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IFI Award Winners

Congratulations! At the recent IFI national conference the IFI recognised the hard work and success of five IFI sites.  These sites are representatives of all of the IFI sites that have been accredited through the scheme, helping to make the IFI a worldwide example of best practice in Inclusive Fitness, and ultimately providing an inclusive service for disabled people. The IFI award categories and the winners were:

 

Innovation In Inclusive Marketing: West Craven Sports Centre, Lancashire

The way a facility markets its facility to potential users is crucial and often makes the difference to an IFI Site’s success. This award looked at those IFI Sites who showed a real understanding of what marketing their facilities to disabled people entails.

 

West Craven Sports Centre has strong links with Pendle Borough Council Disability Outreach Section, where the centre has utilised the council’s database of community organisations to market the facility.  The centre has targeted disabled people in the following ways:

• Free taster session
• Guided tours of the facility
• Editorial in local press
• Talks to disabled organisations including church groups, hospitals, care centres, residential homes, and resource centres
• Using the IFI scheme to obtain further funding to form the Inclusive Club of Exercise for 10- 17 year olds.
• Offering meet and greet sessions on site, helping to build confidence and encourage independence around the leisure facilities

The biggest challenge that the centre found to marketing the fitness suite was raising the awareness of the IFI within the area; Inclusive fitness was largely unknown. The centre has overcome this through the work of the Inclusive Activator visiting groups and organisations within the community, working with centre staff to create an inclusive, welcoming environment and working with the marketing department to carry out some of the marketing techniques mentioned above.  Also key to this was the strong commitment made by Pendle Leisure Trust’s executive management.

 

In the future West Craven will build on the links that it has already made, realising the importance of the Inclusive Activator, the centre has expanded the role to allow the post holder to work more in the community.

 

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Community Impact: Mill Chase Leisure Centre

This award looked at how an IFI Site has engaged with their local community and what lasting mark they have made.

 

Mill Chase Leisure Centre has embarked on many activities and events over the last twelve months to engage the local community in its IFI work. The centre has organised accessible events including a Sport Relief Mile. This was a real community event attracting over 150 participants ranging from 2-85 years old, including both disabled and non-disabled people. The centre has also established the following:

• Set up and implemented a strategy for a variety of clinics at the local hospital.The clinics now hold their final sessions at the centre, where the Mill Chase staff run taster sessions giving users a chance to experience what is on offer. The Inclusive Activator also attends the clinics raising awareness of the centre.
• There is a large learning disability community within the area, which the centre has had a positive impact upon. The centre has challenged two of their users with learning disabilities to take part in the Great South Run.

In the future the centre plans to:

• create a database of all local groups, organisations, clubs, doctors, physiotherapists and disabilityassociations to establish a monthly or quarterly report/ newsletterdistribution. 
• To continue to offer other inclusive activities at the centre including Boccia, curling, basketball, football and to set up a sports club.
• To continue to access further funding avenues through East Hants District Council.

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Creating Partnerships: University of Hull Sports and Fitness Centre

Creating partnerships is a crucial element of an IFI Site’s success and for the future sustainability of inclusive fitness. This award recognised those IFI Sites who have developed and maintained strong successful partnerships, which have had a big impact on physical activity levels of disabled people in their local community.   

 

The University of Hull has developed many lasting partnerships with organisations in the area, these include:

• Local GP surgeries
• Hull and East Riding Primary Care Trust
• Hull Sports Development - Motiv 8
• East Riding County FA- Ability counts
• Beverley Westwood Hospital Occupational Therapy department
• Charitable organisations including HERIB, RNIB
• Local clubs including Hull Deaf centre FC
• Local schools including Frederick Holmes school
• University of Hull Disability (UoH), UoH Counselling and Hull University Union (HUU) Student counselling services respectively

The University of Hull has one of the most successful GP and Occupational Therapy referral schemes in Hull.  Through working with GP surgeries and the local hospital to establish the schemes, they have become over subscribed and waiting lists now exist.  Alongside the partnerships listed above the centre has worked with a number of groups including the RNIB blind cricket club and Hull Deaf Centre who playfootball at the University and who are also establishing a University Goalball club.

 

These partnerships have led to new initiatives such as a project working with people with anxiety and mental health issues.  IFI initiatives have been linked to wider University developments such as the Football Foundation funded community football club and facility developments.  This has served to maximise the benefits for the widest range of users.

 

The Sports and Fitness Centre’s partnership with the University Department of Sports Science has led to the introduction of a successful internal student work scheme.  This has reduced demand on IFI qualified staff.  It is planned that all on the scheme will become qualified IFI Instructors.

 

In the future the University plan to have:

• A management policy to support targeted promotion of the University facilities.
• The University are working to disprove the traditional misconception that Universities are for students only.  They are sourcing additional funding to provide additional instructors and to expand the scheme and its benefits.

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Creating Accessible Environments: Rushcliffe Arena 

Creating an accessible environment is essential if disabled people are to be able to participate in physical activity in an IFI Site.  This award therefore recognises those Sites that have gone above and beyond the requirements of the IFI access audit to make their service accessible.

Rushcliffe Arena has gone beyond the IFI access audit to create an accessible environment for their users.  The centre has:

• Changed their meet and greet policies to one that is more user friendly helping to overcome barriers.  Disabled people are met at reception and taken to the fitness suite.
• The centre has gone beyond the IFI minimum equipment package purchasing in total 18 IFI accredited pieces of equipment.
• The centre has established a motorised Exten fitness suite to complement the IFI fitness suite offering a friendly setting for people with joint complaints to work out in. 
• The centre dedicates fitness instructors to booked group sessions within the fitness suite assisting users with their programmes.  The instructors have built strong relationships with the users and frequently spend time talking to the users over drinks in the café after their workout.
• The centre has overcome an incline leading into their facility by meeting users in the car park to assist them up the slope.
• As a centre they have recognised the importance of making customers feel comfortable about their surroundings by changing their tour policy to include signage, accessible parking bays etc.
• The centre has recently improved the layout of their fitness suite to provide more space between pieces of equipment and upgraded the air conditioning units to provide a comfortable environment for customers.

In the future the centre will be working towards developing partnerships with the GB Wheelchair Rugby and also the GB Para Olympic Ice Hockey teams to act as role models for customers at the centre and promote the centre’s accessibility.

 

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Engaging Volunteers: Reigate and Redhill YMCA

For many disabled people entering fitness suites for the first time is a daunting prospect. This award therefore recognises the value of volunteers in terms of the support that they can offer users in integrating into the fitness suite, building their psychological and social skills, supporting them along side the fitness instructors and the important contribution that they make to retaining users. 

 

Reigate and Redhill YMCA have established a comprehensive volunteer programme called the Fitness Pioneers Project, which aims to recruit, train and support disabled people to become qualified sports leaders and/ or fitness instructors through working as volunteers. 

 

The volunteers act as pioneers in the delivery of activity, but most importantly they inspire other disabled people to participate and benefit from physical activity.  All volunteers on the programme are encouraged to act as mentors and role models to other disabled people, leading to a significant increase in exercise professionals and sports leaders.

 

The volunteers from the Fitness Pioneers programme are important to the centre offering vital support to other disabled clients.  The volunteers help clients to build social and psychological skills and break down the barriers to participation, ensuring that all disabled users feel comfortable exercising within the centre.

 

The centre has worked closely with partner agencies including Mencap, the Active Surrey Sports Partnership, The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), MS Society and Dyscover.

 

Case Study: after attending a presentation at the YMCA, Rita became a user of the centre. This led her to volunteer for the Fitness Pioneers’ scheme.  Rita asked for a class to be set up for people with MS and volunteered to assist with this, eventually qualifying as a Fitness Instructor herself.

 

 

IFI & Concept2 Adaptive Rowing Event

The IFI teamed up with Concept2 to deliver an exciting Internet Indoor Adaptive Rowing race. World Class GB adaptive rowing athletes raced each other over a 500m stretch. The athletes raced from across three different locations in the UK, Elmbrigde Xcel Leisure centre, Rushcliffe Arena Nottingham and the QEII conference centre in Westminster. 

 

Delegates were able to watch the athlete’s progress throughout the race on a large television screen within the main exhibition room.

 

The race got off to a great start with Naomi taking the lead. Alastair and Alan came back halfway through the race and quickly caught Naomi. The delegates got right behind Naomi and her pacer Katie supporting them right to the finish line.  Alan piped them to the post winning the event in a time of 1:40.02s with Alastair not far behind in 1:40.08s. Naomi came through with the encouragement of the crowd in 1:45s. 

 

Concept2 representatives were on hand to discuss the technology used and how it can be utilized within the fitness suite. Shaun, Naomi and Katie-George were available throughout the day to answer any questions about adaptive rowing including questions on training, equipment, their accomplishments and their future goals.

 

The IFI would like to thank Concept2, the athletes, DC Leisure and British International Rowing for making this event possible. 

 

For more information about the Concept2 and the technology used please contact Ben Addison on 0115 945 5522 (Textphone users add prefix 18001)

 

Adaptive Rowing Athlete Profiles

Shaun Sewell (QEII)

Shaun Sewell of Royal Docks Rowing Club recently won a bronze medal in the men’s arms only single scull, at the 2006 world rowing championships in Eton.  Shaun has been rowing for two years and is coached by Simon Goodey, the inventor of the concept II Postural Support Seat.  Shaun’s rowing successes include: winner of the 2006 Poplar International Regatta, gold medallist in the 2005 British Indoor Championships and a silver medal at the 2005 National Championships. Shaun once a keen body builder has a degree in psychology and regularly writes and performs poetry.

 

Naomi Riches (QEII) 

Naomi Riches of Marlow RC, took up rowing in 2004 after attending an Amateur Rowing Association (ARA) awareness day at the London Docklands Regatta Centre. Naomi who is coached by Chad King, quickly took to the sport gaining her first gold medal at the 2004 World Championships in the LTA4+ boat class and then again the following year in Gifu, Japan. Naomi is a natural athlete and has competed at a high level in swimming, where at the age of 12 she was Junior National Disabled Swimming Champion.  Naomi has a keen interest in art and design, gaining a degree in Jewellery and Metal Work Design.

 

Katie-George Dunlevy (QEII)

Katie-George like Naomi Riches, took up rowing after attending an ARA awareness day at London Docklands Regatta centre.  Katie-George gained her first GB vest in 2004 going on to win gold in the LTA4+ boat class, at the World Championships in Banyoles. Along with her team mates Katie-George then went onto repeat this success the following year.  Katie-George an accomplished athlete is no stranger to representing GB, where prior to rowing she competed at the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) European Championships in the 800m, long jump and javelin.

 

Alastair Mckean (Elmbridge)

Alastari Mckean of Herne Bay ARC started as a costal rower in 1994, competing in many domestic regattas. In 2001 Alastair moved to river rowing and then to adaptive rowing in 2004. In 2005, Alastair was part of the LTA mix4+ crew that won gold at the World Championships in Gifu, Japan. Alastair teaches Geography and History at Canterbury High School and has been involed in coaching rowing at The Kings School Canterbury since 2005.

 

Alan Crowther (Rushcliffe)

Alan of Nottingham Boat Club has been involed in the sport for many years. After a break, Alan rejoined the sport in 1999 re-establishing himself as a successful rower and sculler. In 2003 Alan won his first GB Vest winning gold in the LTA4+ at the World Championships in Milan. Alan has gone on to repeat this success winning gold medals in the LTA4 Mix+ in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 World Championships in Banyoles, Gifu and Eton.  At the 2005 FISA World Masters in Strathclyde Alan won gold in the Veteran DM8+. Alan has also won senior 1 and 2, Henley and National ARA Veterans events.

 

 

 

Nominations open for the 2007 London Sports Awards

Gym Buddy Scheme Training Online

The Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme at the Metrodome Leisure Complex Barnsley

IFI National Conference a Measure of How Far the Industry Has Come

December 13^th, Queen Elizabeth II Conference in Westminster saw the Inclusive Fitness Initiative’s first ever National Conference, ‘Fit For Inclusion’.

 

The conference attracted over 250 delegates from across the fitness sector to see the range of high quality keynote and breakout speakers on offer at the landmark event focusing on what the industry has done, and needs to do to include disabled people. 

 

In addition to this, the IFI held the first Inclusive Fitness Awards recognising accredited IFI Sites that have gone above and beyond the requirements of IFI Accreditation to offer outstanding provision for disabled users.  Awards were made in five categories recognising accessible facilities, the impact of volunteers, engaging the community, implementing inclusive marketing and creating partnerships.  The winners in each category were:

• West Craven Sports Centre – Innovation in Inclusive Marketing
• University of Hull – Creating Partnerships
• Rushcliffe Arena – Creating Accessible Environments
• Reigate and Redhill YMCA – Engaging Volunteers
• Mill Chase Leisure Centre – Community Impact

 

The awards themselves, were presented by former powerlifter Gary Jelen MBE. 

 

During the conference, Norman Croucher OBE, acclaimed mountaineer and double lower limb amputee gave a light-hearted look at the impact inclusive physical activity provision can have on the lives of disabled people, recounting tales of expeditions up many of the world’s highest peaks. 

 

Professor James H Rimmer of the National Centre on Physical Activity and Disability at the University of Illinois provided an insight into the work that is being conducted across the Atlantic together with how the US and the UK will work together to advance the inclusion agenda on a global scale. 

 

The conference also attracted a range of first-class breakout session speakers to follow on from the topics covered in the keynote sessions.  Speakers included:

• Robin Gargrave, Director YMCAfit
• Bob Laventure, Consultant, Older People, BHF National Centre for Physical Activity and Health, Loughborough
• Ken Black, Director, Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport,
• David Morris, Senior Advisor to the Mayor of London (Disability)
• Professor Nichola Rumsey, Professor of Appearance and Health Psychology, University of the West of England

 

In addition to the packed programme, an exhibition area included IFI accredited equipment suppliers and other organisations active in the field of inclusive fitness provision. 

 

A partnership between the IFI, DC Leisure, The British International Rowing Organisation and Concept 2 provided the opportunity for delegates to observe an internet linked indoor rowing event with international rowers placed in leisure centres across the country and also in the conference centre competing over 500m. 

 

Chris Easton, IFI Assistant Director and Conference Manager,

 

“For a conference such of this to have been possible provides a real indication of how far the fitness industry has come in providing a high quality provision for disabled people.  It also illustrates that there is still much work to be done.  Over 250 industry professionals left in no doubt that the inclusion agenda is not only here to stay in the fitness industry, but that it is driving forwards at a relentless pace.”

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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