Aspire Leisure Centre, the first fully integrated leisure facility in Europe for disabled and non-disabled people, has been shortlisted in the UK’s biggest free-to-enter fitness awards and is in the running for a prestigious national award. 

The club has been shortlisted in the Best Rehabilitation Facility at the National Fitness Awards, an annual event which recognises excellence and achievement in gyms throughout the country.

Aspire Leisure Centre is situated in Stanmore, Middlesex, and is attached to the Spinal Injury Centre in the grounds of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.  The Centre has a four lane 25m swimming pool with recently refurbished changing rooms and ramped access (one of only two in the country).  The water temperature is maintained between 31 and 32 degrees Celsius and there is a selection of pool wheelchairs available for the ramp, walking frames to remove any slip hazards and track hoist for changing.  The Centre also has a dance studio, meeting and training room, café and fully inclusive fitness studio and offers swimming lessons.  

The awards are organised by Script Events in conjunction with leading fitness industry magazine Workout, with support from headline sponsor ServiceSport, and in each category up to seven finalists have been selected, who will now go through to the next stage of the judging process where they will be out to impress by showcasing first-hand the great work going on in their clubs.

This stage involves a visit to each finalist by a member of the awards team who will take a look around the facilities and chat to members and staff before compiling a comprehensive report, which will then be passed on to an expert judging panel to decide the lucky winners.

Trophies will then be handed out a glittering awards ceremony on Friday 1^st December at The Athena in Leicester.

National Fitness Awards’ event director Judith Halkerston said, “All of our shortlisted facilities should be really proud of their achievements in being chosen as a finalist as the calibre of entries has been amazing."

Dean Tearle, Aspire Leisure Centre Manager said, “This is excellent news.  The team work so hard to provide such a great service which makes a real difference to our customers’ lives.”

For full details go to www.aspireleisurecentre.org.uk.