The Highland Schools Boccia Finals delivered more than skill, sportsmanship, and close‑fought games this year - it also delivered a very special moment for one dedicated young volunteer.
18‑year‑old Kade Cumming from Dingwall was recognised for his outstanding commitment to disability sport and community volunteering. Kade has become a familiar and valued face across a range of local activities: supporting disability sports sessions, volunteering with Active Schools, and helping out with the Dingwall Youth Work team. His love of football also saw him lend his energy to Dingwall Soccer 7s and Dingwall Junior Football Club for more than two years.
Volunteering effort rewarded
All of that hard work has paid off. Now a UHI Sport and Fitness student, Kade has completed an incredible 500 hours of volunteering — earning him the prestigious Gold Hoodie as part of the High Life Highland Leadership Programme.
The presentation took place at the Highland Boccia Finals on Thursday 5 March at UHI in Inverness. High Life Highland Chief Executive Steve Walsh was delighted to present the coveted hoodie, saying: “I am absolutely delighted to present Kade with his gold hoodie. I know he has been an extremely valued volunteer within our disability sports and active schools communities, always getting stuck in and always with a big smile. We are very grateful to him for all his time and input.”
Boccia winners head for Glasgow
The Boccia finals themselves were packed with action, with pupils from across the region competing following qualifying events at Milburn Academy, Grantown Grammar, and Dingwall Academy earlier in February.
Representing the Highlands at the Scottish Disability Sport Boccia Finals in Glasgow on 26 March will be:
- Julian Smolinski, Culloden – 1st, Players with a Learning Disability
- Edward Thom, St Duthus – 2nd, Players with a Learning Disability
- Hannah Crookes, Dingwall Academy – 1st, Players with a Physical Disability
- Cole Harvey, Millburn Academy – 2nd, Players with a Physical Disability
They’ll also be joined by Sophia Walsh from Inverness, competing in the Assistive Device category.
Julian Smolinski
Hannah Crookes
Edward Thom and Kade Cumming
Cole Harvey and Hannah Crookes
Celebrating Skill, Effort, and Community Spirit
Fiona Green, Disability Sports Officer with High Life Highland, praised both the athletes and the volunteers who make the finals possible: “It was a great day, with pupils from six Highland secondary schools competing. There were lots of very close games and you could see the fantastic skill levels on display from all those taking part.
“A very big thank you to UHI for allowing us to use their sports hall and to all the volunteers who helped to support the heats and the finals. Massive congratulations to all the winners and runners up from the finals and especially to Kade on his gold hoodie.”
