Stay active with inclusive gyms
02/02/18
Posted by: The personal injury help and advice team
It’s no secret that staying active and getting plenty of fresh air and exercise is great for everyone’s physical and mental well-being.
Living an active lifestyle and getting fit can help improve physical functions to help make your life a lot easier. Benefits include having more energy, improved respiratory system, stronger muscle strength, less achy, stronger stamina and sleeping better… the list goes on. Being healthier also means a reduction in the chance of obesity and a decreased risk of health problems such as a heart attack or stroke.
Regular physical exercise provides lots of mental health improvements too. By releasing endorphins, exercise is proven to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, which is really important if you’ve been injured in an accident that has affected you both physically and mentally. Not to mention the social benefits of exercise, such as increased independence, a boost in self-esteem, enhanced co-ordination and better strengthened balance.
However, it can be really frustrating if you’ve sustained an injury which means you are less able than you used to be, which in turn can affect your active lifestyle. It may mean that the gym you once attended no longer suits your needs – perhaps it doesn’t have wheelchair access or you don’t feel it offers equal opportunities.
This is where the Inclusive Fitness Initiative comes in…
The Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) is a national programme that supports leisure and fitness organisations in becoming more inclusive and accessible for disabled, differently-abled and non-disabled people. It has been established for over 10 years, has a national coverage of approx. 400 IFI accredited gym facilities and is managed within the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS).
The initiative works closely with organisations across the country to promote more accessible facilities, inclusive fitness equipment, staff with disability training and inclusive marketing and policies; providing an easier, more supported workout for anyone who needs it.
Whatever your level of physical ability, there are always options available to suit your preferences. Why not take a look at some of the IFI accredited gyms in your region and kick start your active lifestyle?
If you’d like to add a IFI accredited gym to the below directory, please get in touch here.
Source: English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS).
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- London
Academy of Sport (LSBU)
Tel: 0208 825 9001
Website: http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/academy-of-sport
Acton Centre- Everyone Active
Tel: 0208 825 9001
Website: https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/everyone-active-acton-centre/
Burnt Oak Leisure Centre
Tel: 020 8201 0982
Website: http://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/london/barnet/barnet-burnt-oak-leisure-centre
Finchley Lido Leisure Centre
Tel: 020 8343 9830
Website: http://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/london/barnet/finchley-lido-leisure-centre
Harrow Leisure Centre
Tel: 0208 901 5980
Website: https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/harrow-leisure-centre/
Inspire: Luton Sports Village
Tel: 01582 393230
Website: http://www.activeluton.co.uk/inspire-luton-sports-village
Ironmonger Row Baths
Tel: 0203 642 552
Website: https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/london/islington/ironmonger-row-baths
Lewsey Sports Park & Pool
Tel: 01582 604244
Website: http://www.activeluton.co.uk/lewsey-sports-park
Northolt Leisure Centre
Tel: 0208 423 7436
Website: https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/northolt-leisure-centre/
Perdiswell Leisure Centre
Tel: 01905 457189
Website: https://www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/centres/perdiswell-leisure-centre/
Romford YMCA
Tel: 01708 766211
Website: https://www.ymcatg.org/ymca-romford-fitness-wellbeing/
Southall Sports Centre
Tel: 0208 571 8871
Website: https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/southall-sports-centre/
Vale Farm Sports Centre
Tel: 020 8908 6545
Website: https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/vale-farm-sports-centre/
- North West
Birchwood Tennis & Leisure Complex
Tel: 01925 458130
Website: https://livewirewarrington.co.uk/leisure/our-locations
Broomfields leisure Centre
Tel: 01925 268768
Website: https://livewirewarrington.co.uk/leisure/our-locations
Castle Leisure Centre
Tel: 0161 253 7000
Website: https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11407
Great Sankey Leisure Centre
Tel: 01925 724411
Website: https://livewirewarrington.co.uk/leisure/our-locations
Orford Jubilee Neighbourhood Hub
Tel: 01925 572504
Website: https://livewirewarrington.co.uk/leisure/our-locations
Seashell Trust Fitness Centre
Tel: 0161 610 0121
Website: http://www.seashelltrust.org.uk/sports/our-facilities-0
Woolston Neighbourhood Hub
Tel: 01925 813939
Website: https://livewirewarrington.co.uk/leisure/our-locations
- Scotland
[EN]GAGE Edinburgh Napier University
Tel: 0131 455 4117
Website: https://www.napier.ac.uk/about-us/our-location/our-campuses/engage
- South East
Blue Wave Hydrotherapy & Gym Complex
Tel: 01843 233570
Website: http://www.bluewavecomplex.co.uk/
Harrow Leisure Centre
Tel: 0208 901 5980
Website: https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/harrow-leisure-centre/
Inspire: Luton Sports Village
Tel: 01582 393230
Website: http://www.activeluton.co.uk/inspire-luton-sports-village
Kent Sport
Tel: 01227 823623
Website: https://www.kent.ac.uk/sports/
Lewsey Sports Park & Pool
Tel: 01582 604244
Website: http://www.activeluton.co.uk/lewsey-sports-park
Romford YMCA
Tel: 01708 766211
Website: https://www.ymcatg.org/ymca-romford-fitness-wellbeing/
Southall Sports Centre
Tel: 0208 571 8871
Website: https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/southall-sports-centre/
Vale Farm Sports Centre
Tel: 020 8908 6545
Website: https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/vale-farm-sports-centre/
- West Midlands
Portway Lifestyle Centre
Tel: 0300 0120121
Website: https://www.slt-leisure.co.uk/our-centres/portway-lifestyle-centre/
Uttoxeter Leisure Centre
Tel: 01283 508162
Website: http://www.eaststaffsbc.gov.uk/uttoxeter-leisure-centre