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Major improvements worth £45k have just been completed at Babergh District Council’s Kingfisher Leisure Centre, Sudbury in order to offer new healthy lifestyle opportunities to the wider community.
Council Chairman Sue Wigglesworth, officially opened the facilities on Thursday 2nd December, which include a new purpose built disabled changing room with hoist and bed and accessibility improvements throughout. Kevin Curtis, a former Paralympic and World Championship Sailing Gold medallist was a guest at the Opening and emphasises the importance of accessible facilities. ‘I am a full-time wheelchair user/sportsman and the kind of person who thrives on an active lifestyle. I would like to be able to access sport and leisure activities at any time, just as the general public are able to and facilities such Kingfisher’s allow me to do just that.’
Greg Cooper, Be Active Leisure Inclusion Officer at Babergh was responsible for organising the new facility launch and is keen to ensure that the benefits from this and other such inclusive initiatives throughout the district are not missed.
‘The Be Active Project was established to improve leisure participation opportunities for socially excluded groups in Babergh, including people with physical and learning disabilities. I am therefore delighted that such a big investment has been made from which the whole community may benefit.’
‘We all know that sport and leisure can help lead to a positive and more healthy lifestyle but people who do not have access to such opportunities are missing out. It is therefore my mission to create more participation opportunities throughout the district and make existing activities more accessible to people with disabilities.'
An important step in achieving this target was also met on Thursday evening in the form of the re-launch of the Babergh Disability Sports Forum. The Forum is keen to raise awareness of disability issues and support local organisations and is to be held on a regular basis throughout the district.
The Disability Sports Forum is keen to attract new members, so if you have an interest in participating in or helping provide sports and leisure opportunities for people with disabilities, email Be Active Leisure Inclusion Officer Greg Cooper at leisure@babergh.gov.uk or call 01473 826656.
More information on Babergh Be Active can be found on Babergh's website. |