West Lindsey Leisure Centre has just been awarded national recognition as an Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) centre, providing a recognised local leisure service, where customers with disabilities can use the facilities and have access to the gym without compromise.

This success is part of the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership, which is a registered charity, with the aim to improving sporting opportunities and activities for all in the county. The partnership is part of the national network of 49 County Sports Partnerships that operate across England and it's vision is that by 2020 it will have created a successful county that leads a healthy, sporting lifestyle.

West Lindsey was awarded £40,000 of funding from the charity September 2009 and has spent almost a year working towards it's goal of IFI accreditation. A ream of specific measures where instigated to reach the exacting standards required to become a recognised IFI site at registered level and included: improving access to the centre and enhancements to the gym and changing facilities, buying new specialised equipment and the implementation of various staff training courses.

Commenting on the success, Elaine Denton, East Region Fitness Manager of SLM, who operates West Lindsey Leisure Centre in partnership with West Lindsey District Council, said: “This has been almost a year's worth of hard work by a team of people at the centre, council and Lincolnshire Sports Partnership. We are thrilled to have gained IFI accreditation and are looking forward to being able to cater for customers with disabilities within an inclusive environment that has been designed to cater for their specific needs”.