THE list of credits for wheelchair racer Meggan Dawson-Farrell are immense.

She holds the Scottish record over all distances from 400m to the marathon and is ranked 12th in the world in 1500m in her classification.

The 22-year-old was also placed seventh at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in the T54 1500m.

Not a bad list of achievements for anyone - quite incredible when you stop to think that Meggan never did PE at school and was only introduced to sport at a camp run by the Spina Bifida Association when she was 15.

"I've shown people I can do things they always said I couldn't. I'm enjoying myself now, I'm more confident. I could never have done an interview like this if it wasn't for sport," she giggles.

We're talking about Meggan's involvement in the SportScotland Young Ambassadors programme and the conference at Hampden in Glasgow today and tomorrow.

Speaking to me seems small fry compared to the number of young people she now comes across.

From Tullibody in Clackmannanshire, Meggan trains in Glasgow with Ian Mirfin at Red Star Athletic Club in the east end. She says sport has transformed her life.

"I'd say to someone who was in my position, if they're ever given the opportunity to try something, to take it and give it a go," she says.

"I do a lot of talks in schools now, telling my story and explaining how it has helped me to try and encourage younger kids."

Meggan's job at Hampden is to encourage Young Ambassadors to help others.

"We want them to go back to their schools and do things with the other pupils - to let them know, if they have kids at their schools with disabilities to try and include them and get them doing what their classmates are doing."

The Young Ambassadors programme engages young people, aged 14 to 17, as role models and leaders in sport and is delivered by Sport Scotland, in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust.

Their role is to motivate and inspire other young people from primary and secondary schools across Scotland to get involved in sport and to generate enthusiasm for major games.

At the conference the new Young Ambassadors will be joined by a host of top Scottish athletes, who will support the young people in gaining the skills, knowledge, and understanding to undertake their role.

As well as Meggan there will be other medal winners as key note speakers and workshop leaders, including Tim Baillie who won gold in canoeing at the London Olympics, Robbie Renwick who won Commonwealth gold in swimming in Delhi and silver in Glasgow, Greg Drummond who won silver in curling at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and Sarah Adlington who won gold for judo in Glasgow.

Iain Greer from Bearsden will also be doing his bit to inspire Young Ambassadors.

The 18-year-old who has just started studying sport and exercise science at Stirling University is continuing his commitment to the programme.

Young Ambassadors attend the conference with a mentor, usually either a PE teacher or Active Schools co-ordinator, and Iain's job is to speak to them.

"I will be setting out the roles and responsibilities of a Young Ambassador to let mentors understand their role," he explains.

Iain, who became a young ambassador when he was 16, is as committed to the programme as Meggan.

He said: "I've got so much out of it that has helped me with so many things within my life. It has given me transferable skills to take into all the other parts of my life - from university to work."

A football coach at Rangers and former head boy at his school, Iain says none of it would have been possible without having been a Young Ambassador.

Having the confidence to stand up and speak in front of people, being able to think on his feet and adapting to changing situations are skills he has learned.

Being a Clydesider, a 2014 Games baton bearer, in the opening ceremony, helping with the athletes parade and getting tickets for the Ryder Cup are opportunities he wouldn't have experienced if he wasn't involved in the programme.

The conferences being held around the country are an important part of the programme, according to Jacqueline Lynn, Sport Scotland's head of school and community sport.

"Hearing from the Young Ambassadors who have already been involved in the programme and meeting Scotland's medal winning athletes really gives the young people a flavour of what lies ahead," she says.

"The athletes are not only there as sporting role models, but also provide invaluable advice to the young people as they embark on an exciting journey.

"The key role of a Young Ambassador is to motivate and inspire other young people to participate in sport locally by raising awareness of opportunities to get involved in sport in schools, clubs, and community sport hubs, not only as part of an active lifestyle but also in areas such as coaching, volunteering, and officiating. It's a fantastic way to deliver a sporting legacy from the Games."

angela.mcmanus@veningtimes.co.uk