Lincolnshire Sports Partnership and local leisure providers have teamed up with the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) and NHS Lincolnshire to improve and increase the provision of inclusive fitness, sports and physical activity opportunities for disabled people.

It is one of the first IFI schemes that has been devised with the view of delivering a specific countywide IFI project.

By the end of March 2010 a total of 15 additional leisure and fitness facilities throughout the county will have been supported by the partner organisations to achieve IFI Mark Accreditation.

The scheme will increase the number of inclusive fitness facilities for the local community from three to 18 by March 2010.

According to a spokesperson, the Lincolnshire scheme will be the single biggest IFI development in the UK to date.

Bernard Atha, chair of the IFI, said: "This project places the needs of disabled people firmly at the heart of the delivery of fitness, sport and physical activity provision in Lincolnshire.

"The investment made by NHS Lincolnshire, supported by Lincolnshire County Sports Partnership demonstrates a step change in ensuring a proactive response to ensuring that disabled people are able to make the same healthy life style choices as non-disabled people."