Workshops
Workshop 1
Title: LEAP into partnership: Connecting with LGBTIQ+ communities
Organisation: LEAP Sports
Presenters:
Hugh Torrance
Heidi Vistisen
LEAP Sports works with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people (LGBTIQ+) across Scotland to improve their access, participation and enjoyment of physical activity and sport. LEAP also works with the physical activity and sport sector towards the same purpose, through training, support and advice, consultation and research, and policy development.
By interfacing the lived experience of LGBTIQ+ people directly with the physical activity and sports sector, many unique and impactful partnerships are formed.
This interactive workshop will look in detail at some of those partnerships and the change they have created, as well as what we can learn from them.
The workshop will conclude with some key recommendations for successful partnerships between communities and researchers /policymakers /physical activity providers.
Workshop 2
Title: Inclusion in Practice: sharing experiences and best practice within disability sport and physical activity
Organisation:
University of Strathclyde
Scottish Disability Sport
St Oswalds ASN Secondary School, Glasgow
Presenters:
Dr Fiona Muirhead (Senior Lecturer, University of Strathclyde)
Laura Pilkington (Board Member and Disability Inclusion Tutor, Scottish Disability Sport)
Gary Muirhead (Deputy Head Teacher, St Oswalds ASN Secondary School, Glasgow)
This workshop is designed to engage the audience with discussions and lived experiences around disability, sport and PA. We are also keen to have discussion about the PA guidelines that have been developed for individuals with disabilities.
This workshop will include theory and research, lived experience of working and delivering sport, PA and PE with young people and adults with disabilities and practical tips on adapting activity and sport for different types of disabilities, alongside some practical activities and equipment.
Workshop 3
Title: Transforming Young Lives Through Sport
Organisation: Scottish Sports Futures
Presenters: Dougie Millen
Scottish Sports Futures (SSF) is national charity, established in 2000, with the vision of a world in which every young person fulfils their potential. SSF use sport combined with a person-centered youth work approach as a catalyst for hope. We are committed to ensuring young people affected by poverty, trauma and adversity are provided with safety and free from threat and shame. We work with young people from some of Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities delivering effective intervention and prevention programmes to improve the life chances for young people.
This interactive workshop will outline the Scottish Sports Futures story and experience of transforming young lives through sport. SSF will share the tools and systems utilised in supporting work with young people, directing the organisation’s priorities, and informing its approach to partnership working.
Workshop 4
Title: Springboards and Banana Skins: how we can progress an equitable physical activity system in Scotland.
Organisation: The Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University and the Centre for Cardiovascular Health, Edinburgh Napier University.
Presenters:
Professor Emily Oliver
Dr Coral Hanson
Reducing unfair and avoidable inequalities in health is the focus of much current policy and health service, and public health, reform. Although patterns of physical activity engagement often mirror health and social inequalities, our physical activity system also offers tantalising and unique, but arguably unfulfilled, potential to meaningfully reduce health and social inequalities.
Open to all, we aim to bring together those with a curiosity about, or an interest in, better understanding and enacting action to reduce health inequalities using physical activity. Together, we anticipate delegates and facilitators will share learning from positive and emerging practices, identify priorities for greater focus and attention, and form communities of interest for progressing (and evaluating) work in these areas going forward.
Workshop 5
Title: Muscle Strengthening “The forgotten Guidelines”: How can we better promote these?
Organisation: NHS Forth Valley
Presenters: Scott Burton
Muscle Strengthening guidelines are poorly adhere to in Scotland. The general population are generally unaware of these and the benefits of muscle strengthening. These guidelines are recommended by the Chief Medical Officers and are an essential public health priority to help reduce the Scottish burden of disease predicted to increase 20% in the next 20 years. Using the physical activity messaging framework (PAMF) it can be used to promote specific muscle strengthening messages to different areas of the population. People with long term conditions, older adults, ethnic minorities and people in deprived area are less likely to take part but stand to benefit the most! Muscle strengthening is often overlooked in health messaging and specific campaigns are needed to promote this aspect.
This workshop aims to:
- Share current Scottish survey data, research and policies which promote muscle strengthening in Scotland.
- Share evidence on barriers to muscle strengthening as well as best practice which can be utilised to promote MS at a population and local level.
- Give the participants opportunities to create messages/strategies to support local campaigns which could be used at a local level.
Workshop 6
Title: Co-designing Inclusive Activities and Cooperative Games: Engaging Older Adults in Physical Activity
Organisation: Wild Strong
Presenters:
Andrew Telfer
Gill Erskine
This workshop, led by WildStrong, focuses on co-designing inclusive and cooperative physical activities that address the complex barriers to physical activity for older adults.
It will draw on WildStrong’s experience of building in-person communities through physical activity and their NatureMoves project, a toolkit for active partners to deliver free, year-round movement and strength classes to older populations in local green spaces.
The barriers to staying active—especially for older adults—are complex, from confidence, access, physical limitations, and social isolation. NatureMoves tackles these challenges through creative, playful and task-based movement in nature, designed to build both physical and social well-being.
Participants in the workshop will learn how to apply inclusive physical activity frameworks such as STEP, TREE, and CHANGEIT, tailored specifically to older adults. These models ensure that activities are adaptable for various abilities while encouraging peer support and community-building through a peer coaching model. This approach helps participants build confidence and resilience, both individually and within their community.
Participants will have the opportunity to co-create fun, engaging activities and cooperative games, with a particular focus on overcoming the barriers that older adults face when trying to stay active. We will focus on task based training and expanding capabilities.