Poster with text that says, February Review. The poster is coloured in dark and light purple. It has the white watermark for the SDS logo in the top right corner.

2024: February Review

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…
Photo of a young boy in a power wheelchair playing power football.

10 Different Sports Showcased at Tayside Parasport Festival

By Emma Logan, Communications Manager  It was another successful Parasport Festival as Tayside welcomed 57 participants to their event on Wednesday 6th March.   Dundee & Angus College hosted the Parasport Festival which saw children and young people participate in nine different sports, including: athletics, judo, fencing, goalball, boccia, badminton, basketball, football and cycling.  …

Dumfries & Galloway Parasport Festival 2024

By William Moncrieff, Communications Apprentice   The Dumfries and Galloway Parasport Festival took place on Tuesday 27th February. The festival was held in DG1 Leisure complex, where various sports were being provided with fantastic opportunities to participate in; Swimming, Judo, Boccia and Pickleball. SDS’s Dumfries and Galloway Regional Development Manager, Dianne Campbell, along with branch…
Young girl in a wheelchair playing basketball. She is balancing the basketball on her lap as she gets into a good position to shoot for the hoop.

West of Scotland Delivers Sold Out Parasport Festival

By Emma Logan, Communications Manager  Over one hundred children attended the West of Scotland’s Parasport Festival, which took place at On-X Linwood on Monday 4th March.   It was the second highest number of participants to ever attend a Parasport Festival in the West of Scotland.   Participants got to try a diverse variety of sports: athletics,…
Logo composition of SDS logo and XXV Sportwear logo. There is also a photo of a t-shirt with the new branding on the poster.

XXV Sportswear Support SDS Staff with New Kit

XXV Sportswear is thrilled to announce their latest collaboration with Scottish Disability Sport (SDS). This partnership is uniquely tailored to provide high-quality sportswear for the dedicated staff at SDS, the Scottish governing and co-coordinating body of all sports for people of all ages and abilities with a physical, sensory or learning disability.    SDS plays a…
Group photo of Scottish boccia and Northern Ireland at first boccia camp of 2024

Scottish Boccia Host Northern Ireland at First Camp of the Year

By Boccia Coach, Peter McGuire.  At the weekend (23rd – 25th February) Scottish boccia held our first camp of the year, alongside Northern Ireland at Inverclyde sports centre in Largs. From arriving on the Friday until departing on Sunday, performance and spirits were high amongst the athletes. We had six coaches from both nations supporting…
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…
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…
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…
Poster that says: job opportunity, disability swimming coach. Text is in white and the background is a light and dark purple.

Disability Swimming Coach – 5 Posts – (Part-Time)

Glasgow Life is looking for a Disability Swimming Coach to join them on a part-time, permanent contract. As a Disability Swimming Coach, you will be joining our in-demand Disability Learn to Swim programme (DLTS) or our ASN schools swimming programme. You will be part of a dedicated team which supports children and young people with a disability to be…
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…
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…
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…
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 –…
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.  …
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…
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…
Image that says, International Day of Education, #HateSpeech 2024. There is a photo of a school boy with text beside him that says, Teach me how to avoid disinformation

Education to Combat Hate Speech

With the annual increase of hate crimes towards people with a disability, UNESCO advocates “learning for lasting peace”.   By Emma Logan | Communications Manager  On International Day of Education, Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) joins UNESCO in their campaign for “learning for lasting peace”, dedicating this year’s global day to highlighting the crucial role education plays in…
Photo of Helen Kallow smiling. She is in a forest.

Helen Kallow Appointed East’s Regional Development Manager

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…
Poster that says, 'Female Focus', wheelchair curling Paralympic Pathway Recruitment

British Curling Launches First Female Focused Para Recruitment Campaign

With less than two years to go until the next Winter Paralympics in Milan Cortina 2026, British Curling have launched its first ever Paralympic Recruitment Campaign focusing solely on female recruitment UK wide. ‘Female Focus’ is part of the ongoing Paralympic Recruitment Campaign: ‘It’s Time to Deliver – Push Yourself’. This follows the Beijing 2022…
A young boy trying out tennis at a British Blind Sport multi-sport, 'Have a Go' day.

British Blind Sport Hosting Multi-Sport ‘Have a Go’ Day

A free multi-sports day dedicated to blind and partially sighted people comes to Glasgow’s Emirates Arena this month.   The UK’s leading sporting charity for blind and partially sighted people, British Blind Sport, is hosting a ‘Have A Go’ Day at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena on Saturday, January 27 between 10am and 3pm where visitors can…
Rosie Randall trying Frame running at Tayside's 2023 Parasport Festival.Sheis on the frame runner inside a sport's hall.

Parasport Festivals: 2024 Dates Announced

Scottish Disability Sport has released the dates and locations of several Parasport Festivals taking place within the first quarter of 2024.  The Parasport Festivals provide a fun, inclusive and safe environment for young people at a mainstream school with either a physical, hearing or visual impairment to participate and try new sports. By Emma Logan,…
Stephen McGuire and Fiona Muirhead with Gold medals and trophy after winning BC4 pairs at the 2023 Heraklion Challenger. Behind them are the coaches, holding a GBR flag.

Top Moments of Boccia in 2023

2023 gave us plenty to cheer about! Here’s a shortlist of some of those top moments. By Emma Logan, Communications Manager SCOTS DOMINATE BC4s AT UK CHAMPS It was a 1-2 for the Scots in Warwick as McGuire and McLelland faced off at the UK Championships. It was redemption for Stephen McGuire who sealed BC4…
Poster that says, 2023 Review, Top moments. The text is in a lilac coloured text box. The background is a dark purple background

2023 Review: Top Moments

As 2023 draws to an end it’s time to reflect on some of the top moments across Scotland. Here’s a quick recap of some of the highlights, divided by the regions in Scotland. By Emma Logan, Communications Manager   EAST OF SCOTLAND – 2023 was a groundbreaking year for the East region. In the spring,…
Photo of Kathryn Talbot-Heigh smiling to camera with her black dog.

New Regional Development Manager Joins SDS Family

Kathryn Talbot-Heigh joins as Highlands RDM By William Moncrieff, Communications Apprentice Encourage by friends and colleagues to apply, Kathryn Talbot-Heigh joined the SDS team as the Highlands regional development manager in mid-September (2023). Talbot-Heigh enters the role with a strong skillset gained throughout her years of experience as a coach and instructor. She has always…
Group photo of pupils cheering after a successful Tayside Parasport festival. The photo is of approximately 50 pupils and adults inside a school gym.

Tayside to Host 10th Parasport Festival in 2024

Dundee & Angus College will host the 10th Tayside Parasport Festival in March 2024, welcoming pupils from mainstream schools across Angus, Dundee City and Perth & Kinross.  Pupils with either a physical disability, vision impairment or hearing loss are invited to try out nine different sports on Wednesday 6th March, as part of Scottish Disability…
Photo of Alison Thompson standing on a beach

Highland Disability Sport Welcomes New Branch Administrator

Committed volunteer aspires to develop disability sport up North. By William Moncrieff, Communications Apprentice Highland Disability Sport (HDS) branch recently welcomed Alison Thompson, as the newly appointed branch administrator. Alison was initially interested in the position after volunteering for the branch at their multi-sports and athletics club. She comes with a wealth of experience after…
Photo of Bowls Scotland logo on a purple background.

BOWLS SCOTLAND – PERFORMANCE PATHWAY LEAD x 3 POSITIONS

Are you looking for a new opportunity in the new year? Bowls Scotland are recruiting to fill three Performance Pathway positions, to start early into the new year. If this interests you, read on to find out more information.   BOWLS SCOTLAND – PERFORMANCE PATHWAY LEAD x 3 POSITIONS  SALARY:        £12,500 p.a  TERM:            Part…
SDS logo on an opaque purple background

Vacancy: Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) Senior Administrator

Senior Administrator – (Full Time – 37.5 hours per week. Please note that part-time/ job-share will also be considered if appropriate) Salary circa: £24k – £27k, subject to experience Are you a dynamic and enthusiastic team player who has a passion for inclusion? Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is the Scottish governing body for disability sport.…

British Blind Sport’s ‘Have a Go’ Day

British Blind Sport (BBS) is hosting a free sports taster event for blind and partially sighted people in Glasgow, in partnership with Scottish Disability Sport. The event will take place on Saturday, January 27th from 10am to 3pm at the Emirates Arena, 1000 London Road, Glasgow G40 3HG. The event will feature a fantastic line-up…
Portrait photo of Stefan Hoggan-Radu smiling to camera, wearing a suit

From the Pool to Politics

Stefan Hoggan-Radu speaks about his journey in sport and life, as a celebration of the LGBTQ+ Rainbow Laces Campaign. Stefan Hoggan-Radu has represented the LGBTQ+ community on many occasions as an elite Para athlete. Since his retirement from competitive sport he has continued to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in the political world, currently holding the…

Congratulations to Samantha Gough

Congratulations to Midlothian’s Samantha Gough on winning her first ever British Rowing indoor championships this past weekend in Birmingham, with the PR3 2k race Gold medal.  Samantha says ‘I’ve learnt so much and excited to keep improving.  Self-confidence is a superpower. Once you start to believe in yourself, magic starts happening’. Samantha competes in several…
Photo of Robyn Love smiling whilst playing wheelchair basketball on the court for Team Scotland.

Robyn Love on Intersectionality

Scottish Disability Sport were extremely lucky to have a catch up with current Great Britain and Loughborough Lightning wheelchair basketball star, Robyn Love, who made time in her busy training calendar to speak to us.  Love has had a successful career representing Great Britain at the Paralympics, Scotland at the Commonwealth Games whilst also being…

Disability with Attitude

On 3rd December at 7:30 AM , to coincide with UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities Radio Scotland airs a documentary by journalist Michael McEwan, covering how attitudes surrounding disability have changed over the last four decades. Michael celebrated his 40th birthday this year and wanted to find out how much we have moved…
Head and shoulders picture of William

SDS Welcomes William Moncrieff, Communications Apprentice

Hi, I am William Moncrieff and I have just started as a communications apprentice with Scottish Disability Sport. I’m excited to take my first step in the sporting industry, especially as I have had an interest in sport from a very young age, growing up playing for my local mini rugby club in Strathspey and…

Nationwide Celebration of Getting Active in Scotland

Scottish Disability Sport Week aims to highlight how and why everyone in Scotland with a disability should get active.  From Monday 27th November to Sunday 3rd December, there will be a Nationwide celebration of getting active and involved in disability sport in Scotland, through an online campaign called Scottish Disability Sport Week.   This week is…

World Anti-Doping Agency 2024 Prohibited List

The World Anti-Doping Agency releases the 2024 Prohibited List with the inclusion of tramadol  The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published its 2024 Prohibited List. The Prohibited List designates the substances and methods that are prohibited in sport. Following an extensive consultation period by WADA, the 2024 Prohibited List was published on the 27 September 2023. This…

SSF sportscotland Annual Awards 2024

The SSF sportscotland Annual Awards 2024 are planned for 22nd February next year. As part of the awards, SSF aim to recognise external organisations in the category of Organisation of the Year. This award is open to all organisations in Scotland who fit the criteria here.  Partners who have worked with SSF previously – please base your nomination on…
Rory McKinna sailing in the regatta of the Sailability Scotland TT (Annandale, Lockerbie).

My 2023 Review: By Rory McKinna

2023 – As It Happened: UK Hansa Traveller Trophy – 2nd French Hansa Nationals – Doesn’t count (explanation in summary)! UK Hansa Nationals – 1st Para World Sailing Championships – 4th Swiss Hansa Nationals – 1st UK Challenger Nationals – 4th Eurosaf European Para Sailing Championships – 3rd/2nd Hansa World Championships – 3rd   The…

British Curling & Canada headline the 2023 Stirling Wheelchair Curling International

The 2023 World Championship medallists, British Curling and Canada, will headline the 8th Stirling Wheelchair Curling International which takes place 17th to 20th October 2023 at the Peak (Stirling). The event, hosted by Stirling Wheelchair Curling Club, will feature 10 international teams that will compete over four days.  Two teams from USA plus England, Italy,…

British Curling Launches Paralympic Pathway Recruitment Campaign

British Curling is excited to launch ‘Its Time To Deliver – Push Yourself,’ Paralympic Pathway Recruitment Campaign to boost its newly established pathway programme. A duo of introductory events will be held north and south of the border, with these preliminary ‘wheelchair specific Try Curling events’ aimed at setting a standard. The first event, scheduled…

Curlability Returns this November

Curlability is back for 2023 and will be taking place on 9 November 2023 11.45am-3pm at Kinross Curling. The event is free and open to people with any form of disability who are looking for an inclusive way to TryCurling for the first time. Come along to learn the basics of the sport. Give it a go yourself,…

Micky Yule Upgraded to Birmingham 2022 Silver

Team Scotland is pleased to announce that Micky Yule is set to be upgraded to Commonwealth Games silver following confirmation that original gold medallist Sudhir, representing India, has been disqualified due to an Anti-Doping Rule Violation. Yule, the first para-sport athlete to carry the Scottish flag into a Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, had already added…
Photo collage of the winners in attendance at the AGM 2023 Awards Ceremony.

AGM Highlights the Power of Sport

Branch Conference and 15 Awards Received at Annual General Meeting The Stirling Court Hotel welcomed a celebration of sport as it hosted Scottish Disability Sport’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Awards ceremony on Sunday 24th September 2023.   Ahead of the AGM, the 2023 Branch Conference took place. Through three interactive workshops, the focus of the…

RNIB Shape & Share Event

RNIB Shape and Share events bring children, young people and their families together with no cost attached, for peer support, to share experiences and take part in fun activities both in person across the UK and virtually via Microsoft Teams. Each event offers: A chance to meet other families Activities, games or crafts for younger…

Vacancy: Scottish Curling Disability & Inclusion Development Officer

Scottish Curling are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Disability and Inclusion Development Officer to lead on delivering progressive and inclusive opportunities at all levels. Full information can be found on the Scottish Curling website here.
Group photo of YPSP

Scottish Disability Sport announces third Young Person’s Sports Panel

After the success of the first and second cohort of the Young Persons Sport Panel (YPSP), Scottish Disability Sport are delighted to announce the recruitment of a third Young Persons Sport Panel. The new panel is supported by the National Lottery Community Fund and will be made up of 14 young people aged 14 and…

Sport for Skills – Brynn Hauxwell, Young Start

The Young Start programme empowers young people (aged between 16 – 24) with a physical, learning and sensory disability throughout Scotland to develop their confidence and coaching skills over a one-year period. Brynn is one of many of the young people who have taken the opportunities that Young Start has provided them and gained qualifications…

Grampian to kick start this year’s Parasport Festival

Nine Parasport festivals will be held throughout Scotland over 2023/2024 season Fife is the newest region in Scotland to be hosting a Parasport Festival, taking the number of festivals for this upcoming season to nine.   Grampian kicks-off the festival season (2023/2024) this coming Friday, 15th September where young people will be able to participate in…

Paratriathlon Athlete Search – Everyone Starts Somewhere!

This year British Triathlon will be holding events across the UK in October and November, come and take your first steps on the journey to becoming a potential Paralympic medallist.  During the event you will have the opportunity to take part a number of activities lead by GB coaches in the following: Pool swim Transition…