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”.