Annual Report 2012-13 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 thanks On behalf of the Board and staff SDS continues to benefit from The SDS Strategic Plan, “Inspiring the generous financial support received from the following Local of Scottish Disability Sport (SDS), strong support and guidance from through Inclusion” continues to drive Authorities and Leisure Trusts to assist with the hosting of the AGM I would like to welcome you all to sportscotland and our thanks in the work of SDS throughout the and the production of this Annual Report: the 50th Annual General Meeting of particular go to our exceptional country. Our Sports Inclusion Model has the Association and to celebrate an Partnership Manager Jo Bell along with now been recognised and adopted by exceptional year for the SDS family. Craig Faill, Iain Kennedy and Calum numerous key partners and our mantra The 2012 London Paralympic Games Wood for all they have contributed in around the need for explicit messaging were hugely successful and did so much the last year. In this financial climate with regards to equality and inclusion, to change public perceptions of disability I would also like to recognise the is being embraced. and catapult disability sport into the contribution of our other financial 2014 will be another massive year hearts and minds of the British public. contributors including The Robertson for the disability movement and SDS in These Games have been the catalyst Trust, the Scottish Sports Aid Trust, particular. Glasgow will play host to the for a real change in impetus and SDS is Education Scotland, Sainsbury’s, Commonwealth Games’ largest ever still benefitting on so many levels. The Barclays, the People’s Postcode Lottery, Parasport programme of five sports 27 Scottish athletes and players who Ecas, Barcaple Foundation, Crerar Hotels and 22 medal events. Scottish athletes were members of the ParalympicsGB Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, the and players with a disability will be team did us all proud and the 11 medals Football Foundation and the Scottish competing in all five sports and we are won are testimony to the hard work Disabled Sports Trust for their continued confident of achieving our greatest ever and dedication of these individuals and investment in disability sport in Scotland. medal haul from a Commonwealth their families, coaches and support Mention must also be made of the Games. In addition, the eyes of the staff. Scottish athletes and players with fantastic working relationship SDS world will be on Scotland and we will a disability also enjoyed considerable enjoys with the Scottish Government have a unique opportunity to profile success at GB and international level and I thank them sincerely for their and promote disability sport to a whole during 2012/13 and I would take this commitment to inclusion. new audience. We will make new opportunity to offer my congratulations I am extremely grateful for the friends, create new role models and on their continued achievements. The support the SDS Board has given me inspire a new generation. successes of our Wheelchair Curlers at and the staff throughout the year. Finally, to all our Branches, partners, the WCF World Championships, our They have worked tirelessly in the volunteers, and above all our athletes, footballers at the CPISA Intercontinental background and I would like to thank a massive THANK YOU. Championships, our Boccia players at Directors Catherine Goodfellow, Janice As always. the BISFed European Championships and Eaglesham, Dave Rhoney, Gerry Milne, our athletes at the INAS World Athletics Sandra Proudfoot, Eileen Ramsay and Barcapel Foundation have awarded SDS a grant to support our youth initiatives Championships are just some examples Anna Tizzard along with Company and we extend our thanks for their valued support. of how Scotland can compete with Secretary, Caroline Lyon for their distinction on the international stage. continued commitment to SDS. The Crerar Hotels Trust has awarded SDS a grant to help provide much needed I would like to pay tribute to the I would also like to recognise and equipment to support activity in schools. We thank the Trust for their support. SDS staff team. This has been a difficult thank the huge army of officers, Gordon McCormack OBE www.crerarhotels.com year for our staff with the loss of our volunteers and support staff who colleague Russell Hogg and significant support the work of the 14 SDS Chairman SDS would also like to thank Garfield Weston Foundation for their valued support. changes in personnel. We are fortunate member Branches and work so hard to have such a strong, dedicated, to provide grassroots opportunities for The Robertson Trust supports the SDS Junior Development and Wheelchair Bas- professional and highly motivated group. those with a disability. Our Branches ketball programmes. We were sad to see Claire Morrison continue to be the driving force at leave SDS this year after more than a local level and with the new SDS 10 years service with the Association staffing structure in place I look forward and we wish her every success in her to SDS being able to provide greater new role as Performance Coach with support at all levels in the year ahead. GB Boccia. We also wish colleagues Thanks are also extended to our Laura Olds and Andrinne Craig well Scottish Governing Body partners who in their new roles and we thank them more than ever before are considering all for their important contributions. inclusion and the needs of disabled I am delighted to welcome new staff athletes and players. members, Jennifer Livingstone, Mark Gaffney, Lori Ure and Cheryl Brykajlo and I also congratulate Heather Lowden, Rebecca Bisland and Lynne Glen on their new remits within SDS. 2 Annual Report 2012-13 www.scottishdisabilitysport.com 3 CEO’s message London 2012 paralympians A very warm welcome to everyone to I would personally like to thank Hotels Trust, Ecas, Garfield Weston SDS would like to take the opportunity to the 50th Annual General Meeting of and acknowledge the SDS staff team Foundation, the Football Foundation Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) amidst for their hard work and loyalty during and the Scottish Disabled Sports Trust congratulate all those athletes and players who what must be one of the most exciting 2012/2013. In the past 12 months for their continued investment in competed for the ParalympicsGB team at the periods for disability sport in Scotland. we said farewell to colleagues Claire disability sport in Scotland. I was fortunate enough to be Morrison, Laura Olds and Andrinne The SDS Strategic Plan, “Inspiring London 2012 Summer Paralympic Games. present at the London Paralympic Craig and we thank them all for Through Inclusion”, is now in its second Games last summer to witness the their contributions. Claire leaves SDS year and continues to guide the work truly inspiring and attitude changing after more than 10 years with the of the Association up to and beyond performances from the world’s best Association and her energy, knowledge Glasgow 2014 and Rio 2016. The athletes and players with a disability. and commitment will be our loss but inclusion message within the plan has These Games undoubtedly changed the GB Boccia’s gain. We welcome new had a very real impact with significant face of disability sport in the UK and staff members, Jennifer Livingstone, engagement with government and altered public perceptions of what can Mark Gaffney, Lori Ure and Cheryl parliament at a strategic and policy be achieved by those with a disability. Brykajlo and congratulate Heather level. We are also seeing the impact Within this magnificent spectacle, Lowden, Rebecca Bisland and Lynne operationally with engagement 27 Scottish Paralympians competed Glen on their change of role within currently with 30 Scottish Governing with distinction and came home with SDS. I would also like to recognise the Bodies of Sport and all 32 Scottish three gold, six silver and two bronze contribution of Richard Brickley MBE to Local Authorities. the development of the SDS website medals. I would like to congratulate Next year’s Commonwealth Games following his departure from the role of all these Scottish Paralympians along in Glasgow will be the pinnacle of the Web Editor after 13 years. with their coaches, support staff and sporting year and the inclusion of the families who have given so much to On behalf of everyone involved biggest ever Parasport programme will achieve at the pinnacle of their chosen with the Association, I thank the SDS provide SDS with the opportunity to sport. I would also like to recognise Board for their hard work, guidance promote and celebrate athlete successes and congratulate all those Scottish and support of the SDS staff team. and sporting pathways within Scotland. athletes, players, coaches and support Our sincere congratulations go to our We will build on the impetus from staff who have competed and achieved Chairman, Gordon McCormack, on the London 2012 and use the increased as part of Scottish or GB teams on the awarding of his OBE in the New Year’s profile and media interest that these international stage. Honours list and we also wish him Games will undoubtedly generate Thanks must be extended to all well with his new knees! I thank Board to ensure the future development of those who commit so much time Directors Catherine Goodfellow, Janice disability sport in Scotland. Eaglesham, Dave Rhoney, Gerry Milne, and energy to develop grassroots In conclusion, I thank you all for Sandra Proudfoot, Eileen Ramsay and opportunities across Scotland.