LEADING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORT IN SCOTLAND FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES WITH A PHYSICAL, SENSORY OR LEARNING DISABILITY Annual Report 2007 - 2008 Scottish Disability Sport would like to acknowledge with sincere thanks the generous financial support received from the following Councils to assist with hosting the AGM and producing this Annual Report: Chairman’s Message I am delighted to welcome you to the AGM for Our partners, and in particular Capability Scotland, Scottish Disability Sport. It has been a year in which the Scottish FA, UK Sport, Event Scotland and we have achieved so much, yet there is so much more Glasgow City Council as we bid to host the CPISRA to do. European Football Championships in 2010. In reading the ‘Review of the One of the biggest issues Year’ I am always impressed currently being discussed with the diversity and depth is ‘regionalisation’ and the of our organisation. We future mapping of disability have a tremendous team of sport within Scotland. This dedicated volunteers, coaches will present a challenge to the and staff who throughout the Board on how we look at the year support our athletes future structure of disability in many events. My thanks sport in Scotland. to you all, you are truly appreciated. By the time we read this, our 16 Scottish athletes will have My thanks in particular go to returned from Beijing and we can only hope they flew the flag, achieved personal bests and perhaps even sportscotland, who continue to support and offer achieved medal status. Whatever the outcome we advice in all aspects of our organisation. We were are proud to have assisted in supporting their efforts delighted to hear of Louise Martin’s appointment on a world sporting platform. A special mention as Chair. Louise was a strong supporter of SDS in and congratulations must go to the 11 coaches and the past when she assisted our athletic squads as support staff who travelled with Team GB to Beijing a nutritionalist in the 90s. A big thank you to Gill and also to Richard Penfold, Emma O’Callaghan, Alison Pithie and of Brickley who was course Heather Lowden who continue to guide us in appointed as Chief all that is required. We await their relocation to new Athletics Classifier offices in Glasgow and we firmly hope that SDS can to the Beijing remain within Caledonia House in South Gyle. Games. To the existing Board who have worked hard over We have lots still the last two years in implementing our strategic plan to do and I hope ‘Towards London Beyond: 2006-2012’. We are hoping with your continued to invite others to join us for the 2008-2010 period support we are on in what promises to be an exciting and challenging the right pathway in time for all. shaping the future for athletes with Our staff team, led by Gavin Macleod who continues a disability within to influence, lead and develop our programmes. We Scotland. were also delighted to welcome Ruari Davidson as our Performance Development Officer earlier this year. A warm welcome to Shona Malcolm as Disability Development Officer with Scottish Athletics, our fourth development officer with a Scottish Governing Body. We look forward to many exciting times to come. We are involved with many Gordon McCormack strategies, such as Reaching Higher with the Scottish Chairman Government and partnerships with the Scottish Sports Alliance looking at inclusion, training and of course the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. ANNUAL REPORT 2007-2008 Page 1 CEO’s Message 2008 Every four years disability sport enjoys the increased and sportscotland to have 10% representation on profile, media coverage and public awareness that is Team GB at the London Summer Parlaympic Games associated with the staging of the Summer Paralympic in 2012. Targets have also been set for the 2014 Games. The Beijing Games of 2008 will undoubtedly Commonwealth Games to ensure record numbers bring unprecedented opportunities in these areas of athletes and medallists. At present we have fewer and with the baton being handed over to London young athletes than ever before actively involved in for the staging of the 2012 Summer Games the our sports programmes, declining numbers in many opportunity to establish a real and lasting legacy of our national events and inconsistent levels of for disability sport becomes a reality. For the 16 provision at a local level. The challenge for schools, Scottish athletes selected as part of Team GB for branches, clubs, coaches, active schools co-ordinators, Beijing the opportunities and rewards will be greater development officers and everyone else involved in than ever before. It is indeed disability sport in Scotland is to heartening to see so many young work together to address these Scots within Team GB and their issues and enable every young success and development will be person with a disability to meet the cornerstone of London 2012 their full potential in sport. If we and beyond. I congratulate all the are to continue our proud tradition athletes, coaches and support in Paralympic and international staff on their selection and sport these challenges must be achievements and wish them every addressed by us all. success in Beijing. I would like to take this The announcement that the opportunity to thank and 2014 Commonwealth Games congratulate all those who have will be held in Glasgow is a huge opportunity for contributed to the work of the Association over the the whole of Scottish sport including SDS. Events last 12 months and supported development across for athletes with a disability will be an integral part all four priorities of the strategic plan. Our athletes of the programme and Scottish athletes will have continue to represent the country with distinction the once in a lifetime opportunity to compete in a at home and abroad and I take this opportunity Commonwealth Games in front of a home crowd. to congratulate you all on your successes. I would There will undoubtedly be increased investment in like to thank the SDS Management Board, SDS staff Scottish sport as a legacy plan is built around 2014 team, colleagues in sportscotland, Scotland’s local and SDS will ensure that this is planned in an inclusive authorities, our national governing body for sport manner with opportunity for all. partners, branch personnel, funding partners, sports co-ordinators, coaches, parents and so many more We have now completed the second year of our for their ongoing commitment to disability sport in strategic plan ‘Towards London and Beyond: 2006- Scotland. 2012’ and much progress has been made towards achieving the outcomes and targets that will pave The ‘legacy’ from 2012 and 2014 will be far reaching the way for the future of the Association. The past and is a real opportunity for a lasting investment year has brought success and progress in all areas in disability sport in Scotland. It is now up to us of work from sports development to governance all to use this opportunity to put in place a robust issues and from education & training to marketing & and sustainable pathway that will best serve future communication. We are working closely with partners generations of Scottish athletes with a disability. old and new to support the work of the Association and we have a commitment for increased resources for the future that will enable us to establish a robust and sustainable pathway for future generations of athletes. Gavin Macleod SDS has been challenged by the Scottish Government Chief Executive Officer Page 2 ANNUAL REPORT 2007-2008 Review of the Year As SDS celebrates its 45th Annual General Meeting, wheelchair curling. We thank our Sports we welcome friends and colleagues from across Co-ordinators and governing body of sport partners Scotland to the Windlestrae Hotel in Kinross. The along with the vast army of coaches and support staff past year has seen important developments in sport who work so hard to make these opportunities come that will undoubtedly impact on the future of our to fruition. Association. We were all gripped by the drama and tension that surrounded the announcement of the The development of opportunities and pathways host city for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. We for young people with disabilities has remained a congratulate everyone involved with the Glasgow bid priority area of work for SDS during 2007 / 2008. on the outcome and immense amount of work that Established events such as the Summer Sports Camp was involved in this process. SDS is a key partner in and First Shinty Festival remain firm favourites and the Glasgow 2014 Legacy Consultation process with Junior Championships in sports such as swimming the Scottish Government which will establish the and athletics continue to attract new participants framework for ensuring that all of Scotland benefits to national programmes. The SDS Athlete Academy from the hosting of these Games. There is no doubt is now firmly established providing support for 10 that this document will pave the way for significant emerging athletes with the potential to perform at investment in Scottish sport and SDS must be ready the highest level. Young people are the life blood of to make best use of these increased resources. any sport and disability sport is no different. Scottish athletes with a disability have continued to represent their country with distinction on the international stage and we pay particular tribute to the 16 Scots who have been named in the GB Paralympic Team for the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. We also congratulate the Scots who will travel to Beijing with Team GB as coaches and support staff. With the conclusion of the Beijing Games, the attention of the world will turn to London and the Summer Games of 2012.