Beeslack All Stars Community Story
By Beeslack All Stars
This story, from Beeslack All Stars Disabled Sports Club, is part of a series of community stories from organisations receiving funding from the Boost fund in partnership with STV Children’s Appeal. The stories focus on how people across Scotland are working together to support their communities.
The club meets twice a week at Beeslack High School in Penicuik and provides a wide range of activities to children and young people with additional support needs and their families. On Tuesday nights, this includes swimming in the swimming pool with close supervision from Lynne, who set up the club back in 2004. Lynne set up the club to provide much needed space and social opportunities for young people with disabilities, regardless of their age. No one is forced to leave the group because of their age and these opportunities to have fun with peers is really important to the young people who attend.
“Club is a safe place where I can have fun and feel a part of it and fit in and not made to feel different.”
“I love basketball, but Boccia is my favourite. Everyone is kind and friendly and I feel happy when I come to club.”
Tackling stigma
In addition to providing pathways into regional and national disability competitions through Scottish Disability Sport the club works to tackle the stigma around disability. One way the club do this, is by offering volunteering opportunities to local high schools, including the Duke of Edinburgh award.
More than just sport
As well as running sessions throughout the week, the club runs a closed Facebook group where members and their families can stay in touch. The club’s ethos is that the developing sporting skills also develops individuals’ self-confidence, social skills, and life skills.
“I enjoy coming and having fun and feeling valued as a person. It makes me happy and its fun and I have made lots of friends”
If you’d like to find out more about the Beeslack All Stars, you can follow them on facebook.