The English Federation of Disability Sport’s (EFDS) Inclusive Fitness Initiative officially launches the first nine inclusive fitness facilities tomorrow (1 October).

The move is the first part of the rollout of the £5m lottery-funded programme following the success of the £1m pilot scheme.

The official launch coincides with the inception of the next phase of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) tomorrow, which requires all service providers to make reasonable adjustments to overcome barriers and enable physical access for disabled users.

To achieve IFI status, all nine centres have undergone an access audit assessing the building, policies, procedures and practices relating to the leisure provision for disabled users.

They have also looked at equipment, staff training, marketing and sports development to ensure the facilities meet the requirements of the DDA.

A number of sporting figures will help to launch the facilities across the country, including paralympian Simon Jackson; former paralympian John Harris; former England rugby player Phil De Glanville and chief executive of Sport England, Roger Draper.

The centres in question are Waltham Forest Pool and Track, London; Aspire National Training Centre, Middlesex; Witchford Village College, Cambridgeshire; Aldersley Leisure Village, Wolverhampton; Kensington Community Sports Centre, Liverpool; George H Carnal Leisure Centre, Manchester; Winsford Sports Complex, Winsford; Forest Fitness Centre, Cinderford and Craven Swimming Pool, Skipton.

The Inclusive Fitness Initiative, which is funded by Sport England, aims to have launched a total of 179 sites over the next three years.