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Boxing Hero Champions Robin Park's IFI
Accreditation
 Boxing hero and patron of the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) Michael
Watson MBE, unveiled Robin Park Sports Centre and Arena as an official IFI
facility on Friday 2nd September. The former Commonwealth Middleweight
Champion was the special guest for an afternoon of sports activities
designed to showcase inclusive sport at its best.
The IFI is a Sport England funded project that supports facilities across
the country to make improvements in access, fitness equipment, staff
training and sports development. The IFI aims to make fitness suites and
facilities more freely available to people with disabilities.
Michael Watson, who was brain-damaged following his WBO Championship bout
with Chris Eubank, is a true advocate of what can be achieved through
physical activity. During his speech on Friday, he highlighted his
appreciation for the improvements at Robin Park and Hindley Sports
Centres, “Seeing the faces of the youngsters enjoying this great facility
has really touched me. I feel blessed to be here today to witness this
amazing sports complex in action. I hope I can inspire many more people
with disabilities to come to these type of facilities and to work hard and
show that they are the equal of able-bodied people.”
Rodney Hill, Chief Executive of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust (WLCT)
said, “The Inclusive Fitness Initiative is a fantastic campaign and
reflects our vision Getting Wigan Active which we hope will improve the
physical and mental welfare of people across Wigan Borough. The huge
strides taken at Robin Park and Hindley should go some way towards
achieving this aim and anyone who knows the Michael Watson story will be
inspired by his determination and self-belief.”
Some of the improvements carried out by WLCT that have helped lead to the
IFI accreditation include:
• £70k spent to transform the cricket hall at Robin Park into a
multi-games hall (used regularly by the disabilities sports club).
• £20k spent on improving access to Robin Park and to provide specialist
equipment for gym users with disabilities.
• £110k investment at Hindley Pool to transform it into a specialist
facility for swimmers with disabilities.
• Extra training for staff in Disability Equity and fitness instructors
being trained to deliver safe and appropriate exercise programmes.
• A brand new inclusive fitness suite at Hindley Sports Centre costing
£210k including improved access and specialist equipment.
As well as improving the profile of Robin Park and Hindley Sport Centres,
the IFI recognition will also lead to the Trust employing Wigan Borough’s
first ever ‘activator’. One of the key roles of the ‘activator’ is to work
in the community to encourage people with disabilities to take part in
sport and physical activity.
“The huge improvements made at Robin Park and Hindley mean that more and
more disabled users from across the borough and beyond will have the
opportunity to use these facilities and keep themselves fit and healthy,”
said Darren Birch, Regional Manager for the English Federation of
Disability Sports. “With the Paralympics coming to London in 2012
disability sports are now getting greater recognition. The new improved
facilities could result in some athletes from the Wigan Borough competing
at the London Games.”
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NOTES TO EDITORS:
For further information on this News Release please contact Chris
Dunbar, Public Relations Officer, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust on 01942
486937 or at c.dunbar@wlct.org
Details of Robin Park Improvements:
• Purchase of IFI accredited equipment - 2 x Vario Pulleys, Leg Curl & Leg
Extension.
• Amendments to changing rooms including larger benches, lowered clothing
hooks, lower mirrors and brighter lights.
• Colour contrasting accessible toilets, lowered orange emergency pull
cords, brighter lights and altering locking door mechanism.
• 20% of lockers to be tactile.
• Lower reception desk in Profiles gym.
• Portable hearing loop fitted at reception desk in Profiles gym.
• All literature to be available in larger font, on CD and available in
Braille.
• A policy for policing disabled parking bays and signs to highlight
disabled bays.
• Ramp fitted at Profiles gym to remove step obstacle.
• Braille/Tactile signs throughout the centre that are colour contrasting.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and support
Leisure and Cultural facilities, initiatives and events for 300,000
residents across the Wigan Borough.
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is WLCT’s vision to ensure that
people across the Wigan Borough have the opportunity to become more
physically, mentally and creatively active. It also aims to increase
community activity and to encourage good citizenship.
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