AN initiative to improve access to physical activity for people with disabilities has been dubbed a resounding success at Bangor Aurora.
Get Active 2025, a six-week inclusive exercise project, was designed by the Mae Murray Foundation to help overcome barriers to exercise, particularly in gym environments.
Many disabled people feel excluded from the gym environment due to a lack of appropriate equipment and Changing Places toilets.
There can also be a lack of confidence amongst many instructors when it comes to supporting those with more complex needs.
The Get Active 2025 project aimed to empower participants by building confidence, improving physical and mental wellbeing and enabling them to feel included in mainstream fitness spaces.
The pilot held at Aurora was a great success, with each participant receiving their own, unique workout plan and induction to the gym, helping them to continue their fitness journey beyond the program – one of its key aims.
There are also plans to continue with the group sessions every Thursday in Aurora Leisure Complex, giving participants the opportunity to stay active alongside familiar, friendly faces and keep progressing together.
“We are incredibly proud of the success of this programme,” said Will Carson, sports development and health manager for the Northern Community Leisure Trust, which operates Bangor Aurora in partnership with Serco Leisure.
“We are committed to fostering inclusivity and look forward to continuing this partnership with Mae Murray Foundation.”
Pauline Hunter-Graham, the project lead from Mae Murray Foundation added: “As both a staff member of the Foundation and a Level 4 Neurological Conditions Personal Trainer, it is wonderful to see people of all abilities getting active together, gaining confidence in their own abilities, and finding a pathway into local gyms.”
Christine Wilson, who has a sight impairment, previously avoided exercise classes due to concerns that they would be beyond her capabilities.
However, after completing the six-week gym programme, she said: “These sessions have been fantastic. Not only have I improved my fitness and learned new exercises – some of which I can even do at home – but I’ve also made new friends and reconnected with familiar faces.
“The encouragement and support from the staff has really boosted my confidence, and I now feel comfortable continuing to use these facilities at Aurora.”
