From Live Life Aberdeenshire
Stonehaven Community Sport Hub (SCSH) has been offering free, inclusive Sports/Activity sessions every Friday night since late February 22.
The sessions primarily target teens and young adults, with a particular aim of enabling individuals with physical disabilities, sensory impairments, learning difficulties, autism and additional support requirements to get active in the community. The project runs at Stonehaven Leisure Centre with local sporting clubs providing 4-weeks of voluntary coaching. Sports then change every 4 weeks and blocks run on a 12-week cycle.
To date, volunteers from Panthers Basketball Club, Banchory & Stonehaven Athletics Club, Sooyang Do (Martial Arts), Cricket Scotland, Badminton, Stonehaven Table Tennis Club, Boccia and Wheeled sports have been involved in the initiative – including sessions delivered by hiring Para trekker wheelchairs for participants to explore their off-road local surroundings.
Funding received from Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action via their Mental Health and Wellbeing fund was used to deliver sessions for a 12-month period. Discussions with the community throughout the covid period led to a realisation of the lack of sporting and socialising provision for this client group in the area, which has led to feelings of isolation and loneliness as well as having a detrimental impact on their physical health.
Receiving the funds enabled the hub to cover hall hire fees which ensured they could offer sessions to participants at no cost. In addition, funds will be used to run two disability-inclusion training workshops for local clubs/groups to attend and the purchase of four sport wheelchairs. The chairs are compatible with a range of sports but have been particularly useful during the basketball and athletics sessions.
The Community Sport Hub has been the main partner involved in the project which includes the afore mentioned clubs who have delivered sessions so far. Additional support comes from Active Schools, Carronhill School, Scottish Disability Sport and Walk Ability. So far 41 participants have benefited from these sessions with attendance of around 16 per week.
Gregory Welsh, Community Sports Hub Officer said, “It’s been amazing to see the impact these sessions have had on the attendees and their guardians. The range of clubs and sports that have been offered is testament to the local community and the work of the Stonehaven and Portlethen Community Sport Hub. Inclusivity is at the heart of the hubs work and the collaboration between partners has been incredible.”
Alison Shaw, Scottish Disability Sport said, “It’s great to see the CSH take the lead on developing this project, and the clubs who have engaged have been fantastic! This type of club was very much needed as there was a lack of specific provision for young people with disabilities south of the city. There was a lack of confidence in the participants to join mainstream clubs, and a lack of confidence in club coaches to welcome people with disabilities to their clubs. Through the Multi Sports Club, club coaches have had the opportunity to gain confidence and experience in working with people with disabilities, and the participants have been able to experience sports that are available to them in the local area so both of these barriers to regular participation are being addressed and the club now goes from strength to strength”.
“He has loved the sessions, he originally wanted to just try basketball but has enjoyed the sessions so much he’s stayed for all the activities! –Parent
“Thank you for organizing this for the kids. I know our Mackie families have really appreciated it” – PT Additional Support for Learning Mackie Academy
The project continues until at least March 2023 and so far, achievements include offering a range of opportunities to the community, the collaboration between clubs and groups locally to support clubs new to disability sport, enabling then to upskill coaches and gain more experience. The aim is to ensure the project remains sustainable and grows to other areas, with immediate plans to support a session aimed at younger children.
Anyone wishing to know more about these sessions either to attend or to offer support can do so emailing StonehavenCSH@gmail.com