Disability Sports consists of one Disability Sports Officer, one Disability Sports Activities Officer and one part-time Pre-School Disability Sports Activities Officer. The team are based within Olympia Leisure Centre and have a range of classes, programme and events ongoing throughout the city.

The team offer services to Children, Youths and Adults who have Physical, Sensory and/or Learning disabilities. The team also supports children with Additional Support needs in accessing classes and programmes.

The officers remit will be to focus on specific age groups, i.e. Pre-school (0 – 5 years), P1 – P4 (5 – 8 years), P5 – S2
(9 – 14 years) and 14 years +. The officers will be working closer with the Education Department, Health Board and Voluntary Organisations within Dundee to establish a co-ordinated approach to physical activity and sport in Dundee. Opportunities will be investigated for the integration of people with a disability into mainstream activities. The Disability Sports Team will ensure opportunities exist for regular, life-long participation in sport and physical activity, for every person, with a disability, in Dundee.

Here is a snapshot of some of our classes, events and programmes:

Active Football

After a review of the current programmes for children it was decided to run a programme of football activities at Douglas Sports Centre. This session operates on Wednesday Evenings at 5 - 6pm. Active football has a wide age group to help attract more players along to the session. The club currently attracts 10 players; once the numbers increase the age groups will then be divided appropriately.

The Sports Club (St. Fergus School)

The above club has been establishe in partnership with the Armistead Child and Family Centre, with funding from the Fulton MacKay Trust and this funding was for three years. This group has been running since January 2003. The children are referred to the club via the physiotherapist at Armistead. We employ two coaches to work alongside the physiotherapists and helpers, the coaches have a range of physical activities ranging from basic co-ordination skills to team games of football etc. The main aims of the Club are to develop the skills of each individual and encourage them to access mainstream activities. The club runs all year round and offers physical activities during term time within brackens Primary School and also offers holiday term programmes such as Horseriding, Ice Skating and ten-pin bowling. The sustainability of the club has been addressed and it is envisaged that the parents will set up a committee and continue to run and support the club after the funding is finished. The sustainability of the club has been addressed and the club are now fully constituted with a committee operating their affairs.

Calendar of Events

Our Calendar of events are continually monitored to ensure high quality accessible events. Our events also ensure that all athletes with a disability have the opportunity to enter sport and reach their highest potential limited only by their ability, drive and ambition. Our events calendar includes the following sports:

Dundee City Disability Sport (DCDS) is a voluntary organisation with charitable status. DCDS are now coming to the end of their four year development plan - Branching out - which aims to provide sport and physical activity for all people with a disability within Dundee City.

Disability Sport Officers in partnership with DCDS have an annual calendar of event offering competitions in Swimming, Bowls and athletics. DCDS host two major events each year:

Rotary Football Festival

The Rotary Football Festival is now in its 8^th year and continues to grow from strength to strength. The event is open to all Tayside children with a disability and regularly attracts around 250 participants to Dundee at the end of May. DCDS is grateful to the Rotary Club of Dundee for their continued support at this event. Participants are given the opportunity to practice various football skills in the morning with small sided games in the afternoon. each participant receive a certificate and a small memento on the day.

Discovery Games

Discovery Games is a national event that attracts athletes from all over Scotland it is the biggest pan-disability event that is hosted in Scotland and events offered are Swimming, Carpet Bowls, Boccia, Athletics and Powerlifting. This event is held in September every year and is held over a weekend. The event attracts over 450 athletes to Dundee for a weekend of competition, fun and enjoyment. The organisers are always looking for volunteers at the event anyone interested should contact the Disability Sports Development Officer.