Sport England have produced new guidance to help ensure sport and leisure facilities are safe, welcoming and accessible to all. It updates and expands on the previous guidance produced in 2010.
Aimed at planners, architects, building owners and operators, the Accessible and Inclusive Sports Facilities (AISF) guidance encourages the design of spaces that reduce or remove barriers to being more active. That includes creating and maintaining facilities that are accessible to disabled people and meet the needs of our vibrant and diverse communities, such as those related to faith, sex, sexuality and gender identity.
While the guidance seeks to ensure new and existing sports facilities meet the requirements of the Equality Act (2010), it also promotes a proactive approach to identifying community needs and removing potential barriers, rather than solely meeting minimum statutory standards. It draws upon recognised best practice examples for accessibility and wider inclusion, and aims to increase awareness and use of these inclusive design principles:
- Placing people at the heart of the design process to reflect the needs of the community.
- Acknowledging diversity and difference to help make everyone feel welcome, safe and without anxiety.
- Offering choice where a single design solution cannot accommodate all users.
- Providing for flexibility in use.
- Providing convenient and enjoyable environments for everyone to use with dignity and privacy.
The guidance is available as a series of accessible documents.
