Following the completion of the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) pilot phase, assistant director Chris Easton said the scheme has succeeded in its aims of creating accessible fitness facilities and ensuring that disabled people working out in health clubs is “not the exception to the rule, but the norm.”

Easton told Health Club Management: “In the early stages of the scheme, some managers expressed concern about the impact that creating an inclusive environment would have on their non-disabled customers, but following the completion of the pilot phase it is clear that this impact has been resoundingly positive.”

He claimed that more than 91 per cent of non-disabled users in IFI sites were aware there was an increase in usage by disabled people and only 2 per cent said they did not feel comfortable working out alongside disabled people.

More than 82 per cent said they would welcome seeing more disabled people using the fitness facilities – and almost 70 per cent of disabled users said they found working out alongside non-disabled people to be a positive experience.

The rollout of the IFI main scheme is now underway. Details: HCM September 04 p.26