Every year Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) runs Parasport Festivals around the country, allowing young people with a disability to try out a variety of different sports. The aim is for them to find a sport they like that they can take part in on a regular basis. 

Over the last few years the SCA has supported a number of these Parasport Festivals alongside a club that is local to the event. This year we were invited to more festivals than years past and between Maddy Jennings (SCA’s Paracanoe Pathway Officer) and I we supported them all. 

This year's events started with the Highland Parasport Festival at Dingwall Leisure Centre in November which was organised brilliantly by Kirsty Ewen from SDS. I was pleased to support the event alongside five members of Inverness Canoe Club: Amanda Trafford, Neil Ross, Ian Bowler, Margaret Pearson and Kerstin Hirt. There were slightly fewer participants this year compared with last, however the nine young people who took part had great fun in the pool with a few returning from last year along with siblings. 

The other events we returned to from last year were:

• Grampian Parasport Festival - 22 attendees - held at the Aberdeen Sports Village, organised by Alison Shaw from SDS and supported by Aberdeen Kayak Club’s Bill Telfer, Steven Hosie and Paul Rhodes.
• Shetland Parasport Festival - 26 attendees (adults & children) - organised by Charis Scott from Ability Shetland held at the Clickimin Leisure Complex supported by five Shetland Canoe Club members. This was also the first event to include adult sessions. 
• Tayside Parasport Festival - 12 attendees - held in Perth Leisure pool, organised by Graeme Doig from SDS and supported by Perth Canoe Club’s Garry Eggleston, Mary MacPherson, James Martin, Rebecca Smith, Richard Rogers and Alistair Brand. 

These were all great events, with a total of 69 people given the opportunity to try paddlesport. Many of these new paddlers are keen to take up further opportunities at local clubs and one participant is already attending club sessions in order to learn to roll. 

In March, we attended our first new Parasport event in the West at Linwood Sports Centre. Unfortunately, we did not have access to the pool so Maddy and I talked about paddlesport to those attending the festival during their breaks and lunchtime. Jo, the manager at Pinkston Watersports also joined us at lunchtime to help highlight future opportunities. We had leaflets, a paracanoe sprint boat, banners and enthusiasm and passion for the sport, but other than a couple of paddles, nothing for participants to try, sit in and have a go on. 

This was when Maddy came up with what I first thought was a slightly mad idea: if you only have access to a sports hall and no water, why not put kayaks on wheels? So following a trip to B&Q for some plywood, casters and bolts we put together two trolleys and two poles with tape grips and rubber ends to use as paddles. 

Our first opportunity to try the kayaks on wheels came at the East Parasport Festival in March at Forrester High School in Edinburgh. Obviously the first thing to do was to test them, which Maddy and I did by paddling them up and down the sports hall. What we discovered was that it was not as easy as we had hoped, but we immediately attracted a lot of attention and participants. Poppy from Forth Canoe Club also popped along to give us a hand. 

We were very popular at both the East and the Central Parasport Festival at Grangemouth Sports Complex despite us not having allocated participants. Lots of youngsters wanted to not only try the kayaks on wheels, but also the ergo Maddy had brought along, allowing us to run time trials between those attending. Between all the new festivals we had the opportunity to highlight paddlesport to an additional 219 young people! 

Following all the events we received some lovely comments from participants or those attending with them, including:

“I NEVER expected to see her in a kayak...and what’s more...smiling and enjoying herself whilst doing it!” 

“I was SO proud of her for kayaking and she was so proud of herself! Thanks to everyone who helped make that happen for her. It really was a highlight of the day.”

“I never thought she’d be able to do something like this” -one participant’s sister, close to tears with pride.

These events happen thanks to the hard work of many volunteers, who do a great job putting participants at ease and then supporting them individually to build their confidence to try new things, all in a fun environment. It would be great to be able to increase the number of opportunities for those taking part in these and other such events. So if you or your club would like to get involved, and/or become more inclusive, please get in touch - we will be happy to assist.