Spotlight on success: Inclusive Surfing Scotland
At The Bill McLaren Foundation, we are proud to support organisations that use sport to change lives, and Inclusive Surfing Scotland is a shining example of exactly that.
Founded with a simple but powerful mission - to make surfing accessible to people with disabilities - Inclusive Surfing Scotland has been opening up Scotland’s coastline to people who might never otherwise have had the chance to experience the joy of the sea. Their impact has been nothing short of inspiring.
“The support of The Bill McLaren Foundation has been absolutely instrumental in the growth of Inclusive Surfing Scotland,” explains Iain Donaldson, Founder and CEO. “It has enabled us to deliver our first full programme of surf sessions with a group of adults with learning disabilities from Fairway Fife. It has also allowed us to run two free taster sessions, helping more people experience inclusive surfing for the first time.”
Thanks to funding from The Foundation, seven surfers were able to complete a five-week surf programme, while a further sixteen surfers with a wide range of disabilities were given the opportunity to try surfing for the very first time. For many, it wasn’t just about standing on a board, it was about confidence, independence, and discovering a new sense of possibility.
The impact of these sessions is perhaps best captured in the moments shared on the beach.
“Seeing the joy on the faces of both the surfers catching their first waves and their parents or guardians is something that can’t be beaten.”
A young surfer high-fiving their Inclusive Surfing Scotland instructor.
One young surfer’s experience highlights just how transformative inclusive sport can be. Arriving at his session feeling anxious and apprehensive, he was met with patience, understanding, and encouragement from the Inclusive Surfing Scotland team.
“Support from the team was gentle and they really listened to him and guided him within his comfort area while encouraging him to keep trying to achieve that little bit more,” his parent explained. “He left the session feeling so very proud of himself for having achieved something new.
“Iain and his team at Inclusive Surfing gave him such a boost in confidence. You could see in the following days that he had a real sense of pride in his achievement as he told everyone all about his session and his face lit up!”
Inclusive Surfing Scotland was founded by Iain, whose own sporting journey resonates strongly with the values of The Foundation. “As someone who grew up with rugby as my absolute passion, I have fond memories of Bill McLaren’s commentary of Scotland’s Five and Six Nations games on the BBC. A knee injury in my teens ended my rugby career, and it wasn’t until adulthood that I discovered surfing to fill that void.”
That discovery proved life-changing.
“Surfing has had a huge impact on me, both in terms of mental health and physical wellbeing,” he explains. “This experience has helped shape the mission of Inclusive Surfing Scotland - to make surfing accessible to people with disabilities. I am honoured and delighted to have the support of The Bill McLaren Foundation in helping us to achieve this mission.”
Sport has an incredible power to bring people together, build confidence, and create joy - values that Bill McLaren championed throughout his life. Through the work of Inclusive Surfing Scotland, those values are alive and well on Scotland’s shores.
We are delighted to support Inclusive Surfing Scotland as they continue to grow, reach new surfers, and ensure that the thrill of riding a wave is something everyone can experience.
To find out more about applying for a Foundation grant, take a look here.
