Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Dragons still firing through
A SPORTS group has been working to ensure young people with physical disabilities have been kept occupied and active during the pandemic.
Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club uses a range of sports to help transform the lives of disabled young people.
Elizabeth Ferris, founder and chairwoman of Dundee Dragons said: “During the pandemic, Dundee Dragons’ programmes have continued providing either virtual or face-to-face physical activity and personal development sessions which have been vital for young people’s wellbeing.
“Dundee Dragons’ responsibility to the young people it works with means keeping the organisation sustainable during uncertain times was a huge priority.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that becoming a Dragon has been life changing for some of our members.
“I can think of multiple players who openly testify to the benefits the club brings to not only their physical but also to their mental health.”
Rhys Colliar, 19, first joined the Dragons aged 14.
In the last few years he said he had developed both personally and as an athlete. He has become a talented wheelchair basketball player.
He is now at a stage where he shares his wealth of knowledge and experience with younger athletes and assists with coaching.
Rhys said before joining Dundee Dragons, he was extremely unhappy and isolated from his peers.
He said: “Dundee Dragons has been of huge support to me and helped grow my confidence and self-esteem.
“It has changed everything for me. The club has given me so many new opportunities. I have met lots of new people, developed my skills and am a much more confident person thanks to the Dragons.”
Since it was established seven years ago, Dundee Dragons has grown rapidly. The organisation works in partnership with schools and other organisations to provide sporting opportunities for young people across Tayside, Fife and Perthshire.
Dundee Dragons is a member of Sported, the UK’s largest network of community groups supporting 500,000 young people.
Nicola Walker, chief executive of Sported, added: “Dundee Dragons is a wonderful example of the way in which sport can be used to engage young people and provide them with routes to more positive futures.
“There are countless numbers of similar stories across the UK which reflect the critical role sport plays in the lives of young people. Our work is to ensure groups like Dundee Dragons can grow support for young people during these difficult times.”