Sport Aberdeen’s Community Sport team marked Scottish Disability Sport Week with a packed programme of inclusive activities designed to inspire Aberdeen’s ASN community to get active and discover the wide range of opportunities available across the city.
Scottish Disability Sport Week (SDSW), which ran from November 24th to 30th, encourages people with additional support needs to improve their wellbeing by getting involved in physical activity in a way that suits them.
The week-long campaign in Aberdeen featured a diverse timetable of adapted activities, specially designed by the Community Sport team, including table tennis, cycling, swimming, ice skating and snow sports. Hosted by Sport Aberdeen’s venues across the city, the activities were open to all ages and to anyone with any kind of disability.
The week kicked off with an energetic ASN table tennis session at Get Active @ Westburn, held every Monday from 6pm - 7.30pm. Participants spoke enthusiastically about what keeps them coming back:
- “I like playing with the team and meeting new people.”
- “I love coming here, it’s all a laugh. I enjoy the challenge of playing and getting out of the house.”
- “I feel like I’ve achieved something, I feel fantastic.”
The ASN table tennis group at Westburn have been so successful that they are now enrolled in a local league playing against non-disabled players.
Another thriving initiative delivered by Sport Aberdeen, in partnership with Grampian Disability Sport, is the Grampian Inclusive Cycling Bothies (GICB). The project offers free adapted cycling sessions in traffic-free environments, allowing participants to cycle as much or as little as they choose.
The Aberdeen sessions, held at the Cycling Hub @ Seaton and led by qualified ride leaders and Grampian Disability Sport Volunteers, are open to everyone regardless of age and ability.
This week’s Tuesday morning session saw both regulars and first-time participants testing their pedal power in a safe and controlled space.
New adapted cycle participant, Mikey, turned up to give it a go and declared it “So fun!” as he pedalled around the circuit. Mikey was joined by regular adapted cyclist, Nicol, who has been attending sessions over the last few months and enjoys the safe cycling experience, “it’s great fun, I really enjoy it,” he said.
Beth Douglas, Project Activator with Grampian Inclusive Cycling Bothies, said, “We have a lot of participants who come along, both kids and adults, who maybe don’t feel too confident on a two-wheel bike, and it’s great to see them coming out of their shell when they get on the adapted bikes.
“Our sessions are free to drop in – you can come along for five minutes or stay for longer, we love to see everyone.”
Thrive Together Support is a Bridge of Don based person-centred day service for adults with additional support needs who visit the Cycle Hub @ Seaton every week, with a group spokesperson declaring, “A Tuesday afternoon is a firm favourite for all our service users!”.
Grampian Inclusive Cycling Bothies also run sessions at Catto Park Athletics Track, Peterhead; and the Deveron Community and Sports Centre, Banff.
The group are currently seeking more volunteers to help with the adapted cycling sessions. Anyone interested should contact the group via their Facebook page which has also weekly session details.
Prospective volunteers can also email gicb.gds@gmail.com for more information.
About Community Sport
The Community Sport team at Sport Aberdeen are passionate about the power of sport and its ability to positively impact lives throughout the city. Aiming to connect communities with opportunities to get active, the team coordinates a number of projects across the city as well as providing a range of services to support clubs and coaches.
They also exist to support community organisations and sports clubs to grow participation, engage with marginalised groups and promote opportunities for volunteering and leadership.
To find out more visit Community Sport