When Cheryl Lappin was appointed to improve British Curling’s Paralympic recruitment pathway less than two years ago she knew she was coming into a sport in which women had equal status at every level.
That was only reinforced at this year’s World Wheelchair Championships in Ayrshire with Scotland and England both competing in the top flight for the first time.
With Paralympic athletics gold medallist Jo Butterfield setting things up as Scotland’s lead, British Curling Paralympic Head Coach Sheila Swan was on hand to give key advice at every timeout as they missed out on the play-offs by the narrowest of margins, finishing seventh overall. 
Meanwhile, with Karen Aspey leading the England charge, England Coach Rosemary Lenton, herself a former wheelchair internationalist, was sitting alongside the team’s alternate Jean Guild, weighing up strategy and tactics as their team matched the record of their British Curling colleagues, winning five of their 11 matches in finishing in eighth place.
To have two teams from the programme competing so effectively against the world’s best might be seen as an achievement in itself and this week’s World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles will also see Charlotte McKenna teaming up with Hugh Nibloe for Scotland, while Aspey will be back in action alongside Stewart Pimblett for England.
More talent is in the pipeline, too, with three of the eight athletes British Curling successfully put through the wheelchair curling classification process last week having been women – Scotland’s Lynsey Speirs, Mhairi Love and Rachel Ennis.
However, in keeping with the ‘Accelerate Action’ theme of this year’s International Women’s Day (March 8), Paralympic Pathway Academy Manager Lappin is just putting her foot down on the back of British Curling’s highly successful ‘Push yourself – Time to Deliver’ campaign.
Since the inception of the Academy, Lappin’s role has been to break down barriers with the ultimate aim of developing greater strength in depth within the GB Paralympic programme, while also introducing newcomers to the game and creating meaningful change in their lives and also in communities and at club level. 
Across the 18 month period, over 100 wheelchair users across the UK have been involved in various Paralympic recruitment events and as a result 22 pathway athletes have been introduced to the performance programme.
From that group nine have progressed to national level support and five of those athletes are representing their countries at the World Wheelchair Championships.
“It has been an unbelievable success in such a short space of time and proves that the pathway is truly developing future talent and serves its purpose in creating new and inspiring performance curlers for our world class Paralympic programme,” said Lappin.
“It's been 18 months in the making, starting from scratch in developing a real meaningful performance Pathway and now seeing those rewards of athlete selections onto national squads and representing their country on the world stage at this event has been absolutely phenomenal.
“I'm like a proud mummy and their biggest cheerleader.
“It has been a real team effort across the board, not only myself but the coaching staff and wider support team really make such an impact and I'm delighted we can all play a part in the athletes journey to success.”
As she reflects on what has been achieved so quickly, Lappin acknowledges the support she has had from the women in her own life, as well as from the organisation she works for. 
“With the support from my wife and having my little girl at home, we are all about girl power for international Women’s Day,” said Lappin.
“At times juggling busy schedules and home life can be challenging, however British Curling are a phenomenal organisation, open to flexible working and a brilliant place to inspire its employees to reach success. It's a team full of greats.
“I see my role not to only to inspire females into the sport of curling, to foster and develop their talent, but also inspire those females working in sport to aim high.
“Working for a GB Talent programme has always been my dream, being inspired from a young age by my mum, also the likes of Sheila (Swan) herself for many years, as well as Pamela Dewar, my long time mentor and friend at Sportscotland).
“She supported me to find my very first role in sports development and I've worked alongside so many inspirational women who many I still call friends to this day.
“Empowering women in sport and being part of that inspiring movement is so rewarding.”
To that end, she believes the contributions of British Curling’s women at the on-going World Championships can only help her bid to power things up and bring ever more new talent into the sport.
“Seeing the likes of our female performance athletes, staff and coaches inspire the next generation of girls and women to the sport has been so rewarding,” said Lappin.
“I'm a firm believer in positive role models and seeing is believing.
“Having females such as Jo (Butterfield) and Charlie (McKenna) and their ongoing support to new females in the programme has been invaluable.
“By hosting our Female Focus recruitment campaign at the beginning of 2024 has welcomed over 30 new female faces to the ice across the UK.
“These events are delivered by female staff, allowing a safe space and many have said they would not have taken part otherwise.
“We've had some really meaningful feedback from all who have attended and to carry on its success, we plan to host more female specific events in 2025, one currently in the planning stages for April south of the border.
“We are excited to inspire the next generation of female athletes to the sport, so we can continue to accelerate action.”
Anyone keen to register their interest, can complete a 'Get involved' form found here.
For more information on our Paralympic Pathway Programme and opportunities please email: Cheryl.lappin@britishcurling.org.uk
#IWD2025 #AccelerateAction #wheelchaircurling
Images: PPA/Graeme Hart
