Scottish Disability Sport (sds)
Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is the Scottish national coordinating body for disability sport, delivering Parasport Festivals, coaching education, championships, and an NHS referral programme across 14 regional branches to children and adults with physical, sensory, and learning disabilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Scottish Disability Sport (sds) does
Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is the Scottish governing and co-coordinating body for all sports for people of all ages and abilities with a physical, sensory, or learning disability. It is a registered Scottish charity (SC009609) and Company Limited by Guarantee (SC246327), headquartered in Edinburgh with a network of 14 regional branches each staffed by a dedicated Regional Development Manager. The organisation delivers a unified programme spanning Parasport Festivals, national championships (Boccia, Cross-Country, Athletics, and others), the SDS Athlete Academy, the Young Persons Sport Panel, the Activity Inclusion Model framework, coaching and education workshops, and the Get Active Referral Programme, which is operational in 12 of 14 NHS health boards.
SDS serves two primary participant segments — children and young people with disabilities (5-18) and adults with disabilities — alongside secondary institutional customers including coaches, volunteers, teachers, and NHS Allied Health Professionals. Underlying technology is light: a WordPress website, a third-party event registration platform (sds.justgo.com), and a learning management system for the free Introduction to Inclusive Practice online module. There is no proprietary platform or AI/ML capability. Products and services are delivered in person through branches, festivals, championships, and education workshops.
The business model is predominantly grant-funded by sportscotland, Motability, Toyota Parasport Fund, Celtic Foundation, and Peter Harrison Foundation, with a supplementary fee-for-service income stream from paid coaching workshops priced at £400 (2-hour), £650 (3-hour), and £1,200 (6-hour accredited). In 2025, SDS launched a four-point Call to Action — Plan to Include, Deliver an inclusive whole system approach, A benefits and social care system that equips individuals to be active, and Champion intersectionality — built on a national survey with Queen Margaret University CHEARR. The 2021-2029 'Inspiring through Inclusion' Strategic Plan sets the multi-year agenda for systemic change in disability sport access across Scotland.
Scottish Disability Sport (sds) firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Scottish Disability Sport (sds)
- Legal name
- Scottish Disability Sport
- Website
- https://scottishdisabilitysport.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is the Scottish national coordinating body for disability sport, delivering Parasport Festivals, coaching education, championships, and an NHS referral programme across 14 regional branches to children and adults with physical, sensory, and learning disabilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Scottish Disability Sport (sds) industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Sport Services
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability & Adaptive Sport Governing Bodies (Paralympic & Sport-Specific) (MPAKAFAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH), Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers (MPAKADAM), Adaptive & Para-Sport Training Programs (MPAKAJAK), Adaptive & Para-Sport Coaching (HSADAEAM)
Keywords
Where Scottish Disability Sport (sds) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Scottish Disability Sport (sds) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Coaching Education Workshops: SDS offers paid coaching and education workshops to clubs, schools, and organizations. Pricing ranges from £400 for a 2-hour practical workshop to £1,200 for an accredited 6-hour day workshop with assessment. These are supplementary revenue streams supporting the charitable mission.
- Charitable/Funded Activities: SDS operates as a Company Limited by Guarantee and registered Scottish Charity (SC009609). Core activities are funded through partnerships with sportscotland, Motability, Toyota Parasport Fund, Celtic Foundation, Peter Harrison Foundation, and other grant-making bodies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Introduction to Inclusive Practice module |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 2-hour Practical Workshop |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 3-hour Theory and Practical Workshop |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accredited 6-hour Day Workshop with Assessment |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Scottish Disability Sport (sds) product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Scottish Disability Sport is the Scottish national governing and co-coordinating body for all sports for people of all ages and abilities with a physical, sensory, or learning disability. It delivers inclusive sport opportunities through Parasport Festivals, Scottish Boccia programmes, National Championships, the SDS Athlete Academy, and the SDS Get Active Referral Programme embedded in 12 of 14 NHS health boards. It also sells paid coaching and disability inclusion training workshops (£400–£1,200) to clubs, schools, and sports organizations, alongside a free Introduction to Inclusive Practice online module.
Product overview
Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) offers a portfolio of disability sport services organized as a unified national program rather than a modular platform. The core offerings include Parasport Festivals (multi-sport taster events for youth), Scottish Boccia (the organization's flagship sport with coaching, classification, and competition pathways), Coaching and Education (Disability Inclusion Training, the free Introduction to Inclusive Practice online module, and bespoke workshop offerings), National Championships across multiple sports, the SDS Athlete Academy for elite development, the Young Persons Sport Panel for youth voice, the Activity Inclusion Model (AIM) framework, and Summer Camp activities. These services work together to provide a complete pathway from grassroots participation through to elite performance in disability sport across Scotland.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Parasport Festivals Multi-sport taster events for children and young people with physical disabilities, hearing loss, and vision impairments to try a wide range of sports in inclusive, safe sessions delivered by qualified local coaches. Delivered across 10+ Scottish regions with 395 children attending 10 festivals in the 2024 season across 18 sports.
- Scottish Boccia Programme Boccia programmes including coaching, classification, competitions, and player development for athletes with disabilities across Scotland. Includes National Schools Boccia Championships and community boccia sessions delivered through regional branches.
- Coaching and Education Workshops Disability inclusion training workshops and coaching education programmes for coaches, volunteers, club leaders, and sports organizations. Delivered as scheduled sessions funded by partners or bespoke arrangements. Target buyers are clubs, schools, Scottish Governing Bodies, Local Authorities, and Regional Sports Partnerships.
- Introduction to Inclusive Practice (Online Module) Free, self-paced online training module taking approximately 60 minutes to complete, designed to help coaches gain confidence in coaching inclusively. Freemium entry point into SDS's broader paid coaching education workshop portfolio.
- National Championships Annual national championships in sports including Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boccia, Bowls, and Swimming. Provides competitive pathways for athletes with disabilities including the National Cross-Country Championships (121 runners in 2024) and Discovery Games (almost 300 competitors in 2023).
- SDS Athlete Academy Elite development program supporting athletes with disabilities to progress their sporting careers toward elite levels, including pathways to Commonwealth Games (Glasgow 2026) and Paralympic Games (Milano Cortina 2026, Paris 2024).
- Summer Camp Activity Programme Annual summer camp activity programme providing sporting opportunities for people with disabilities during school holidays. Delivered as part of SDS's broader participation pathway alongside Parasport Festivals.
- SDS Get Active Referral Programme Referral programme through which NHS Allied Health Professionals refer patients with disabilities to disability sport and physical activity opportunities. Implemented in 12 of 14 NHS health boards across Scotland, with 46% of referred individuals engaging in sport and physical activity as a result.
Quantifiable outcome
- 46% of individuals referred through SDS Get Active Referral Programme engage in sport and physical activity
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Scottish Disability Sport (sds)
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Scottish Disability Sport (sds) technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Scottish Disability Sport (sds) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Queen Margaret University Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research (CHEARR)coreConducted national survey in partnership with SDS on barriers to sport participation for people with disabilities in Scotland. Survey findings revealed key insights including 40% worry about losing benefits if physically active, and 73% wanting to do more physical activity.
- sportscotlandcoreNational sports agency providing core funding and partnership support for SDS. Co-develops inclusive club resources and supports Disability Sport Coaching and Education Group.
- XXV SportswearminorProvides high-quality branded sportswear for SDS staff, supporting the organization's professional image and team identity.
- SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health)minorPartnership on Young Women in Sport Leadership Programme. SDS delivered boccia sessions as part of the programme empowering young women in sport.
- Scottish Women in SportminorJoint delivery of Young Women in Sport Leadership Programme with SAMH and SDS, promoting inclusivity and leadership development.
- British Blind SportminorUK organization for blind and partially sighted people in sport. SDS supports their events including 'Have a Go' Days.
- Scottish Governing Bodies of SportcorePartnership with multiple SGBs including Scottish Athletics, Basketball Scotland, Scottish Swimming, JudoScotland, Badminton Scotland, and others to deliver inclusive sport opportunities and embed disability inclusion training.
- Local Authorities and Regional Sports PartnershipscorePartnership with local authorities and regional sports partnerships across Scotland to deliver disability sport events, Parasport Festivals, and coaching education workshops.
- Children 1stminorScotland's National Children's Charity. YPSP members presented at Children 1st event on children's rights in sport. Partnership focuses on child wellbeing and protection in sport.
- Scottish Sensory Centre and Education ScotlandminorPartnership to track interest from schools and local authorities for 'More Than a Bell Ball' and inclusive PE workshops. Estimated 1,000 learners to benefit.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Scottish Disability Sport (sds) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Disability Sport Wales: Welsh national body for disability sport, the direct home-nations equivalent of SDS. Operates with the same coordinating-body role, regional branch structure, and partnership with Sport Wales — making it the most natural one-to-one comparison.
- Activity Alliance: England-wide national disability sport organization, the closest structural peer to SDS as a national coordinating body for inclusive sport. Directly comparable mission, governance role, and disability-sport advocacy remit, just at a larger England-wide scale.
- Special Olympics Great Britain: UK organization delivering year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Directly comparable participant population, coaching and competition model, and inclusive-sport delivery approach.
- British Blind Sport: UK national disability sport organization specifically for blind and partially sighted people. SDS explicitly partners with them on 'Have a Go' Days, indicating direct overlap on the vision-impaired participant segment and event delivery model.
- CP Sport UK (Cerebral Palsy Sport): UK national disability sport organization specifically for people with cerebral palsy. Comparable niche-disability-sport focus, event-driven delivery model, and coaching/education remit that intersects with SDS's core programming.
- WheelPower - British Wheelchair Sport: UK national charity for wheelchair sport, providing participation opportunities from grassroots to elite. Comparable charity model, coaching and events portfolio, and overlap on physical-disability participants served by SDS's Parasport Festivals.
Broad incumbents
- sportscotland: Scotland's national sport agency and a core strategic partner and funder of SDS. Operates as a broader incumbent across all of Scottish sport and is the natural funder-side comparison point for SDS's organizational positioning.
- British Paralympic Association: National Paralympic body for Great Britain, partnering with SDS through the Toyota Parasport Fund. Overlaps with SDS on elite pathway and Paralympic preparation, but operates at a broader GB-wide elite-performance remit rather than grassroots.
- ParalympicsGB: Great Britain Paralympic team body, co-partner with Toyota and Sport England on the Toyota Parasport Fund which financed SDS's 14-workshop delivery in 2020-2021. Comparable elite-performance orientation with overlap on Paralympic pathway athletes.
Others
- Motability: UK charity that operates the Motability car scheme and provides grants to disabled people, including funding for SDS's disability sport workshops. An enabling funder rather than a direct competitor, but tightly connected to the disabled-people ecosystem SDS serves.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Scottish Disability Sport (sds) social profiles
Digital presenceScottish Disability Sport (sds) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Scottish Disability Sport (sds) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Scottish Disability Sport (sds) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Scottish Disability Sport (sds) M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Scottish Disability Sport (sds)
What does Scottish Disability Sport (sds) do?
Scottish Disability Sport is the Scottish national governing and co-coordinating body for all sports for people of all ages and abilities with a physical, sensory, or learning disability. It delivers inclusive sport opportunities through Parasport Festivals, Scottish Boccia programmes, National Championships, the SDS Athlete Academy, and the SDS Get Active Referral Programme embedded in 12 of 14 NHS health boards. It also sells paid coaching and disability inclusion training workshops (£400–£1,200) to clubs, schools, and sports organizations, alongside a free Introduction to Inclusive Practice online module.
Is Scottish Disability Sport (sds) a public or private company?
Scottish Disability Sport (sds) is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Scottish Disability Sport (sds) founded?
Scottish Disability Sport (sds) was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Scottish Disability Sport (sds) based?
Scottish Disability Sport (sds) is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Scottish Disability Sport (sds) make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Coaching Education Workshops are the primary driver. The others are charitable/Funded Activities.
Who are Scottish Disability Sport (sds)'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Disability Sport Wales, Activity Alliance, Special Olympics Great Britain, British Blind Sport, CP Sport UK (Cerebral Palsy Sport) and WheelPower - British Wheelchair Sport. Broad incumbents are sportscotland, British Paralympic Association and ParalympicsGB. Motability is listed as an others.
Does Scottish Disability Sport (sds) have an API?
No public API is recorded for Scottish Disability Sport (sds).
What industry is Scottish Disability Sport (sds) in?
Scottish Disability Sport (sds)'s product category is Disability Sport Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAFAL, Disability & Adaptive Sport Governing Bodies (Paralympic & Sport-Specific), with a secondary code of MPAKACAH, Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics). Its NAICS code is 61162 and its SIC code is 8200.