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Click here to return to newsletter articles.Christmas Message from IFI National Director Sue Catton
As we move into 2007 the IFI has a lot to reflect on. Looking back on a very successful 2006 the IFI has seen,
- The launch of its 150th site in Huddersfield with a year end total of 184 accredited sites
- The launch of the Inclusive Fitness Mark accreditation scheme
- Established strong partnerships within Europe and internationally a far a field as New Zealand
- Published stage 2 of the IFI equipment Standards
- The fitness industry’s first inclusive fitness conference
- The launch of the National Sports Foundation IFI scheme
As the transition between the IFI main scheme and the IFI NSF Programme takes place, we can feel confident that the IFI will build on its past achievements and work towards providing Martin Jelen's target of 1000 inclusive fitness facilities by 2012.
Some of the key successes of the IFI scheme have been:
- 50% of all English Local Authority areas have an IFI facility
- Improved access to services – physical, marketing, outreach
- 12% of new users are disabled people
- 7% of all visits are by disabled people
- By the end of 2006 over 5,000 members of IFI Site staff received Disability
- Equality Training
- Over 70 sites have received training through the IFI Gym Buddy Scheme
- 173 pieces of fitness equipment have gain IFI accreditation
- Employment of 110 Inclusive Activators
Though the past success of the IFI cannot be ignored, there is still a long way to go. In the recent Sport England “Active People Survey 2006” it highlighted the gap in physical activity participation rates between disabled and non-disabled people, with 8.8% of disabled people compared to 23.3% of non-disabled people participating. The IFI will build on the last six years experience and with your help and enthusiasm drive the industry forward to creating more inclusive fitness facilities then ever for disabled people to access.
