Ability Shetland

Ability Shetland supports the efforts of disabled people to realise their full potential in all areas of life. We are committed to promoting inclusion of disabled people as this benefits everyone.

Ability Shetland provides services and clubs for disabled adults and young people, and their families. We aim to help our members to make friends, reduce isolation and become involved in the community. Our clubs and one to one work provide support to our members and their families and we meet regularly to provide recreational and educational activities to help improve the physical, social and mental wellbeing for all.

Our clubs and services cover the length and breadth of Shetland. We have Children’s Clubs in Unst, Yell, Mossbank, Urafirth, North Roe, Lerwick and West Mainland. We have various Adult Club’s in Lerwick which focus on physical and mental wellbeing and have another Adult Club in Mossbank. In addition to our group work we also provide 1 to 1 support to children, young people and adults. We also have a Holiday Club for children with additional support needs and an Under 5’s group for parents to attend with their children.

We also have a Sports Development Coordinator as part of our team whose role it is to co-ordinate and develop a range of physical activity and sport sessions and events for children, young people and adults with physical, learning and sensory disabilities across the Shetland Isles. They also work with local and national partners to ensure sport and physical activities is accessible for all.

The organisation, which is based in Lerwick’s Market House, is led by its own board of trustees and its office is currently staffed by a Team Leader, Fieldworker, Sports Development Coordinator and Holiday Club Coordinator who manage and support the work of our club leaders, support workers and over sixty volunteers.

Ability Shetland is always on the look-out for enthusiastic volunteers to join the team. Full training is provided free including Adult and Child Protection Awareness, Moving and Assisting and regular opportunities to attend Disability Awareness training sessions.

Ability Shetland is supported financially by a range of service level agreements, external grants, our own fund-raising events and most importantly, by the generosity of the Shetland public.