A new pilot programme designed to encourage more disabled Londoners to participate in sport and physical activity has been officially launched at Mile End Leisure Centre in Tower Hamlets.

The event was attended by a number of leading Paralympians including Dervis Kornulap (swimming), Matthew Forsyth (bowling), Robert Barrett (sitting volleyball) Sheikh Muhidin Sheikh (wheelchair athletics) and Stewart Lucas, CEO of Interactive, the strategic development agency for sport and physical activity for disabled people in London.

The 'inclusive LONDON' sports membership scheme is the brainchild of leisure operator and Social Enterprise GLL. It offers discounted access to a range of sport and leisure facilities and will initially be piloted across the five Olympic & Paralympic boroughs.

Disabled residents will have the chance to use over 30 different leisure centres and swimming pools in Greenwich, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest for less than £20 per month.

The scheme offers access to swimming, gym and group exercise classes in addition a 30% discount on any other sporting activities. Carers will not be charged when accompanying Inclusive LONDON members and a free weekly two-hour crèche session is also included.

The findings of the most recent Sport England Active People 3 Report* show that over 1.5 million Londoners are currently defined as disabled people, yet only 9% of this group currently participate in any sport or physical activity. At a national level participation levels amongst adults with a limiting disability or illness are falling.

Commenting on the scheme, Mark Sesnan, Managing Director at GLL said; "Regular participation in sport and exercise provides huge physical and social benefits to everyone. We want to ensure that all members of the community are well catered for and we are committed to increasing inclusivity in sport in the run up to the London 2012 Olympics.

Stewart Lucas, CEO, Interactive added, "Interactive work with all providers of sport and physical activity across London to increase participation opportunities for disabled people. We are pleased that the GLL want to encourage disabled people to take up physical activity at their facilities through the 'inclusive LONDON' card. We will work with the GLL to ensure that disabled people are aware that this opportunity exists, and that disabled people view being active as a viable lifestyle choice."

In order to be eligible for the Inclusive London scheme participants must be aged 16 years or over and be in receipt of:

Disability Working Allowance

Incapacity Benefit Severe Disability Allowance

Mobility Allowance Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Invalid Care Allowance Disabled Persons Tax Credit

Employment Persons Tax Credit