SDS has relocated its operations to Forthstone, Edinburgh, where it will work alongside Motability Operations, the organisation that runs the Motability Scheme. The move marks the beginning of a renewed partnership agreement to help break down barriers to participation in sport for people with a disability.
As part of the agreement, the Motability Scheme will sponsor a range of SDS’s initiatives in 2025, including:
- Education and Training opportunities for schools, universities and volunteers & coaches across Scotland.
- Ten Parasport festivals, scheduled later this year, offering young people with a disability the chance to try a variety of sports in a fun, inclusive, and supportive environment.
- SDS’s National Exhibition event, which is taking place at the University of Stirling on Saturday 14 June this year.
These events open up life-changing opportunities to participants, both young and old, by helping to build their confidence and connecting them with peers who share similar experiences and show that it is never too late to engage in activity and move a little more every day.
By combining resources and expertise, Motability Operations and SDS are committed to increasing awareness of the opportunities offered by both organisations. Their partnership will spotlight the transformative impact of the Motability Scheme in improving mobility for its customers while encouraging greater participation in disability sport across Scotland.
Gavin Thomson, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director Scotland, Motability Operations said:
“Sport has the power to break down barriers and open up new possibilities for everyone. Our partnership with SDS reflects our shared commitment to improving access to sport and mobility. Our ambition is to ensure that people with disabilities in Scotland have the opportunity to live healthy and active lives, and to strive for sporting greatness.”
Through their new base at Forthstone, SDS will have access to shared facilities, including meeting spaces, as well as the opportunity for increased collaboration with the Motability Operations team, strengthening their ability to deliver impactful programmes.
Gavin MacLeod, CEO of Scottish Disability Sport said:
“Our partnership with Motability Operations has brought great benefits to both organisations over the past year and we are pleased to strengthen it further.
“Scotland’s sporting landscape is facing significant resource challenges. Now more than ever, partnerships like this are crucial in ensuring that people with a disability continue to have access to life-changing opportunities in sport.”
This partnership signals a long-term commitment to removing barriers to participation in sport for Scots with a disability. Whether through sponsorship, shared expertise, or improved facilities, Motability Operations and SDS are continuing to work together to create a more inclusive sporting landscape by changing culture and behaviours through quality education and training experiences alongside providing extensive sport and physical activity opportunities in collaboration with local and national partners.
