disability fi tness
Going the
Extra Mile
W
TASTER SESSIONS
SLM-operated leisure centres already hosted various weekly sessions for disabled users, but wanted to try out new activities with a view to introducing the more popular options to these weekly sessions. The company therefore came up with the concept of disabled activity ‘taster days’ covering a broad range of activities, from climbing to ice skating using specially adapted sledges, and from trampolining to fun-based sessions using the Nintendo Wii. Participants rotate around the different activities, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to take part in a selection of sports during the course of the day. Meanwhile the Pemberton Centre
in Rushden, managed by Cultural Community Partnerships (CCP), carried out a survey during its activity ‘taster day’ for disabled people. This revealed that what the participants, parents and carers wanted were opportunities to participate regularly in multi-sports, in a safe and welcoming environment; for parents particularly, the opportunity to have quality time to interact and socialise with other parents was also key. The result was the development of a fortnightly, daytime Multi Activity Club (MAC) for adults and non-mainstream young people. Eighteen months on, MAC is a self-
have gone on to compete in regional boccia championships. Chamberlayne Leisure Centre in
sustaining club averaging 35 participants per session, which include activities as diverse as air hockey, Wii Sport, soft play, archery and inductions in the IFI gym. This same template was used to launch a Young Inclusive People (YIP) club, teams from which
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Taster sessions are a great way to see which activities go down well, enabling clubs to develop sustainable programmes
Southampton – an Inclusive Fitness and PAT Mark accredited leisure centre with an existing disability trampolining group among its many inclusive options – last month played host to a gymnastics roadshow. Just one of a number of inclusive events available at the centre during IFI Awareness Week this year, the roadshow offered ‘come and try’ sessions of gymnastics and trampolining, as well as workshops and displays. Catering for people with a wide range of physical, sensory and learning diffi culties,
plus teachers and coaches wanting to gain the skills needed to work with this market segment, the roadshow was organised by The Southern Region Gymnastics Association and partners.
Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital june 2010 © cybertrek 2010
Kate Cracknell rounds up best practice examples from health and fitness facilities that have introduced unusual initiatives to encourage disabled people through their doors
e’re all familiar with the compelling argument – both moral and fi nancial – for opening up our facilities, making them fully accessible to disabled people as well as to the able-bodied. But is there anything more, besides installing inclusive equipment, you could introduce at your facility? We showcase a selection of initiatives designed to encourage disabled people to see health clubs and leisure centres as places ‘for them’ – food for thought for operators wanting to expand their offering in this important area.
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