With the Rio paralympics coming up, our Largs News 'Access All Areas' columnist Zoe Maclean tries out some different sports, as part of a UK wide initiative running in nine cities across Britain...

I consider myself to be a naturally curious and inquisitive person. I am always keen to take on new challenges and to meet new people.

I am an active member of a disabled peoples’ organisation called Glasgow Disability Alliance. (GDA). The main aim of this organisation is to provide a variety of events and workshops for disabled people to equip them with the necessary skills and experiences to be fully included as an active member of society.

A few weeks ago I was invited through the the Glasgow Disability Alliance to take part in an inclusive sports day. I was curious to see what the day would involve and what sports would be on offer, so I jumped at the chance (pardon the pun).The project I called Inclusive Futures, is a UK Wide initiative running in nine cities across Britain. The project was developed by the Youth Sports Trust. In Glasgow the project is run in partnership with Glasgow Life the trade name for the department of sport and culture of Glasgow City Council.

The inclusive Futures programme gives both disabled and non disabled young people the chance to support and deliver physical activities within schools and local communities. The programme is supported by a range of role models within the world of disability sport including Kate Gray, a Paralympic Swimmer who represented Great Britain in Beijing in 2008.

Some of the programme’s main aims include, creating a positive change in the perception of disabled people in communities (by both disabled and non-disabled people) -

Unlocking and demonstrating the potential of young people to be agents for change, increasing the number of people volunteering in their communities, enhancing young people’s life and employability skills, increasing the opportunities for disabled people to participate in activities and in the community.

The sports day was held in Glasgow and I had the opportunity to try a range of different sports including table hockey, seated volleyball, wheelchair football and Boccia.

Boccia (pronounced 'Bot-cha') is a Paralympic sport introduced in 1984 it has no Olympic counterpart. The game was specifically designed for athletes with a disability which affects their locomotor function in their arms or legs such as Cerebral Palsy or Muscular Dystrophy. As with any Paralympic sport athletes are divided into different classifications according to how their disability affects them. This is to ensure a level playing field for all athletes. Boccia athletes throw, kick or use a ramp to propel a ball onto the court with the aim of getting closest to a 'jack' ball. Boccia is played indoors on a court similar in size to that of a badminton court.

I really enjoyed the day and the opportunity to try some new sports. Events like these show how with the right facilities, sport can really bring people together regardless of age, ability or background. With the development of new sports facilities such as the new para sports centre set to open in Largs in 2017 it is hoped that everyone will have an equal opportunity to play and enjoy sport and also play an active part in their local community. To find out more about the Inclusive Futures programme visit the Youth Sports trust website at https://www.youthsporttrust.org/IF