The event, which is set to take place at the Braehead Curling Ice Rink on April 11 and 12, is for athletes with a range of physical or mental impairments, and will feature competition in figure skating, solo ice dance and speed skating.

The competition, which has been held in the United Kingdom twice previously, was only able to go ahead following the awarding of a £10,000 ($16,000/€13,000) grant to organisers Inclusive Skating, who provide opportunities for athletes with an impairment.

It will include the third Special Olympics GB National Championships in Figure and Speed Skating, as well as the first ever National Ice Skating Association British Inclusive Championships.

"Our end goal is to develop a programme that will include all skaters with an impairment and allow them to participate in all competitions and events on an equal basis," Margarita Sweeney-Baird, founder of Inclusive Skating, said.

"This funding has allowed us to do just that as for the first time since the event's inception, we are able to extend its scope, opening up the competition to some of the most seriously impaired athletes.

"For example, in 2015 we are introducing a harness event that will allow even more skaters to take part.

"The system we have in place is transformational for disability sport, allowing able and disabled bodied skaters to compete in the same events."

Each skater attending the championships will be individually assessed by a panel during classification and given a whole person impairment percentage that reflects their impairment.

This is then used to calculate the impairment compensation to be added to each competitor's score.

"This international event has only been made possible thanks to the funding from Awards for All, for which we are all extremely grateful," Nick Sellwood, chief executive of NISA, said.

"Inclusive skating is becoming more and popular in the UK and this competition not only provides the opportunity for those skaters to participate in a competitive environment, but it also acts as the focal point within the inclusive skating calendar."

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