Disabled fitness professionals celebrate at InstructAbility Awards
On Tuesday 13 October, the InstructAbility Programme celebrated its success at The Village Hotel in Watford. Over 150 disabled fitness professionals and personnel attended from the country's leading leisure companies. The English Federation of Disability Sport was privileged to present the Engagement Award to GLL's Queen Diamond Jubilee Centre, where a record 38 new disabled clients took part in athlefit and chair based exercise sessions for young people.
Hilary Farmiloe, InstructAbility National Project Manager, opened the evening with a review of the project since its creation in 2010 by Aspire, the spinal injury charity and YMCAfit.
Guests at the event, sponsored by Matrix Fitness, heard how the scheme has supported over 200 disabled people to qualify as fitness professionals. Instructors have contributed 20,000 hours of voluntary service to the leisure industry to encourage more disabled people to feel welcome and supported in the gym environment. Over half of the graduates have been offered employment following their initial three month voluntary gym placement.
Hilary Farmiloe paid tribute to Sport England for investing in the scheme:
“Funding InstructAbility has changed disabled peoples lives, enabled us to raise awareness in the industry, lower barriers for disabled fitness instructors and customers and, I believe, make an indelible mark upon the fitness industry.”
Lindsay Games, Sport England Senior Disability Manager, and Steven Ward, Executive Director of ukactive, commended the project for its inclusive ethos and positive impact in supporting more disabled people to get active.
Certificates were presented to InstructAbility graduates and placement providers for their participation in the programme.
Richard Webb was one student who captured the audience’s imagination. He revealed that his lower leg had been amputated just five weeks ago due to injuries sustained whilst serving in Afghanistan. He was hailed as an example of the determination shown by many disabled fitness professionals to overcome challenges and use exercise to promote recovery and maintain fitness.
Successful partnerships between disabled fitness professionals and their employers were recognised with special awards during the three course dinner. These awards highlighted the capacity of the scheme to engage disabled people in fitness activities, led by instructors who are experts from experience in areas such as stroke recovery, mobility issues and sensory impairments.
The evening culminated in a glow stick extravaganza as visually impaired instructor Michelle Felix and fellow graduate Sam James, who has cerebral palsy, led the guests in an energetic Clubbercise session.
The Award Winners:
Sponsor: Leisure-net Solutions
- Winner: Ishtiaq Hussain & Places for People, Wolverhampton Pool & Fitness Centre
- Award: Engagement - For engaging 23 new deaf clients in gym sessions led by a deaf instructor, majority of which had not attended before due to communication barriers.
Sponsor: English Federation of Disability Sport
- Winner: Craig Thompson & GLL, The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Centre
- Award: Engagement – For engaging a record 38 new disabled clients with athlefit and chair based exercise sessions for young people.
Sponsor: Right Directions
- Winner: Lee Welch & Everyone Active, Hartham Leisure Centre
- Award: Development - For secured Sportivate funding to set up inclusive fitness circuit sessions particularly encouraging people with limited mobility.
Sponsor: Leisure Database Company
- Winner: Kate Bosley & Village, The Hotel Club Maidstone
- Award: Development – For creating a swimming and gym programme for young disabled people and developing links with the local GP surgery.
Sponsor: Momentum Business Development
- Winner: Lee Cartwright & Everyone Active, Waltham Abbey Swimming & Fitness Centre
- Award: Development – For setting up a successful stroke survivors’ fitness group at Waltham Abbey.
Sponsor: Active Hands
- Winner: Judith Caunter & The John Pounds Centre
- Award: Development - For securing a large grant from the Big Lottery Fund to purchase accessible gym equipment to enhance Judith’s work to support disabled clients.
Spirit of InstructAbility Award Winners sponsored by Matrix Fitness:
Sam James
For promoting inclusive fitness in national industry publications and her development work with Zumba and Clubbercise.
Andrew Jackson-Shaw
For long term volunteering to support spinally injured patients in their rehabilitation at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.
Michelle Felix
For promoting accessible training, resources and fitness equipment for visually impaired instructors and clients.
Dorit Chomer
For promoting the inclusive fitness ethos far and wide, with enthusiasm and commitment.
