Gym Buddy scheme

The Gym Buddy scheme provides disabled people with volunteer support to enable them to access physical activity more readily in a gym environment.

• • This scheme (run by the English Federation of Disability Sport) currently supports Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) accredited sites to recruit, train and support Gym Buddies.
  • You can follow this link to their website to find out more and look for participating gyms and centres near you.

The Gym Buddy’s role is to:

• • accompany and/or work out alongside disabled user(s) within the fitness suite and provide additional support,
    eg adjusting weight stacks, start positions and programming consoles etc.
  • provide additional support within the fitness suite during timetabled supervised sessions or as and when is convenient for the disabled person and Gym Buddy
  • motivate, encourage, mentor and befriend a disabled person and support them in achieving their fitness goals
  • help break down barriers to participation for disabled people, such as access, communication, social and psychological