Scottish Ice Skating: Turning Ambition into Action
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In 2025 British Ice Skating announced the formation of a new Scottish Ice Skating Committee, marking a step forward for the sport in Scotland and an important development for the whole of British Ice Skating. Since then, the Committee has already carried out key research and secured significant funding to support the development of skating in Scotland, including investment in new coaches, officials and grassroots participation.
Find out more about the Committee, its goals, and what work is underway:
Immediate Priorities and Work Areas
The Committee’s early work has been focused on building strong foundations, including:
1. Understanding the Landscape
Gathering accurate data on skating activity across Scotland — including participation numbers, programme types, club structures and rink usage. This data will contribute not only to improvements in our approach to ice skating in Scotland, but also to better planning nationally.
2. Growing Learn to Skate and BIS Membership
Clubs and rinks are at the centre of the sport’s growth. We’ve been working closely with rink operators and clubs to identify how we can help strengthen Learn to Skate pathways and improve communication between local delivery and national structures. By boosting grassroots participation, the long-term talent pipeline and club sustainability across the UK are strengthened.
3. Building Partnerships
A key area of focus is partnership development — with rinks, local authorities, regional businesses and community organisations. Through this work we aim to support rinks and clubs to remain accessible and successful.
Healthy rinks in Scotland mean a healthier national sport. Greater sustainability benefits competitions, camps and performance pathways across all disciplines.
4. Raising Awareness
Improved regional communications will help increase visibility of skating activity in Scotland. Highlighting club successes, events and development opportunities will grow awareness, encourage participation and promote good practice across the sport.
The Scottish Ice Skating initiative is about strengthening the foundations of our sport. By better understanding regional needs, British Ice Skating can provide more targeted, effective support. Stronger local networks lead to stronger national outcomes, and we are confident the Committee’s work will lead to significant progress in growing British skating.
Turning Plans into Progress
Since the Scottish Ice Skating Committee was established, work has already begun to turn its ambitions into tangible opportunities for skaters, coaches and officials across Scotland.
Funding has already been secured for several initiatives that will support the development of skating at grassroots level and help create new opportunities to get involved in the sport:
Supporting the Next Generation of Officials
The Committee has secured £980 from sportscotland to fund an Officials’ Subsidy Fund, which will support the training of two new officials in Scotland.
Developing a strong pool of officials is an important part of creating a sustainable skating environment, supporting competitions and providing opportunities for people to progress and contribute to the sport beyond skating.
Further details on the application process and how the funding will be allocated will be shared soon, so watch this space!
Investing in Coaches
A further £4,800 has been secured for a Coaches’ Subsidy, which will support the development of 12 new coaches in Scotland.
The funding will help pilot new opportunities including inclusive skating sessions and teenage-focused Skate UK sessions, supporting the Committee’s ambition to strengthen participation and create more opportunities for people to engage with skating.
Plans for how the subsidy will operate are currently being finalised, with more information coming soon.
Scotland’s Summer of Sport
We have also secured £10,000 to support the delivery of some free Skate UK courses in Scotland as part of a £20 million Summer of Sport initiative funded by the Scottish Government and facilitated by sportscotland.
Time Capsule ice rink in Coatbridge, Inverness Ice Centre and Waterfront Ice Rink in Greenock are already on board and have either delivered Summer or Sports sessions or will be soon, while some of the funding is still to be allocated, giving us flexibility to identify where it can have the greatest impact. Find out more about the Summer of Sport
These are just some of the exciting developments already underway, with further funding opportunities and initiatives in the pipeline. We’ll have more news to share soon, so watch this space as the Scottish Ice Skating Committee continues to turn ambition into action!
Why a Scottish Committee?
Scotland has a unique skating landscape. Its geography, rink network, legislation and club structures present distinct opportunities and challenges. Taking advantage of these opportunities and navigating these challenges requires a focused regional approach.
The Committee aims to improve communication and unlock growth opportunities that benefit members across the UK. By better understanding and supporting the specific landscape in Scotland, British Ice Skating can make more informed decisions that ultimately strengthen the entire sport.The Scottish Ice Skating Committee’s key goals are to:
Improve visibility of skating activity across Scotland
Strengthen connections between clubs, rinks and the national governing body
Identify growth opportunities in participation and membership
Support sustainable rink and programme development
Who’s Involved?
The Committee brings together experience from BIS leaders, senior staff, and BIS members based in Scotland:
David Thomson – Board Director, British Ice Skating
Keith Hudson – Participation Manager, British Ice Skating
Maggie Still – CEO, British Ice Skating
Lorraine McLatchie – Committee Volunteer
Louise Stinson – Committee Volunteer
The group is supported operationally by:
Kate Matthews Forbes – BIS Development Officer (Scotland)
Ana Dahno – Volunteer Communications Support
Introducing Kate Matthews Forbes - BIS Development Officer (Scotland)
A lifelong skater, Kate has more than twenty years’ coaching experience across singles, synchronised skating and Skate UK. She founded the Starlight Synchro Skating Club and served as Head Coach for ten years, building a thriving community of skaters and coaches. Her experience spans programme management, international development camps, competitions and shows.
Alongside her coaching career, Kate is a qualified architect and Passivhaus consultant with significant experience in sports facility design and planning. She spent over 15 years within Sport Scotland’s facilities development team, supporting clubs, governing bodies and local authorities with business planning and sports development strategies. During that time, she led investment programmes that directed more than £10 million into Scottish ice rinks.
Kate is passionate about strengthening the network of Scottish rinks and ensuring they continue to thrive as community assets — an ambition that aligns directly with British Ice Skating’s wider strategic goals.
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