Annual Report 2011-12 Developing opportunities and improving performance in disability sport for children, athletes and players with a physical, sensory or learning disability www.scottishdisabilitysport.com Chairman’s message Scottish Disability Sport would like to acknowledge with sincere A very warm welcome to the 2012 The Board have worked extremely from sportscotland, the support of the thanks the generous financial support received from the following Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) AGM. hard this year and on taking advice we Institute of Sport, the Athletes’ Academy Local Authorities and Leisure Trusts to assist with the hosting of the As we celebrate our 50th anniversary reduced the membership to 8 earlier in and Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport, we have achieved so much since the year. Throughout the year we have we are all working as a team and the AGM and the production of this Annual Report. we last met and particularly in the lost the services of Charlie Forbes (now results clearly show this. last 6 weeks with our 27 Paralympic Regional Manager), Lauren McLean and In this financial climate we are athletes returning home in what we Emma O’Callaghan and we thank them grateful for the continuing support can only describe as the best Games for their support and professionalism. of our small band of sponsors, The ever. We are certainly hoping there We will continue to seek new Board Robertson Trust, Nationwide, The are many successful stories and Members and in particular those who Scottish Sports Aid Trust and the Scottish triumphs to be told. As we celebrate can offer financial and business skills Disabled Sports Trust. Their support over their achievements we also thank taking us towards Rio de Janeiro. Our the years has been outstanding and we their families, friends and the many Company Secretary Cynthia Claire are hoping to source additional support volunteers for their continuing support has decided to retire after 14 years in the coming year. and of course to the coaches who have associated with SDS and she is going to Last year we talked about supported them throughout the years. be sadly missed. Cynthia is renowned celebrating our 50 years and what A particular thank you to Jim Thomson for her attention to detail and in better way than introducing the and Claire Morrison who have been particular company matters and made Scottish Disability Sport “Hall of Fame”. coaching the GB Boccia Team for the a fabulous supper for board meetings. Tonight we will announce the first last few years. I am delighted to confirm that we have recipients of this exciting award and our asked SDS Administrator, Caroline At this point I pay tribute to our thanks go to Richard Brickley MBE for Lyon to take on the additional role as staff team led exceptionally well by pulling all the information together and Company Secretary. Finally, our Vice Gavin Macleod. I often say throughout to Paul Noble MBE, Mick McCreadie Chairman Jim Thomson has decided the country that our team are strong, and Gavin Macleod for supporting the after 32 years with SDS to stand down. vibrant and exciting to work with and selection process. together they have achieved so much I sincerely thank Jim for his professional To all our Branches, volunteers, in a short period of time. At long last commitment to SDS over the years, Trusts, Local Authorities, Sponsors we welcome Charlie Forbes as our his knowledge of the Paralympics, in and Staff – THANK YOU, for without Regional Manager for the Highlands particular physical disabilities, boccia your support, guidance, energy and & Islands. We were delighted to hear and the committees of the British enthusiasm we could not achieve that Ruari Davidson is about to become Paralympic Association. Jim has made or offer all the opportunities to our a dad, although disappointed that the an outstanding contribution to SDS and budding athletes. Commonwealth Games have enticed it is going to be difficult to fill the gap. his services and he left SDS in July. He Throughout the year I am pleased to We now look forward to this next will be sorely missed and we thank him report a steady increase in participation term in office and again it’s going to for the excellent work over the last 6 and for some events there is real be challenging and equally exciting years and in particular the successes potential as we source new athletes as we head for Glasgow and the at the World Bowls and Paralympic through Regional Squads, Paralympic Commonwealth Games in 2014. Games. Greig Taylor also left earlier Pathways and a particular mention goes As always. in the year for a development post to Heather Lowden as the Disability with Broxburn United Sports Club. We Inclusion Training courses continue must also thank Richard Brickley MBE to hit the mark and many Governing for his unwavering and outstanding Bodies of Sport, Trusts and LA’s host contribution throughout of over 30 and organise training for their staff, years service to Scottish Disability Sport. coaches and volunteers. He has been the single most influential We are delighted that our new Gordon McCormack figure within disability sport in Scotland Strategic Plan, “Inspiring Through during that time and his expertise and Inclusion” has been well received Chairman knowledge will be greatly missed. throughout the country. A particular We are delighted to welcome mention to Jo Bell from sportscotland Rob Claridge into a new post for who continues to guide and advise from Fundraising and Marketing This is an a national perspective. I urge you to read exciting development for SDS and we the “Review of the Year” as it never look forward to driving success in this ceases to amaze me as to what we have area and benefiting from Rob’s broad collectively achieved throughout the experience. last 12 months. From the investment 2 Annual Report 2011-12 www.scottishdisabilitysport.com 3 CEO’s message London 2012 paralympians I welcome you all to the 49th Annual Everyone at SDS was saddened by With the launch of the DVD and SDS would like to take the opportunity to General Meeting of Scottish Disability the sudden death of Stevie Duff at the new SDS Strategic Plan, “Inspiring Sport (SDS) amid the excitement and the age of 44. Stevie was the driving Through Inclusion”, our attention congratulate all those athletes and players who anticipation of an historic London 2012 force behind the sport of wheelchair must now turn to the future. We must have been selected to the ParalympicsGB team Paralympic Games. By the time we basketball in Scotland for so many years build on the impetus from London meet, our 27 Scottish Paralympians will and a true and loyal friend to everyone 2012 and work towards our most for the London 2012 Summer Paralympic Games. have returned home from London and involved in disability sport. He is greatly successful Commonwealth Games of We wish you all an enjoyable and successful the profile of disability sport in the UK missed. all time in Glasgow in 2014. We now will be at an all-time high. Once again, On behalf of everyone involved know that the Glasgow Parasport Paralympic Games. our athletes will have performed and with the Association, I thank the SDS programme will be the biggest ever achieved at a Paralympic Games and Management Board for their hard work, and more Scottish athletes and players will have represented their country with governance and support of the SDS with a disability that ever before distinction. I take this opportunity to staff team. Thanks must go to Gordon will have the opportunity to achieve congratulate our 27 Paralympians along McCormack, who continues to dedicate on home soil. SDS is well placed to with their coaches, support staff and a huge amount of time to fulfil his role benefit from the increased profile and families on this ultimate achievement. as SDS Chairman. Our current Vice media interest that these Games will Congratulations also go to all those Chair, Jim Thomson, will be stepping undoubtedly generate to ensure that athletes who competed and succeeded down from the SDS Management a new generation of children, athletes at international and GB level during the Board at tonight’s AGM after more and players will have the opportunity Aileen McGlynn Andrew Mullen Blair Glynn Claire Harvey Craig Connell Craig MacLean Craig Rodgie past year. than 30 years involvement with the to reach their full potential. Thanks must also be directed Association. I thank Jim most sincerely Finally, I thank the entire SDS towards the vast army of volunteers for his service, knowledge and support family for their on-going enthusiasm, and local authority staff who work during that period and wish him well hard work and support and for all in tirelessly to develop disability sport at a for the future. Our Company Secretary, attendance this evening for joining local level across Scotland. SDS member Cynthia Clare will also be stepping us to celebrate and recognise the Branches continue to be the primary down at this year’s AGM and we thank achievements of the past 12 months. driver for grassroots development Cynthia for the huge contribution she work in Scotland and many of our has made to the development of the David Smith Fiona Duncan Gordon Reid James Clegg James Richmond Jim Anderson Jonathan Paterson current Paralympians can thank their Association in this role. local Branch for their introduction to On a personal note, I would like to disability sport. thank and acknowledge the staff of I would also like to pay tribute to all SDS for their hard work and dedication.