Disability Sport Week - creating opportunities for all

An Orkney parent has spoken of the delight she felt watching her six-year-old daughter – who was born deaf – being given the chance to enjoy sporting activities in a suitable environment through Disability Sport Week, with backing from a new charity, Inclusive Orkney.

Pat Robinson, Chief Finance Officer with Orkney Health and Care, said Eloise, who has cochlear implants allowing her to hear to a degree, was able to participate in the gymnastics on offer in a “quieter, less hectic environment”.

“I am absolutely delighted that this charity has been set up and the Council staff have been amazing letting me know what it was about. It gave Eloise the opportunity to try something new in a quieter less hectic environment. I’m excited as it feels she will have same opportunities as others her age and also the fact her sibling, Leila, could join in meant that it builds on their relationship as well.”

Inclusion and equality are key factors and Inclusive Orkney aims to provide more opportunities for people with disabilities – from sport and physical activity, to music, arts and crafts. The activities have been made possible by the national ‘Get Into Summer’ campaign, funded by the Scottish Government and Sportscotland and supported by Parent Club, which aims to create opportunities for children and young people impacted by COVID-19 to socialise, play and reconnect this summer.

Joanne Cairns is a Community Sports Officer with the Council and has been supporting the new charity while working closely with Scottish Disability Sport to ensure the programmes being delivered in Orkney are first class.

Joanne explained that seven local folk, including volunteers, teachers and Council staff, completed the UK Disability Inclusion Training ahead of the Week which saw 14 sessions for Primary and Secondary school children and adults, including run, jump, throw, boccia, football, rugby, gymnastics, golf and kayaking.

She said: “The free sessions were open to people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities along with their siblings and we had more than 20 participants. The feedback we have received has been humbling and it is so pleasing to know that events such as these, and the new charity, will make a difference to the lives of those who have a disability.”

Some of the feedback from participants:

• I want to share with you my thanks for the sessions run last week with Scottish Disability Sports.
• We attended the gymnatics, rugby, curling and swimming.
• The sessions were well run with plenty of staff and helpers, very inclusive, and allowed children to join in their own way.
• I often worry when taking children to activities and need to stay to help encourage and support him to take part. This was not the case with these sessions as he was supported by staff to join in his own way.
• They enjoyed all the sessions, and I would happily take him to sessions run on this basis again.
• Thank you so much for the care and support you gave and the patients and skill in interacting with him so effectively.

This summer has seen a range of Additional Support Needs sessions being delivered at the Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall, a very successful Scottish Disability Sport Week held and thanks to the Get into Summer funding, Joanne said the Council has been able to have the support of three Scottish Disability Sport staff.

Joanne added: “The aim is to continue to have some activities run through our holiday programmes and also support the new Inclusive Orkney charity.”

Chair of Inclusive Orkney Karin Spence - an Additional Support Teacher at Glaitness School - says the group started when she and a parent of a child with additional support needs and fellow primary teacher Caroline Heddle started talking about the need for outside school activities for children with additional support needs.

“We met together, got in touch with Scottish Disability Sport, the Picky Centre and the Council’s Active Schools team and other organisations who shared our thinking and they have all been really supportive of our aims.

"Together we hope the charity will create lots of opportunities for children and adults with additional support needs."

Kirsty Ewen, Regional Manager for Scottish Disability Sport, came to Orkney along with two tutors to assist with the Disability Sport Week activity sessions and the training courses: “We are delighted to be working with Orkney Islands Council to provide and help develop inclusive opportunities for participants with disabilities.

“Evidence has shown that participants with a disability are amongst the most underrepresented groups of participants in sport and physical activity. So it’s an absolute pleasure to work in partnership with Orkney Islands Council to address this imbalance in Orkney and work towards providing even more opportunities.”

Garry Burton is the Council’s Sport and Leisure Service Manager: “We’re very grateful to Scottish Disability Sport for their advice and help putting together the best possible ‘Get Into Summer’ sessions for young people with additional support needs – our Disability Sport Week provided a wide range of activities to choose from and created the much needed chance to socialise and challenge themselves safely.”

Our grateful thanks must go to Kirkwall Kayak Club, Scottish Canoe Association, Orkney Rugby Club, Orkney Gymnastics Club and the Pickaquoy Centre.