The East of Scotland Parasport Festival was a fitting finale to the current round of Scottish Disability Sport's Parasport Festival Series. Taking part at Forrester High School, the event has been hailed a great success by everyone who took part. At the event, one participants parent detailed why events like this one are so important to young people;
“Sport is important to everyone, but to a child with a disability, it’s even more important. They are often isolated – and participants with disabilities can access the physical, psychological and social benefits that sport and physical activity can offer.”
The event was delivered in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Active Schools Team, with several sport specific specialists delivering activities, including football, goalball, kayaking, and frame running. On the regular parasport festivals, Gavin Macleod, CEO of Scottish Disability Sport, said:
“The parasport festivals give us real engagement with sports, local schools, parents and our partners on the ground. It enables enables children and young people to come along and try a real range of sports - and we can then follow that up through our branches and our regional managers. Its about finding participants interests – and then supporting them into regular participation from that point.”
The parasport festivals have been running since 2009 – however, since returning to sport post-COVID, the festivals have increased from 6 to 10 events across different regions in Scotland. Gavin added;
"Our aim is always to encourage more young people with hearing loss, visual and physical disabilities from mainstream schools to participate in sport, these events provide the perfect opportunity to try a range of sports in a safe, supportive environment with experienced and inclusive coaches.”
On the day
The festival allows participants to rotate through numerous sports throughout the day, giving potential participants a taste of a range different activities. Lynne Glen, Pathways Manager for Scottish Disability Sport, said; “Across the 10 festivals this year we have 19 sports involved - with over 300 children having attended the 5 festivals that have taken place already this year. These days are about finding everyone’s ability. We want to focus on the “I can do this” rather than what they can’t do.”
However, it’s not just the participants who have something to gain from attending the parasport festivals. There is also an opportunity for parents to see their child trying something new – as well as the opportunity to build a network of parents who are in similar situations. Lynne added;
“The parents are vital to the parasport festivals, by the end of the day they often say “I didn’t know my son/daughter could do that.” It’s changing their own perceptions of what is possible. Parents see their child building connections and creating social interactions with another child who has the same disability as them - which are potentially completely new to them. However, parents building their own support network is also priceless. They can support each other through some really challenging times.”
One parent who was there on the day in Edinburgh, Sheena Duncan, whose son has taken up Frame Running as a result of a parasport festival said;
“At these events students get to feel what competition feels like. They get to feel what winning feels like … not because it’s easier because someone has adapted things for you – but because that’s the way the sport is for everyone involved.”
“These events are like the outside of an onion. It’s the beginning, but you start to peel the layers back, you suddenly one day realise that you know people - and you have contacts. It works the other way too, people and organisations start to know you as well and come looking to speak to you as well.”
After the event
After each of the parasport festivals, a Scottish Disability Sport regional manager will follow up with each individual participant with the aim of supporting them to participate in an activity or sport of their choice. The aim is to take the sport, or sports, of their choice and connect them into local sessions or a local club who can provide a welcoming environment and meaningfully include participants in their club. One sport who has seen the benefit of participating at these events – and the follow up process is paddlesport. Roger Holmes, Development Manager at the Scottish Canoe Association said;
“These events allow people to see a new opportunity for them. There is such a variety of sports involved on the day and we are happy to be a part of that. Kayaking isn’t always viewed as being an accessible sport and we are happy to be able to show that we have adaptable equipment and can hopefully find something that works for you locally.”
“Participants do seem to respond to the sport when we attend – and I think that’s because it is different. It’s something they may not have ever thought of trying before. They may not think it would be possible – maybe they just don’t see that image – someone like themselves taking part in paddlesport.”
Find out more
- About Scottish Disability Sport
- About Parasport Festivals
