On Sunday 4 September Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) hosted their Wheels to Stadium multi-sport engagement event at Grangemouth Sports Stadium and Grangemouth Sports Complex. The event aimed to provide a range of opportunities for people who use a wheelchair for sport to try new and exciting sports and learn more about the pathways that are available. Furthermore, the event aimed to highlight the opportunities for people with disabilities to achieve at the highest level and hopefully inspire them to become stars of the future.
At the event seven sporting opportunities were available - Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boccia, Curling, Shooting, Swimming and Wheelchair Skills. Shooting.
Scottish Target Shooting enjoys a strong partnership with SDS, working together to help promote shooting as one of the most inclusive sports, as well as educate coaches and volunteers on inclusion and inclusive practice.
In view of the event’s location, as well as the club’s experience of working with athletes with a disability and approach to inclusion, STS enlisted the support of one of its members, Alloa and District Rifle Club to come along and deliver the sessions in partnership with STS.
Coaches Willie McAulay and Billy Crawford came down on the day and set up the session at Grangemouth Sports Stadium, using Scatts to deliver a fun and inclusive session. The day was split into 4 sessions between 10am and 3pm with shooting the only sport popular enough to have participants signed up for every session. During the course of the day, over 25 athletes (not to mention a few parents and carers) gave shooting a try under the expert tutelage of Willie and Billy. Every participant not only left with a smile on their face but also a club flyer and contact details to take the sport up. There were definitely a few naturals and some impressive scores achieved along the way too!
STS would like to express our thanks to Alloa and District Rifle Club, and in particular Willie McAuley and Billy Crawford for giving up their time to come along but everyone agreed it was definitely a valuable experience for all involved. We would also like to congratulate our partners at Scottish Disability Sport for delivering a fantastic event.
STS called upon the support of Alloa and District Rifle Club because of the power of work carried out by the club in the local community, delivering to a wide range of community groups. It is a lesson for all clubs that not only does this work benefit the club directly by bringing in new members, it strengthens conversations with the local authority when negotiating leases and applying for funding.
ACTION: If your club wants to know more about the benefits of engaging with the local community and/or wants to work with STS at delivering events in their area, please contact admin@scottishtargetshooting.co.uk to find out more.
