News

Boxing Scotland’s new CEO, Chris Roberts, has been appointed as Chairperson of the AIBA Referee & Judges Committee, a prestigious appointment that puts amateur boxing in Scotland at the international top table.

The three-star referee and judge, who only took up his position with Boxing Scotland last month, has wasted no time in bringing his expertise and respect among the international boxing community to the fore.

Chris has described the appointment as “an honour” and believes his role at AIBA will greatly benefit the development of referees and judges in Scotland.

“It is an absolute honour and privilege to be given the opportunity to assist with the future development and progression, not only with our officials across Boxing Scotland but now across the AIBA network,” said Chris.

“I would firstly like to thank the Chairman, Kevin Bell, and the Board of Directors for the trust they have given me with the role as CEO Boxing Scotland and even in my first few weeks I am greatly encouraged by the potential for growth at all levels.

“The referee and judges component is a key part of our organisation and a strategic priority, so my appointment within AIBA will enable us to be on the front foot in coaching top-class referees and judges, which will, in turn, enable Boxing Scotland to lead the development of the amateur sport in this country.”

Boxing Scotland Chair Kevin Bell echoed those sentiments. “It is fantastic for Boxing Scotland to have their new CEO in this position,” he said.  “It is to Chris’ credit that AIBA have recognised his capabilities and appointed him to this role. I know that Chris had already planned to apply strategic focus to R&J within Scotland but now, through this opportunity, he can also help to structure the future shape of R&J worldwide.

“Chris will thrive in working with AIBA and the International Olympic Committee to take the sport forward.”

AIBA-Announcement – aiba-appoints-committees-chairpersons

#PowerOfSport #boxingscotland

Newly appointed AIBA Committees’ Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons

R&J Committee;

Chair – Chris Roberts (Scotland)

Vice-Chair – Wayne Rose (Australia)

Competitions Committee;

Chair – Michael Müller (Germany)

Vice-Chair – Zsuzsanna Tóth (Hungary)

Coaches Committee;

Chair – Ervin Kade (Estonia)

Vice-Chair – William Walsh (USA)

Champions and Veterans Committee;

Chair – Mary Kom (India)

Vice-Chair – Michael Carruth (Ireland)

Women’s Committee;

Chair – Amanda Coulson (England)

VIce-Chair – Magda Sobhi (Egypt)

Medical & Anti-Doping Committee;

Chair – Dr Ioannis Filippatos (Monaco)

Vice-Chair – Dr Barbarito Cabrera (Cuba)

Marketing Committee;

Chair – Cezary Jedliński (Poland)

Vice-Chair – Dian Gomes (Sri Lanka)

02 March 2020

 Attn: Sport/News/Health Desks

 SCOTTISH SPORT COMMITTED TO BEING PART OF COVID-19 RECOVERY

Leading figures from across Scottish sport have met to discuss the continued impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the role the sport sector will play in the nation’s long-term recovery from the pandemic.

Members of the Scottish Governing Bodies Chief Executive Officers Forum were joined by Minister for Public Health and Sport, Mairi Gougeon, and Chief Executive of sportscotland, Stewart Harris, at the virtual meeting.

The SGB CEO Forum represents 35 sports including athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, fencing, golf, gymnastics, netball, swimming, triathlon and volleyball. It was established to develop a greater collective approach across sports and to help shape a collaborative response to the pandemic.

Some of the challenges faced by Scottish sport, such as financial viability, access to facilities and SGB membership levels, were discussed at the meeting. The Forum expressed a firm commitment to using the power of sport and physical activity to assist in the recovery from COVID-19 and to help support the economy, health and wellbeing, education and social fabric of the nation.

Public Health and Sport Minister Mairi Gougeon said: “We know that being active is one of the best ways to improve or maintain our physical and mental wellbeing, and this has been particularly so during the pandemic. As we start to carefully ease lockdown restrictions while continuing to suppress the virus, there is no doubt that sport will play a central role in Scotland’s recovery.

“Recognising the significant effect that the pandemic has had on the sport sector, the Scottish Government has provided a £55 million emergency funding package, allowing clubs to bridge the gap in revenue until spectators are able to return safely to sports events in larger numbers.

“Our continuing collaboration with the sector is vital as we work to tackle the issues facing sports clubs as a result of COVID-19. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Sports Governing Bodies, who have worked tirelessly to ensure sport can continue to operate safely within the restrictions.”

Chair of the SGB CEO Forum, Vinny Bryson, said: “It was important to have the opportunity to speak with the Minister for Sport about the challenges facing the sector but also to outline how SGBs can be a part of the solution. For the Minister to listen to 35 Scottish Sports Governing Body CEOs and hear one collective voice is powerful and demonstrates our shared commitment to using the #PowerOfSport as part of the national recovery efforts of our nation.

“We are all keen to play our part in restarting and shaping the future of sport as we emerge from the COVID-19 restrictions over the next few months and today’s discussions will support this approach. All our Governing Bodies are keen to have the clubs and members they represent at the heart of the nation’s mental and physical recovery from this pandemic. For the nation to rebuild and thrive again, it must be an active one.”

Chief Executive of sportscotland, Stewart Harris, said: “It has been a year like no other for Scottish sport but the sector has shown remarkable resilience in how it has responded. This is the most difficult situation we have experienced but the sporting system, particularly SGBS, has done an exceptional job.

“We need to recover, rebuild and restart with confidence. I fully believe that we will do that when the time is right because we have a system that is committed to working together to overcome the challenges that lie ahead. There is a lot of hard work still to be done but we will get through this together.”

Today’s meeting comes just three months after the Scottish Government announced a £55million emergency funding package for spectator sports, to help them deal with the financial burden of lost ticket income.

Across the financial year, a total of £32.4million has been accelerated to local and national partners by sportscotland, helping protect up to 1,600 jobs across the sector, while delivery targets were also relaxed. The national agency has also created a £1.5million Scottish Governing Body (SGB) COVID-19 Recovery Support Fund, which is being delivered with National Lottery funding.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

• sportscotland is the national agency for sport. It is a non-departmental public body, responsible through ministers to the Scottish Parliament. It is a National Lottery Fund distributor and is governed by National Lottery distribution rules. sportscotland invest Scottish Government and National Lottery resources to build a world-class sporting system for everyone in Scotland.

• Is e spòrsalba am buidheann nàiseanta airson spòrs. ’S e buidheann poblach neo-roinneil a th’ ann, cunntachail tro na ministearan do Phàrlamaid na h-Alba. Tha e na riaraiche air Maoin a’ Chrannchuir Nàiseanta agus air a riaghladh le riaghailtean riarachaidh a’ Chrannchuir Nàiseanta. Tha spòrsalba ag inbheisteadh stòrasan Riaghaltas na h-Alba agus a’ Chrannchuir Nàiseanta gus siostam spòrs aig ìre chruinneil a thogail do gach neach ann an Alba.

 #PowerofSport #boxingscotland

As our monthly Mental Health theme draws to a close this weeks post highlights the difficulties Children and Young Adults face which has also compounded by COVID.  We will intend to continue to raise awareness about Mental Health throughout the year.  Watch out for further posts.

A significant impact of lockdown has been on the mental wellbeing of the general population. It will have affected everyone, including children and young people, in different ways depending on individual circumstances and experiences. Some may have experienced their own mental health challenges while others may have lived with parents/carers whose mental health has been impacted by the lockdown. Furthermore, children and young people who suffer from social anxiety may find the transition back into group activity a struggle, and if they do, may require extra support. For some, there may be some general anxiety around COVID 19 and social distancing.

Connect

 Thank them for bringing the concern to your awareness

• Acknowledge their concern/Listen
• Gather all relevant information from the parent/carer
• Give them time to offload – not all of what they share may appear relevant to the concern, but it is important that they feel heard

Empathise and Advise

• Empathise with their position
• Advise them of what they might be able to do
• Advise them of what you will do and what follow up or feedback they can
• expect from you
• It is important that coaches are sensitive to children and young people’s mental wellbeing. That they are understanding that individuals will be experiencing the return to our sport in different ways and that they are empathetic and supportive of this. If coaches have concerns regarding the mental wellbeing of a child or young person and require further support, they should follow the appropriate steps in their club’s Responding to Concerns procedure.

Look for changes

Children and young people may respond to stress in different ways. Signs may be emotional (for example, they may be upset, distressed, anxious, angry or agitated), behavioural (for example, they may become more clingy, or more withdrawn, or have difficulty concentrating, or they may wet the bed), or physical (for example, they may experience stomach or headaches). Look out for any changes in their behaviour and be aware that these changes may not occur in all contexts (for example they might just happen at school or at home).

Making time to listen

Create a calm safe space where they can communicate how they are feeling without judgement. Some young people may find it easier to talk while you are doing something together, such as playing or exercising in the park, going for a walk, painting or other activities. You can’t always know the answer and it is often better, to be honest, and say ‘I don’t know’ rather than put more pressure on yourself or set unrealistic expectations. Listen to them and acknowledge their concerns.

Remember to let them know you are there to help and give them extra love and attention if they need it. Children and young people who struggle to communicate how they feel may rely on you to interpret their feelings. For further advice, you may contact Young Minds Parents Helpline. They also offer Parents Email and Parents Webchat services.

MindEd for families is a free online educational resource about children and young people’s mental health designed for all adults, which can support parents and carers through these exceptional circumstances. Young Minds also has a useful resource about ‘Starting a conversation with your child’.

Youngminds

Providing clear information about the situation

One of the best ways to achieve this is by talking openly about what is happening and providing honest answers to any question’s children have, using words and explanations that they can understand. Explain what is being done to keep them and their loved ones safe, including any actions they can take to help, such as washing their hands regularly.

There are resources available to help you do this, including the Children’s Guide to Coronavirus, Make sure you use reliable sources of information such as gov.scot children-and-families or the NHS website – incorrect or misleading information can create stress for the child or young person you care for.

children-and-young-peoples-mental-health Scotland

Being aware of your own reactions

Children and young people often take their emotional cues from the important and trusted adults in their lives. How you respond to the situation is very important. Try to manage your own emotions and remain calm, speak kindly to them, and answer any questions they have honestly.

Support safe ways for children and young people to connect with their friends

Where it isn’t possible for them to meet in person, they can connect online or via phone or video calls. Advice for parents and carers on helping children to stay safe online during the COVID-19 pandemic is available.

Creating a new routine

Changes to our lives caused by the pandemic might impact routines. Routine gives children and young people an increased feeling of safety in the context of uncertainty, so if your routine has changed, think about how to develop some regularity where possible. Some ideas might include:

• make a plan for the day or week that includes time for learning, free time (including play, creativity or hobbies) and relaxing. A weekly timetable that can be visualised can be helpful
• if children have to stay home from school, ask teachers what you can do to support continued learning at home. The Department for Education has a list of recommended digital-learning-and-teaching
• for those who are learning at home
• add in positive activities that you know the child or young person will enjoy- and discover new ideas for activities to do from home if needed. Encourage maintaining a balance between being online and offline.
• children and young people ideally need to be active for 60 minutes a day, which can be more difficult when spending long periods of time indoors. Plan time outside if you can do so safely or visit Change4Lifefor ideas for indoor games and activities. Physical activity is good for our physical and mental health
• good sleep is important for mental and physical health, so try to keep to existing bedtime and morning routines. The NHS provides healthy sleep tips for children
• try giving children and young people healthier alternatives to treats such as sweets or chocolate. See Change4Life for ideas

How children and young people of different ages may react

All children and young people are different, but there are some common ways in which different age groups may react to a situation like the COVID-19 pandemic. The common reactions to distress will fade over time for most children and young people, though could return if they see or hear reminders of what happened. Understanding these may help you to support your family.

For pre-teens and teenagers

 Some pre-teens and teenagers respond to worrying situations by acting out. This could include reckless driving, and alcohol or drug use. Others may become afraid to leave the home and may cut back on how much time they connect with their friends. They can feel overwhelmed by their intense emotions and feel unable to talk about them. Their emotions may lead to increased arguing and even fighting with siblings, parents, carers or other adults. They may have concerns about how the school closures and exam cancellations will affect them.

Children and young people who are currently accessing mental health services

 Children and young people with an existing mental health problem may find changes and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic particularly difficult. The increased stress may lead to a change in their behaviours and their mental health needs. If you are concerned about how to access support if they need to stay-at-home-guidance , consider taking these actions.

Speak to the child’s or young person’s mental health team

Contact the team to discuss any concerns and check how care will continue to be accessed. Update any safety and care plans as agreed.

Identify how the support the child, young person or family normally receives will be maintained

Ask if appointments normally offered in person will now be by phone, text or online or a mixture of these. Ask if there is extra support that the health professional can offer if the child or young person needs it, including how to contact the service if you have any concerns between appointments. Talk to the health professional about what plans are in place and how best to communicate these to the child or young person if you, the child or young person need to stay-at-home-guidance.

In Summary

• Be aware of children and young people’s general mental wellbeing
• Offer empathy and support to children who are experiencing mental wellbeing or anxiety issues during the transition back to organised sport.
• Follow Responding to Concerns procedure where appropriate

Children and young people want to feel assured that their parents and carers can keep them safe. It will not always be possible to provide answers to all the questions that children and young people may ask, or to address all their concerns, so focus on listening and acknowledging their feelings to help them feel supported.

There are some actions you can consider supporting a child’s or young person’s mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic, including:

Resources to support you and the child or young person include:

• easy-read COVID-19 guide to looking after your feelings and your body– this provides advice on how to look after your mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
• Beyond Words has published a book that supports those who help people with a learning disability to better understand the COVID-19 pandemic
• Skills for Care provides Top tips for talking about our feelings
• Mencap provides information on COVID-19 for those with learning disabilities, including easy read materials
• BILD (the Learning Disability Professional Senate) has published a collection of resources to support families and carers of people with learning disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Learning Disability England has some tips for people with a learning disability on looking after their mental wellbeing
• Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities, which has advice with a focus on learning disability and autism

Contact details of support groups

SAMH website – The website has a lot of useful information for organisations and individuals.

https://www.samh.org.uk/

There is also a Coronavirus information page available.  Lots of useful information including the – ‘Clear your head campaign’ an NHS initiative.

https://www.samh.org.uk/about-mental-health/self-help-and-wellbeing/coronavirus-information-hub

The NHS A-Z contact list of support from Mental Health Charities.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/

Big White Wall 

Offers safe and anonymous 24-hour support

https://www.bigwhitewall.com/?lang=en-us

Time to Change

https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/

Student Minds – for Students in further education.

https://www.studentminds.org.uk/latestnews/student-minds-responds-to-student-specific-lockdown-restrictions-in-scotland

 Young Scot – Wellbeing advice for young people

https://young.scot/

Young minds – School-age advice. They also conduct training courses for leaders of groups at a cost.

https://youngminds.org.uk/

sportscotland has a Mental health awareness workshop for Coaches and Volunteers – link below https://sportscotland.info/mentalhealth/#/

There is also the Institute of sport mindfulness guide.

https://sportscotland.org.uk/media/5637/mindfulness-complete-guide.pdf

We have also researched several helplines listed below.

Phone Helplines

Breathing space: 0800 838587

Weekdays: Monday-Thursday 6pm to 2am Weekend: Friday 6pm-Monday 6am
Webchat is available Monday to Friday, 6pm to 10pm

Samaritans: 116 123 (24 hours)

email jo@samaritans.org (24 hr response time)

Mind Infoline: 0300 123 3393

Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays) 9am to 6pm Text: 86463

No Panic: 0844 967 4848

10am-10pm every day

B-eat: 0808 801 0677 (adults) 0808 801 0711 (U18)

email advice help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Please continue to Listen, Talk and try to understand. Most of all don’t be afraid of asking for help.

 

 

Dear Members,

Boxing Scotland will be delivering an online Virtual Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport workshop which will be held on Tuesday 23^rd March from 1800-2100.  This course replaced the old style ‘Safeguarding and Protecting in Children Course.’

A reminder that the course has changed, and certificates will only be dispatched when individuals complete both modules. More information here Brightspace-information – MODULE 1

In order to complete the workshop, attendees must use the following browsers – Chrome, Firefox, Edge (not Internet Explorer).

If you have any learning needs or any further questions regarding the course, then please get in touch with your course organiser. paul.coleman@boxingscotland.org

Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport (CWPS) Course Tuesday 23^rd March 1800-2100

Enrolment and payment details

Once names have been submitted, Enrolment Confirmation will come from d2lsupport@learninginsport.brightspace.com. Approximately 5 days before the workshop.

Names for the course must be passed to either Paul Coleman via the enquiries@boxingscotland.org  or the West Region Development Officer; Paul Coleman either by email paul.coleman@boxingscotland.org or Telephone 07803 513699 or text.

As we continue with week three of Mental Health Month, many of us forget that we all possess one of the most effective tools to aid someone experiencing a mental health crisis.

Listening.

We hear a lot about active listening – listening and responding to another person to improve mutual understanding. For people in roles like a nurse or doctor, engaging and responding while listening is an ideal strategy. Checking information during a conversation helps ensure patients receive the correct treatments and medications.

But for situations when someone is experiencing symptoms of a mental health crisis, there is another kind of listening that can be more effective: empathetic listening. For a person experiencing a mental health problem, having an empathetic listener can be calming and reassuring – even healing.

Empathy, unlike sympathy, does not mean we agree with the other person or see things from the same point of view. Instead, it requires taking a moment to step outside of our normal patterns of thinking and feeling to imagine what it feels like to be the person in front of us.

 The first way to diffuse a tense situation is to establish rapport with the person in distress. Listening quietly, without engaging in problem-solving, signals that you are on that person’s side. This simple gesture validates the other person’s experience.

Listening empathetically allows the listener to really hear and understand what is being said. It also makes it easier for the other person to feel they can talk freely without being judged.

Here are some ways to show empathy the next time you encounter someone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis:

1. Focus on conveying empathy and not on changing the person or their perspective.
2. Slow down. Distress often increases the speed of our speech and gestures. Give the person in front of you enough time to express themselves.
3. Use a relaxed body posture. Stay close enough to the person to show you care, but do not touch the person without asking first.

Our distress increases when we feel isolated. By showing empathy, you can help the person in front of you calm down.

Remember, the person in front of you shares your human condition – with all its needs, struggles and desires. Although you might fear making someone uncomfortable, remember that many people experiencing mental health symptoms want someone to notice them and offer support.

Being an active listener

Active listening is when you have your full focus on what someone is saying while making a conscious effort to hear not only the words being said but more importantly, the complete message being communicated through non-verbal aspects of communication as well.

Instead of trying to solve the situation, it helps keep the focus on talking about and understanding the nuances of what the speaker feels. For a person experiencing a mental health concern, to know that someone will just listen, understand and empathise, can be very calming, reassuring and even healing.

Pick up on verbal cues

Sometimes, you can pick up on cues about potential mental health concerns while listening to someone talk about their thoughts and feelings. For example, if you notice a person is consistently worried or responding disproportionately to daily stressors, it could hint at possible anxiety issues.

People who are overly critical of themselves or have issues with sleep (too much or too little) could be at risk for depression. A drastic change in appetite is a red flag when combined with other signs like sleep issues and anxiety.

While listening, keep an ear out for instances that may indicate rapid shifts in moods, unexplainable drops in productivity, low interest in social activities, or a general feeling of being disconnected from oneself or others. These could all point to less than optimal mental health. Do remember that these are just clues and not a diagnosis, so the best option is to always encourage them to seek the help of a mental healthcare professional.

Here are some ways to show empathy the next time you encounter someone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis:

1. Focus on conveying empathy and not on changing the person or their perspective.
2. Slow down. Distress often increases the speed of our speech and gestures. Give the person in front of you enough time to express themselves.
3. Use a relaxed body posture. Stay close enough to the person to show you care, but do not touch the person without asking first.

Our distress increases when we feel isolated. By showing empathy, you can help the person in front of you calm down.

Remember, the person in front of you shares your human condition – with all its needs, struggles and desires. Although you might fear making someone uncomfortable, remember that many people experiencing mental health symptoms want someone to notice them and offer support.

Showing you’re open to talking

One of the most significant things for young people is that they know they can come to talk to someone if they are worried about the mental health or the mental health of someone they know. Being open to talking about mental health, and showing you care, will mean a lot.

• Remind them you care
• Be patient: there are times when they won’t feel like talking
• Everyday questions can help – like ‘How’re you doing?’ or ‘How was it today?’ Ask Twice ‘How are You?’, ‘How are you feeling?’, ‘Are you sure?’

If the opportunity to talk arises

Five tips for being a good listener

SAMH Friends and Family – 12 things to try when a loved one is struggling  Factsheet_friends_and_family_2020

Remember, you don’t need to be an expert. It’s OK not to know or understand things. Everyday words are often helpful – like stress, feeling low, depressed or anxious. You could even learn together.

Mental-Health-Support Nework details – Week 1

Mental Health Awareness E-Learning Module  – Week 2

Dear Members,

Boxing Scotland is happy to provide an update with regards to the Anthony Joshua Fund.

Applications to the one-off Fund provided by the reigning World Heavyweight champion closed earlier this week.

A three-person panel has now been appointed which consists of a Boxing Scotland member of staff, a member of the Boxing Scotland Board of Directors, and a member from sportscotland.

The panel will take their time to consider all of the applications and will aim to let all of the clubs who applied know if they have been successful or unsuccessful by the end of the month.

The money was donated to help clubs survive due to the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic and will go to the clubs in greatest need of support.

Anthony Joshua OBE said: “The sport has given me a lot and I want to help highlight the issues affecting grassroots clubs and do what I can to keep the lights on to those most in need.”

Regards,

The Boxing Scotland Regional Development Team