Annual Report www.scottishdisabilitysport.com Welcome Message 2015 Scottish Disability Sport would like to acknowledge with sincere thanks On behalf of everyone involved with talented athletes and players with a We thank all members of the SDS the generous financial support received from the following Local Scottish Disability Sport (SDS), we take disability across Scotland. 272 young Board for their hard work, guidance Authorities and Leisure Trusts to assist with the hosting of the AGM and this opportunity to warmly welcome people with a disability have attended and support of the SDS staff team. the production of this Annual Report: you to the Association’s 52nd Annual five multi-sport Para Sport Development Board Directors Catherine Goodfellow, General Meeting. The Glasgow 2014 Days run across five SDS regions and Dave Rhoney, Gerry Milne, Sandra Commonwealth Games may have come 44 new athletes and players have Proudfoot, Claire Morrison, John and gone but 2014/2015 has been progressed into regional squads or Reid OBE, Iain Smith and Anna another busy and exciting year for SDS. individual support programmes. The Tizzard contribute so much to the We hope that the overview provided SDS Athlete Academy continues to work of the Association and their in this annual report does justice to provide much needed support to collective skills and knowledge are the athletes, players, coaches and those athletes and players identified not always recognised but are greatly volunteers who have worked so hard as having the potential to progress appreciated. Recognition must also on so many levels to progress sport for onto UK funded programmes. This be paid to the SDS staff team who people with a disability across Scotland. year, 26 athletes from 10 sports continue to demonstrate a passion This has been an incredibly are benefiting and SDS is indebted and commitment to our area of work. busy year on the international to the Scottish Sport and Physical We congratulate colleagues Rebecca stage with the CPISRA World Recreation Fund for their support Bisland and Mark Gaffney on the Games, the IPC European Athletics of the Academy programme. recent additions to their respective Championships, the IFCPF Football Education and coaching continues families. World Championships, the IPC World to be the prime driver in removing The sports inclusion message Swimming Championships, the IPC barriers to participation and ensuring within the current SDS Strategic Plan, World Marathon Championships inclusion through providing skills, “Inspiring Through Inclusion” has and the BISFed European Teams knowledge and experience to those continued to have had a very real & Pairs Boccia Championships all working with disabled athletes and impact with significant engagement hosted in the UK. Scottish teams players in a multitude of roles. In with government and parliament also competed in the IBD World 2014/2015, 106 education, training at a strategic and policy level. We Championships in New Zealand and learning opportunities took place also continue to see the impact and the WCF World Wheelchair involving 1,656 participants, Disability of the plan and the SDS Sports Curling Championships in Finland. Inclusion Training was delivered in Inclusion Model operationally with Our congratulations are extended to all 32 of Scotland’s Local Authorities engagement currently with 30 Scottish all those athletes and players with and sport specific inclusive coaching Governing Bodies of Sport and all a disability who have represented developments have taken place with 32 Scottish Local Authorities. Scotland or GB with distinction 20 Scottish Governing Bodies of As we prepare to enter the final during the last year. We should also Sport. We take this opportunity to year of the current SDS Strategic recognise the huge contribution thank our governing body of sport Plan our thoughts turn towards the of the coaches, support staff and colleagues whose support is vital to the production of our next strategic families who play such an important development of quality opportunities document that will lead the work of role in supporting these individuals for athletes, players and coaches to the Association from Rio 2016 to Tokyo to achieve in their chosen sports. access disability sport across Scotland. 2020. A timeline for the production Our thanks must also be directed We would also like to pay tribute to of this plan has been produced and a towards the army of local volunteers our partners within Scottish sport who comprehensive consultation programme and paid staff who work relentlessly do so much to support the development will inform and guide in the months to ensure access to disability sport and inclusion of children, athletes and ahead. The final version of the new at a local level across the country. players with a disability. Our thanks plan will be presented at the 2016 SDS member Branches remain the go to sportscotland not only for their AGM to go live from April 2017. initial entry point for those wishing continued financial investment in In conclusion, we thank you all once to access grassroots sport and we the work of the Association but also again for your attendance at this year’s thank all those Local Authorities for the support and guidance of key AGM and we thank you all most sincerely and leisure trusts who provide such staff such as Jo Bell, Jennifer Griffin, for your continued hard work and important support at a local level. Calum Wood and Alison Lunn. Our support of disability sport in Scotland. We congratulate Angus Disability hearty congratulations also go to Jo Sport and Ayrshire Sportsability on the recent birth of her baby boy. on achieving the SDS Minimum We are also indebted for the support Operating Requirements and Disability provided by our other funding partners Sport Fife, Forth Valley Disability including the Celtic FC Foundation, Sport, Highland Disability Sport and Education Scotland, the Robertson Trust, Lothian Disability Sport for their SportsAid Scotland Trust, Sainsbury’s, reaccreditation of these requirements. ECAS, Wheelpower, The Scottish Sport The SDS Regional Manager and Physical Recreation Fund and the Gavin Macleod Janice Eaglesham Network continues to support the Football Foundation for their continued Chief Executive Officer Chair identification and development of investment in disability sport. www.scottishdisabilitysport.com 3 2015 Photos page Key Achievements During the Past Year Branch, Local and • SDS Regional Managers continue to • SDS collaborated with four work with colleges and universities governing bodies of sport and a Regional Sporting across Scotland engaging and national cycling agency to deliver Opportunities supporting students with a disability. a National Celebration of Para ENCOURAGE A RANGE • Regional Sport Specific Plans are Sport Event with water sports in place across five SDS regions being offered for the first time. 32 OF QUALITY SPORTING including athletics, boccia, football, participants were introduced to OPPORTUNITIES wheelchair curling, wheelchair rowing, canoeing, sailing, boccia, tennis and swimming. cycling and table tennis. • SDS worked in partnership with • Ayrshire Sportsability and Angus • An inaugural Para Sport Festival national disability organisations Disability Sport have achieved was held in Tayside through Scottish Muscle Network, Royal the SDS Minimum Operating partnership working with the three National Institute for the Blind, Requirements, 10 of the 13 SDS Local Authorities. West Marc and Capability Scotland Branches have now attained • 272 young people with a disability resulting in 83 children and young this standard. have attended five multi-sport Para people with a disability participating Sport Development Days run across • Disability Sport Fife, Forth Valley in sport, many for the first time. Disability Sport, Highland Disability five SDS Regions. • Inaugural sport specific athlete Sport and Lothian Disability Sport • 147 young people with a disability development camps were delivered have all achieved reaccreditation have attended 11 Sport Specific for swimmers and athletes through of their Minimum Operating Talent Development Days in seven joint working with Scottish Requirements which is reassessed sports across three SDS regions. Swimming and Scottish Athletics. every three years. • SDS Regional Managers have The camps offered sport specific worked in partnership with 21 local • SDS organised a Branch Conference training sessions and athlete support sports clubs to support the inclusion with 65 attendees from nine workshops such as nutrition & of disabled athletes and players. branches where examples of good hydration, strength & conditioning, practice were shared. • SDS Regional Managers have video analysis, goal setting and • SDS has supported Perth & Kinross identified and supported 153 understanding talent. children and young people to Disability Sport to establish a • A new boccia competition calendar regularly participate in sport in a Disability Co-ordinator post. was established aligning five local session or club sport. • SDS staff have supported Branches existing competitions with the SDS accessing and applying for funding. • SDS Regional Managers in five National Championships format • All SDS Branches have received regions are working in partnership to co-ordinate events and provide three free boccia kits courtesy of with sportscotland Regional consistency for Branch, club and Education Scotland. Coaching and Volunteering squad players across Scotland. Partnership