Women and girls with disabilities from across Perth and Kinross are being invited to enjoy a free day of sport, activity and discovery at the Perth & Kinross Disability Sport Women and Girls in Sport Festival 2026.

The Try Sport Festival will take place on Sunday 11 October 2026, from 11am to 4pm, at the Academy of Sport & Wellbeing, UHI Perth, Crieff Road, Perth.

Delivered by Perth & Kinross Disability Sport in partnership with inclusive local community sports clubs and organisations, the festival will give participants the chance to try a variety of sports in a friendly, welcoming and supportive environment.

Try new activities in a supportive setting

The event is open to women and girls of all ages with a physical or learning disability, visual impairment, hearing loss, or related conditions. Throughout the day, participants will be able to try activities including athletics, karate, wheelchair sports, boccia, dance, circus skills, badminton and fencing, with sessions led by local club volunteers.

From complete beginners to those looking to reconnect with sport, the festival is designed to make taking part feel relaxed, enjoyable and accessible. Participants will rotate through short taster sessions to discover what they can participate in locally.

Creating more opportunities for women and girls

The festival builds on Perth & Kinross Disability Sport’s wider commitment to removing barriers to participation. The charity’s no-cost participation approach helps people with disabilities across Perth and Kinross access sport and physical activity.

The approach has helped create countless opportunities across sports including athletics, wheelchair sports, swimming, boccia, badminton and more. The festival is a continuation of that community-focused work, by giving women and girls a welcoming starting point and helping them connect with local clubs and future pathways.

Graeme Doig, Branch Coordinator for Perth & Kinross Disability Sport, said:

“We are delighted to bring our free Women & Girls in Sport Festival to UHI Perth and to create a welcoming opportunity for women and girls to try different activities, meet local clubs and find something they enjoy. Removing barriers to participation is at the heart of what we do, and this festival is about giving people the confidence, support and encouragement to take that first step, or the next step, into sport and physical activity. We also want celebrate women and girls at all levels of the sport and will have some Q&A time with local athletes too. All activities on the day will be delivered by some of the best female coaches in the region.”

Backed by Sport for Change funding

The event has received a funding award from Live Active Leisure’s Sport for Change grant scheme, delivered in partnership with The Gannochy Trust. The programme supports projects that use sport and physical activity to create positive change for individuals and communities, including projects that increase participation among women and girls.

Gemma Simpson, Sports Development Officer at Live Active Leisure, said:

“We are delighted to support Perth & Kinross Disability Sport through the Sport for Change grant scheme to help bring this fantastic festival to life. Opportunities like this are so important in making sport and physical activity feel welcoming, accessible and enjoyable for women and girls with disabilities. We also know that women and girls are significantly under-represented in sport compared to men and boys locally, and so events like this are really important to help give participants the confidence to try something new, and hopefully continue being active in a club setting.”

Event details

Date: Sunday 11 October 2026
Time: 11am to 4pm
Venue: Academy of Sport & Wellbeing, UHI Perth, Crieff Road, Perth, PH1 2NX
Cost: No Cost to participate
Who can attend: Women and girls of all ages with a physical or learning disability, visual impairment, hearing loss, or related conditions
Activities include: Athletics, karate, wheelchair sports, boccia, cricket, dance, badminton and fencing
Facilities: Accessible toilet and Changing Places facility available on site
What to bring: A snack, plenty of water or drinks, and clothing and footwear suitable for indoor sport and physical activity
How to book: Places can be booked through the Perth & Kinross Disability Sport event registration form below:

https://www.pkds.org.uk/events-pathways/perth-kinross-disability-sport-women-girls-in-sport-festival-2026

Anyone with questions can contact Graeme Doig, Branch Coordinator for Perth & Kinross Disability Sport, at [email protected].