Orkney's first para sport festival a great success

Orkney’s first Para-sport Festival has been hailed a great success by its peedie athletes, with one participant saying: “This is the best day of my life!”

The festival was held on Friday 25 March at the Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall, providing an opportunity for children and young people aged between 5 and 18 with Downs Syndrome or a physical, visual or hearing impairment to try new and exciting sports, such as boccia, badminton, athletics, swimming, kayaking and rugby.

The event was supported by Scottish Disability Sport, with a number of sport specific specialists delivering activities, including Orkney’s Active Schools team, the Council’s Community Sport Hub Officer, local sporting clubs, and Orkney’s new charity, Inclusive Orkney.

The Council’s Leisure and Culture Services Manager, Garry Burton, said: “The Festival gave young people who took part the chance to try several sports with specific support to them, but it was also a hugely valuable social occasion - and hopefully one that will inspire these young people to strive to be para sporting stars of the future. We also hope it helped highlight to local families the growing opportunities for young people with disabilities here in Orkney.

"This event reflects the ongoing commitment from the Council to work with the community to provide opportunities for people of all abilities to get involved in all the mental and physical benefits sports has to offer.

“We’d like to thank Scottish Disability Sport who sent a team to help deliver the Festival alongside our local helpers. A huge thank you also to the new Inclusive Orkney charity and other community members who’ve given us feedback all along and helped make the day a huge success for our young sportspeople.”

Joanne Cairns is the Council's Community Sports Officer: "Orkney’s first parasport festival was a success and it was fantastic to see everyone have so much fun and to have local clubs and Scottish governing bodies involved was great. Thanks must go to Scottish Disability Sport for their support and their funding partners Better Breaks, as well as Badminton Scotland, Orkney Athletic and Running Club, Orkney Rugby Football Club, Orkney Amateur Swimming Club and Kirkwall Kayak Club who delivered fantastic sessions and made the event possible."

“One parent has already written into us to thank us for a ‘superb day’ and for all the work ourselves and others are doing ‘to give those less able a chance to try new things and celebrate their differences instead of seeing them as a barrier. It was a very special day indeed!’. Feedback like that just puts a smile on your face!”

Kirsty Ewen, Highlands and Orkney Regional Manager for Scottish Disability Sport said: "It was great to see so many smiles. Some of our favourite quotes from participants are 'Best day ever!' - 'This is the first time I've ever been in a swimming pool' and 'This is the best day of my life!'"

The Para-sports Festival follows on from inclusive initiatives by the Council such as activities devised last summer as part of the Scottish Government’s Get Into Summer programme, the upcoming Easter ASN (additional support needs) multi sport sessions, supporting the setup of the Inclusive Orkney charity and ongoing support of their activities including their recently launched weekend clubs, and continuation of training opportunities in Orkney in conjunction with Scottish Disability Sport on inclusive sports.

Karin Spence, who launched Inclusive Orkney for children with additional needs, said: “We are delighted to see the council continue to build sporting provision for children with additional needs.

“The Parasport festival was the first ever in Orkney which shows the strides we are taking to be more inclusive and cater for all.

“I must also thank Scottish Disability Sport for delivering training to volunteers in the county and hope these opportunities will continue.

“Thanks must also go to Joanne Cairns, Community Sports Officer and Rachael Suttie, Active Schools Coordinator (inclusion) for organising the event and also huge thanks to the local clubs who provided volunteers to deliver sessions as without them this event wouldn’t have happened. We hope to continue to grow the provision for children with additional needs and their families.”

Rachael Suttie, Active Schools Coordinator (Inclusion) in Orkney said: “With children from various schools across the county, it was fantastic to see the success in the festival with children engaged in a wide range of activities, meeting new people, learning new skills and most importantly having fun.

“I’d like to thank the schools who supported us in the run up to the festival and particularly on the day, the support and attendance was greatly appreciated. The support of schools staff and parents was vital for aiding the success of the festival.

“This was Orkneys first parasport festival and it definitely won’t be the last.”

If you have any questions about inclusive sport opportunities for young people in Orkney, email Active Schools (Inclusion) Rachael Suttie at rachael.suttie@orkney.gov.uk  or OIC Community Sports Officer Jo Cairns at joanne.cairns@orkney.gov.uk .

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is the Scottish governing and co-coordinating body of all sports for people of all ages and abilities with a physical, sensory or learning disability, and is also the governing body of Boccia. SDS has the vision of developing opportunities and improving performance in disability sport for children, athletes and players with a physical, sensory or learning disability in Scotland and contributing to UK and international initiatives.