Inclusive Fitness Initiative helps support disabled people to be fit and healthy

For over 10 years, The Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) has been encouraging disabled people to participate in and enjoy the benefits of physical activity in inclusive and accessible environments. Current statistics show that 93% of disabled people are not regularly active, IFI seeks to change that by giving individuals more choice and opportunities to exercise within an accessible environment.

The IFI has a national coverage of 400 IFI Mark accredited gym facilities with eight facilities within Essex, from Brentwood to Chelmsford, and more bordering the region.

Reasons to choose an IFI gym

Inclusive Fitness works towards inclusion as a whole, to encourage a cultural change within IFI Mark facilities. They seek to address the following elements in their accredited gyms:-

• Accessible facilities; physical access and accessible service provision

• IFI accredited fitness equipment

• Workforce development; customer service training for all staff and adaptive exercise programming for fitness instructors

• Marketing and partnership development within the local community

• Accessible sport and social activities

Inclusive Fitness accredits facilities with the IFI Mark at three levels – provisional, registered and excellent depending on their accessibility and service provision.