Tag: Shetland

A fencing instructor demonstrates the correct holding of equipment in front of a group of young people with disabilities.

Success for Ability Shetland Festivals

It was smiles all round at Ability Shetland’s 2nd Parasport Festival, and the inaugural Adult Sports day!

13 young people with physical, vision or hearing impairments, and over 20 adults with a range of disability types, descended upon Lerwick’s Clickimin Sports Complex on the 4th March for a full day of sport!

A huge variety of sports were on offer throughout the day including swimming, kayaking, table tennis, badminton, cricket, volleyball, fencing, boccia, and basketball!

Activities were supported by Sports Governing Bodies’ staff, local clubs and volunteers from Ability Shetland.

The events enable people with disabilities to come together and try a range of sports in a specially-adapted setting. It is hoped that participants will find a sport they enjoy and be encouraged to take it up on a regular basis. It was fantastic to see friendships form, confidence grow and participants overcome anxieties and apprehension about particular activities!

Ability Shetland is now building upon the success of the events by starting the Islands’ first Wheelchair and Running Basketball club!

Many thanks, in particular, to Charis Scott (Ability Shetland’s Sports Development Officer) for all her efforts in planning and running the events.

If you, or anyone you know, lives with a physical, sensory or learning disability in Grampian or Shetland & is interested in getting involved in sport, please get in touch with Alison on alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com or 07828 744 848.
A photo showing Ability Shetland adapted cyclists lined up and celebrating

Adapted Cycling Given Boost in Shetland

Cycling for people with disabilities in Shetland has been given a boost thanks to funding from the Scottish Government.

Ability Shetland, Scottish Disability Sport’s newest Branch, was awarded £15,000 from the Healthy Islands Fund to enable them to further develop their efforts in adapted cycling provision.

The funding will enable Ability Shetland to purchase additional bikes to add to their fleet. In turn, they’ll be able to accommodate more people and cater to a wider range of disabilities within their regular sessions.

Well done to the Ability Shetland team.

If you, or anyone you know, lives with a physical, sensory or learning disability in Grampian or Shetland & is interested in getting involved in sport, please get in touch with Alison on alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com or 07828 744 848.

 

Photo credit: Ability Shetland

Stephanie and Charis from Ability Shetland smile as they hold their MOR certificate towards the camera.

Ability Shetland Joins the SDS Family

We were delighted to announce at this year’s AGM and Awards that Ability Shetland has satisfied the criteria for our Minimum Operating Requirements and is now the 14th Branch to have joined Scottish Disability Sport.

Ability Shetland, and in particular, Stephanie Bain, has worked tirelessly over the last couple of years to get to where they are today, and it was a pleasure to be part of the partnership that established their development plan which aided them in securing funding from Shetland Charitable Trust and sportscotland’s Direct Club Investment for their very first Sports Development Coordinator post.

Ability Shetland and their partners were keen to develop more and better opportunities for people with disabilities across the Islands to get involved in sport and physical activity, and to better connect with clubs, athletes, competitions and pathways on the mainland. Stephanie has commented that they are already seeing the benefits of being a Branch with new athletes being supported, opportunities being developed and participants being invited to events on the mainland.

We are now delighted to work closely with Charis Scott, Ability Shetland’s Sports Development Coordinator, who has done a spectacular job so far in creating partnerships with clubs, developing a successful summer holiday programme, and engaging schools, participants and athletes in SDS events.

Well done to all at Ability Shetland.

If you (or someone you know) lives with a disability in Shetland and wants to get involved in sport or physical activity, get in touch with Alison on alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com or call 07828744848.