The first fitness suite to install inclusive fitness equipment for the disabled was opened earlier this week in Leicester. The Saffron Lane Sports Centre, the first of 30 local authority health and fitness suites across the country to install fitness equipment for both disabled and non-disabled people, was launched by Sports Minister Richard Carbon. These facilities are a terrific way of making it easy for everyone to be part of the gym revolution. In time, I'd hope that all gyms would have this equipment, he said. The launch comes as part of the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI), a pilot scheme initiated by the English Federation of Disability Sport Operating Company (EFDSOC). The IFI, partly funded by a £1 million grant from the Sport England Lottery Fund, aims to install inclusive fitness equipment in 30 public sector facilities over the next two years and to train all staff in disability equity. It also aims to make disabled people aware of new fitness opportunities open to them, and market the social and health benefits participating at a gym can offer. The impetus for the IFI originated with the Gary Jelen Sports Foundation, who since 1998 have conducted research into the lack of provisions for disabled people and the lack of awareness among facility staff. Bernard Atha OBE, chairman of the EFDSOC said: This initiative will provide the catalyst for many other fitness centres and equipment suppliers to fitness opportunities for some six million disabled people in this country. Throughout the initiative, use of the participating centres by the disabled will be monitored and evaluated, and if successful the scheme will be launched in every local authority nationally from 2003.
If you would like to get each issue of Spa Business and Spa Business insider magazines sent direct to you for FREE, plus the weekly Spa Business and Spa Business insider ezines, sign up now!
|