On Saturday 20th September people with learning disabilities were invited through their local Mencap branch to test out and rate their local Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) accredited facility, Wyre Forest Glades Leisure Centre in Kidderminster.
Wyre Forest Glades Leisure Centre was accredited by the IFI in 2005 and offers; an accessible facility for a range of impairments, IFI accredited fitness equipment, trained staff and inclusive marketing.
The Mencap participants at Saturday’s taster event benefited from a full site tour; including a show round of the pool, café and fitness suite. Attendees also received an induction to the gym with a trained IFI instructor, giving them an opportunity to try the range of inclusive fitness equipment. Ricky, who attended the taster session said,
‘It was a fantastic day; I hope to start attending gym sessions at Wyre Forest Glades Leisure Centre. The staff were really friendly and helpful and showed me how to use the fitness equipment correctly.’
Mencap run a variety of projects and taster sessions across the country whilst aiming to fulfil their mission of:
‘Creating a world where people with a learning disability are valued equally, listened too and included. We want everyone to have the opportunity to achieve the things they want from life.' (Mencap, 2008)
Stuart Booton, Contract Manager at Wyre Forest Glades Leisure Centre commented on the day,
‘ As an IFI site, inclusion and disability are high on our agenda. We strongly believe that physical activity is for everyone. Here at Wyre Forest Glades we are in the centre of the community and a hub of activity offering something for everyone.’
