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Scottish charity Enable has launched “Access for All” to promote inclusion of people with disabilities across sport, the arts and cultural life. The three-year partnership program is based on the principles of Article 30 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which addresses equitable participation.
“For over 70 years, Enable has fought for the human rights of disabled people to be active, connected and engaged in their communities. That means going beyond providing services. It means opening doors to friendship, networks, culture and sport – the things that make life full and joyful,” said Theresa Shearer FRSE, CEO of Enable.
The initiative will strengthen partnerships with national and grassroots organizations to expand opportunities in local communities and will unfold in three phases. The first focuses on making sport more inclusive and began with Enable’s support of the 2025 Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) Summer Camp this month alongside sportscotland. The long running residential camp brings together young people with physical, sensory or learning disabilities for three days of sport, connection and confidence-building.
One participant, 17-year-old Kyle Stevenson, attended the camp to step out of his comfort zone in a safe environment. After a discouraging experience with a mainstream football team, he later found a sense of purpose and community through the PAN Disability Football League. “They welcomed me,” Kyle shared. “Now I feel like I belong in sport. This camp is helping me grow even more and I hope I can help others feel the same.”
Enable’s support of Kyle reflects the deeper goal of Access for All – to empower people with disabilities to thrive and not just participate. In the future, Enable’s local branches will connect with SDS’s regional hubs to increase inclusive sporting opportunities across the country.
Another key element is a renewed collaboration with Trust Rugby International (TRI). Enable Falkirk and TRI launched a new inclusive rugby team, the ‘Bannockburn Clan,’ as part of a broader effort to promote sport as a tool for social inclusion, personal growth and skill development. “At a time when the world feels more divided than ever, this partnership is about bringing people back together. TRI Social Rugby gives us a powerful way to break down barriers, build trust, and remind communities what it means to truly belong, on and off the pitch,” said TRI co-founder Jamie Armstrong.
Beyond sport, Access For All will soon roll out phases focused on the arts and policy advocacy. The second phase will collaborate with cultural organizations to enhance representation and access in Scotland’s creative spaces. The final phase will concentrate on influencing inclusive policy, embedding Article 30 into everyday life through systems change.
With this initiative, Enable and its partners are laying the groundwork for a more equitable Scotland. In doing so, they’re ensuring that every person, regardless of disability, has the opportunity to participate fully in the experiences that shape our collective life experiences.
Photo: Enable
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