The Aspire Leisure Centre in Stanmore is a fully accessible training centre for both disabled and able-bodied people, the first of its kind in Europe.
Around a third of its members are disabled, compared with a national average of two to three per cent at other sports centres. As well as subsidised membership and activity costs, disabled people can use a heated 25-metre swimming pool with ramped access for wheelchair users and a fully Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) fitness studio.
Aspire also offers a range of specialist services including assisted exercise for people who are registered disabled, have medical conditions or long-term injuries, a GP referral programme and supervised cardio sessions for 12 to 16-year olds. In addition, it is also closely involved with Aspire InstructAbility a national project to train disabled people as fitness instructors.