25 Jun 2026
The East Ayrshire Disability Sports Day, held during Learning Disability Awareness Week (LDAW) 2026 at the Ayrshire Athletics Arena in Kilmarnock, is a cornerstone community event celebrating inclusive sport. The theme for LDAW 2026 was "Do you see me?" which is all about people with a learning disability being seen, heard and valued. The fully accessible day brings together adults and young people to try adaptive sports, ride all-ability bikes, and promote an active lifestyle.
The annual disability sports day is a massive highlight on the local calendar, aimed at bringing inclusive sports to people of all ages and abilities. The day is designed specifically to break down barriers to participation, offering a welcoming, non-competitive space for individuals with physical, sensory, and learning disabilities.
Participants are allowed to try a wide range of adapted and mainstream sporting activities, including archery. Highlights from the most recent 2026 event included:
All-Ability Cycling: A highly popular feature allowing attendees with impaired balance to experience the freedom of cycling on adaptive bikes.
Adapted Sports: Hands-on sessions including archery, badminton, boccia, and inclusive athletics.
Community Performances: The event often features local entertainment, such as energetic routines from groups like The Happy Tappers
We were delighted to have archery as one of the activities on offer which was delivered by the volunteer coaching team at Kilmarnock Barebow Archers (KBA). A big thank you to Mary, Linda, Tim, and Pete for their time and effort on the day, ensuring that everyone had a positive experience of archery.
The event takes place at the world-class Ayrshire Athletics Arena, situated in the heart of Kilmarnock. Featuring inclusive design and premium accessibility, the arena serves as South West Scotland’s premier venue for disability sports, ensuring every athlete has the right equipment and space to thrive.
Club representative and volunteer on the day Tim Diesel shared his reflections from the event:
“Kilmarnock Barebow Archers (KBA) were delighted to support the East Ayrshire Disability Sports Day. As a club, we really enjoy taking part in community events like this because it gives us the chance to see the positive effect archery can have on people from all walks of life. Seeing so many smiling faces after trying archery was incredibly rewarding for our volunteers and coaches, and it reminds us why we love sharing the sport.”
“Our volunteers and coaches had a fantastic time supporting the East Ayrshire Disability Sports Day. For Kilmarnock Barebow Archers (KBA), days like this are about much more than simply introducing people to archery. They are about helping people enjoy themselves, try something different, and feel included. Knowing that our sport can bring happiness, confidence, and a sense of achievement to others is hugely gratifying for us as a club.”
A thank you to Ayrshire 360 for having us as part of the event, and looking forward to seeing KBA continue to support events and programmes like this in the future.