on referrals, which plays a significant role in the rehabilitation pathway.
Kallow has experience in multiple areas of the disability sport sector, including Riding for the Disabled and Scottish Curling. This position at SDS initially caught her interest as a great opportunity to, “capitalise on the knowledge and experiences that I had, along with the contacts”.
Kallow also described that being able to, “make more opportunities available through working with a wide range of clubs and coaches”, was a key factor to her applying.
One of the key events that Kallow will organise and run is the East of Scotland’s Parasport Festival. Parasport Festivals take place across Scotland, on an annual basis. They provide children and young people with a physical, vision and hearing impairment the opportunity to try a diverse variety of sports in a safe place. You can find out more about Parasport Festivals here and sign up for your region’s event (including the East regional Parasport festival), here.
Kallow is no stranger to SDS’ Parasport Festivals, had previous experience of the festival through her time with Scottish Curling.
The event is being held on Tuesday 19th March at Winchburgh Academy, West Lothian. Kallow said that Parasport festivals are a, “great opportunity to try new sports, meet other young people and hear about the opportunities available for getting active”.
Outside the Parasport Festivals, she is looking forward to attending events and connecting with participants.
“I went to a national swimming event last November. It was fantastic to see so many participants really enjoying themselves”, said Kallow who continued to say that, “being able to see clubs thriving”, is a huge motivational factor in her work.
Covering such a large region is challenges and would not be possible without the support of volunteers.
Kallow said: “There is an amazing group of volunteers in the branches and in the clubs. They do a fantastic job at providing these opportunities”. Through the dedication of volunteers, they’re able to break down this geographical barrier and continue the region’s development.
The Summer Paralympic Games are fast approaching, being held between 28th August and 8th September in Paris. Kallow explained that, “it is just such an opportunity, for young and older people with a disability, to see people just like them on the international stage”.
Kallow went on to say, “if there was to be a future Paralympian come out of the East region as a result of this year’s Paralympics, that would be amazing”.
Kallow also believes that a key message the Games promote is, “more people, more active. You know, if it encourages more people to take that first step to become more active, I think that will be a great success”.
This ties into her goal for 2024, being to get, “more people, having more fun, being more active”.