Sport England has released new guidance called “Accessible and Inclusive Sports Facilities” (AISF) to promote the design of sport and leisure facilities that are accessible, safe, and welcoming to all. This guidance replaces their previous 2010 document on accessible sports facilities design.
The AISF guidance is aimed at various stakeholders including planners, architects, building owners, and operators. Its primary goal is to encourage the creation of spaces that minimise or eliminate barriers to physical activity, particularly for disabled individuals and diverse communities with specific needs related to faith, sex, sexuality, and gender identity.
This updated guidance reflects a more comprehensive and nuanced approach to inclusion, aligning with Sport England’s long-term “Uniting the Movement” vision, which aims to make the benefits of sport and physical activity accessible to everyone.
Viveen Taylor, Sport England’s director of equality, diversity and inclusion in sport, emphasises that the built environment can often be the most significant obstacle preventing people from being more active. The new guidance provides technical information to ensure that facilities are not only functionally accessible but also intuitive and inviting, capable of attracting and meeting the needs of increasingly diverse communities.
To find out more, see here.
