Paralympians shoot inclusive fitness week into spotlight

Members of the GB Paralympic Basketball Squad will help to increase participation in physical activity by disabled people in Sheffield with a special sporting taster session.

Players including Kevin Hayes, Harry Brown and Colin Price are hosting a wheelchair basketball taster session at the English Institute of Sport – Sheffield (EIS Sheffield) on Wednesday, May 5.

It is one of a series of activities taking place throughout the day at the Sheffield International Venues (SIV) facility to mark IFI (Inclusive Fitness Initiative) Week 2010.

SIV’s fitness cardiac and pulmonary specialist Dave Birds will be on hand at the IFI Open Day to offer advice and fitness tips, while Activity Sheffield fitness groups will be testing the venue’s facilities

A free day pass for EIS Sheffield’s gym will be on offer to all disabled users who complete an induction on the day, while any disabled person and their carer who joins the gym throughout Inclusive Fitness Week will qualify for a free month’s membership when joining on a 12 month contract.

The third annual IFI Week, which runs from May 3-9, is a national awareness week which aims to bring together IFI Mark Accredited facilities to focus on introducing disabled people to local leisure and physical activity opportunities.

The gym at EIS Sheffield recently achieved the prestigious IFI Mark accreditation following an investment in new facilities for disabled users including a unisex changing area with an alarm cord for members and their carers and a state-of-the-art bike and tactile overlay for the treadmills.

Dawn Spink, fitness manager at EIS Sheffield, said: “The event is designed to celebrate Inclusive Fitness Week and encourage more people to get active by encouraging the community to come and try our new inclusive fitness facilities.

“As an IFI accredited facility, EIS Sheffield is recognised for its commitment to improving services and access for disabled people. Achieving the recent IFI award demonstrates that our specialist staff are fully trained in providing users with a safe, effective and flexible workout and a warm and welcoming training environment.”

EIS Sheffield has allocated accessible parking bays, fitness, toilet and changing facilities that allow for a full body workout for both disabled and non-disabled users.

Everyone is welcome on the day. For more information call Fitness Manager Dawn Spink on 0114 223 5605.

Event: GB Paralympic Squad hosts wheelchair basketball taster sessions and gym sessions at IFI (Inclusive Fitness Initiative) Open Day

Date: 11am - 5pm, Wednesday, May 5 2010

Venue: The English Institute of Sport – Sheffield (EIS Sheffield), Coleridge Road, Sheffield, S9 5DA