Aspire's Instructability celebrates a successful night at Flame Awards

The Aspire InstructAbility programme received an Outstanding Achievement award for ‘Healthy Partnerships’ to recognise the work between spinal injury charity Aspire, training provider YMCAfit and the hundreds of leisure operators who have enabled disabled people to start careers as fitness professionals.

Hilary Farmiloe, InstructAbility Project Manager from Aspire says:

“With the financial support of employers and sponsorship from Matrix Fitness, eight InstructAbility graduates were able to attend the event and it was a very proud moment to see them up on stage to receive the award from ukactive Chair, Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson.

"The graduates represented everyone involved in the project at Aspire and YMCAfit, the industry placement providers, employers and the many other InstructAbility graduates who are doing some fantastic work across the sector. It was a first for ukactive, to have four wheelchair users and three amputees on stage at this event – their presence in the industry continues to break down barriers!"

InstructAbility - Outstanding Achievement Award  for Healthy Partnerships 2016             

Front row L to R:

• Lizzy Manvell-Pavlitski, Fusion Lifestyle
• Lee Patmore, Brentwood Leisure Centre, BLT
• Tanni Grey Thompson, Chair of ukactive
• Craig Thompson, The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Centre, GLL
  Gary Puddifoot, Stratford Leisure Centre, Everyone Active

 Back row L to R

• Wendy Hall, Portway Lifestyle Centre, Sandwell Leisure Trust
• Marc Pitman, Felixstowe Leisure Centre, Places for People
• Rick Long, Bourne Leisure Centre, 1Life
• Stephen Birkby, DAWS Community Gym in partnership with SIV
• Jon Johnston, Matrix Fitness Managing Director
• Steve Ward, ukactive Executive Director