Southern Quarter is committed to the inclusion of all. Different cultures, perspectives and experiences are what makes a community great. This statement aims to ensure our business embraces and welcomes all.
Accessibility:
Southern Quarter we recognise that the first point of contact with potential clients is our website, and so we want as many people as possible to be able to use it. For example, that means you should be able to navigate most of the website using just a keyboard. We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand and kept to a black and white design. There are various websites available with advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
Our website:
We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:
- you cannot modify the line height or spacing of text
- there’s a limit to how far you can magnify the map under ‘find us’
If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille, please get in touch by emailing us at info@southernquarter.com We’ll consider your request and get back to you within 10 days. If you cannot view the map under ‘find us’, please email us for directions.
If you find any problems with the accessibility of this website, email us at info@southernquarter.com
Regarding our other printed and digital communications, Southern Quarter will endeavour to ensure these conform to best practice regarding readability. If you require any of this information in large print, or any other format, please email us.
Disability:
Disability is defined as a loss or reduction of functional ability that results from a physical, cognitive or other impairment, and includes physical, intellectual, sensory and psychiatric disabilities. This may impair physical access to buildings and limitations regarding training movements and/or processing and execution of information. Our aim at Southern Quarter is to improve access for people with disabilities, from an adoption of the principles of ‘universal scaling’ to the improvement of disabled facilities (whenever refurbishment is done). We utilise tactile, hands-on coaching methods to improve health & wellness for everyone, including many people who do not consider themselves disabled or whose disabilities are invisible.
Southern Quarter is committed to improving access by adopting best practice in relation to the gym building, the equipment provided, the spacing, storage, set up and welfare facilities as well as the services we provide, and the people that make up the community. The nature of our training methodology lends itself to inclusiveness and universal scaling, making it suitable for all, and we have adopted ERM015d Scaling and Adaptation Series to assist this process in our daily operations. We also implement Personal Evacuation and Emergency Plans (PEEPs) for individuals where an assessment deems it necessary.
Southern Quarter is committed to continuous improvement and so have invested in IFI accredited equipment from Concept 2 that can be adapted as required. We also aim to provide a variety of equipment storage solutions to help those with impairments to be self-sufficient (e.g. storing bumper plates in racks rather than in piles, weights at various heights). We aim to remove any barriers to the inclusion of everyone and are committed to making reasonable adjustments if necessary.
We have implemented the Nationally Recognised Activity Inclusion Model (AIM), to provide parallel, modified, specific and/or open options and alternatives for persons with disabilities, dependent on setting, activity, impairment and ability. We do this using the STEP principles (Space, Task, Equipment, People). Examples of this are:
Speech & language disability:
Whiteboards are extensively used as standard. Eye contact, visual demonstrations and pictures are utilised where appropriate to aid understanding and movement execution.
Hearing impairment:
Again, the use of whiteboards, eye contact, and use of visual demonstrations and pictures are key, along with positioning of the trainer to allow lip reading. Music may need to be turned down and trainers may need to talk louder, depending on the severity of the impairment. We also offer to cover the cost of trainers who wish to undertake basic sign language courses, if the demographic warrant this.
Visual impairment:
Whiteboards, large writing, use of colour and pictures can again help here, depending on the severity of the impairment. Use of directional instructions, such as movement relative to a clock face may be useful. Allowing participants to feel a trainer execute a move before doing themselves has also been shown to be effective, especially for clients with severe, congenital impairments. This may need rethinking in times of additional hygiene/social distancing, or additional PPE requirements. Other appropriate tools can work well, such as reaching to feel for a target, or use of bright objects.
Learning disability:
Breaking down movements further to allow a steadier learning environment can be helpful, or just simplifying a movement when it may be too complex. Using equipment that can be moved more slowly, such as a soft ball rather than a med ball, may also be beneficial.
Physical disability:
Focusing on what clients can, do rather than what they can’t, is the key to inclusiveness for persons with physical disabilities. We have an extensive Scaling and Adaptation Series (ERM015d) which covers a range of movement alternatives for this purpose, as previously mentioned.
Mental Health:
Dealing with members with mental health issues comes naturally with the all-inclusive nature and caring community that Southern Quarter fosters. We care and check in with every individual member. Our Mission Statement includes calling everyone by name and giving each member something to work on every time they attend. We also check in with members each session and because we have a rapport with everyone, can tell when something is amiss and can offer support or just a friendly ear. We also offer Mental Health Awareness training to all our staff and discuss the wellbeing of members in our monthly staff meetings.
We strive to ensure that we put the individual athlete at the heart of everything we do, always focusing on ability, rather than disability.
We will ensure training is provided, where relevant, for those who come into contact with people with disabilities, include disability awareness and any other relevant courses (e.g. sign language). We will also ensure all our staff have been checked under the DBS/PVG schemes (or equivalent) to ensure our Duty of Care in regard to Safeguarding and vulnerable people.
Diversity, Inclusion and Equality:
At Southern Quarter we recognise that there are further issues relating to intellectual, cultural and financial access and that these are equally important. Lack of English as a first language and reading problems may also present barriers. Many people are on low incomes which restricts their ability join our gym.
The training methodology utilises a number of communication techniques, including visual, verbal and tactile information. This ensures that the majority of individuals can still access our resources and benefit from them.
We pride ourselves at Southern Quarter as being welcoming to and inclusive of all. We strive to work within the spirit and guidance of the Equality Act 2010 to promote a culture that actively embraces differences and recognises that people with different values and from different backgrounds are equally important. We know each and every person will enhance and enrich the community we foster. We acknowledge that equality and diversity are not interchangeable but are interdependent. Difference has to be valued and harnessed in order to allow for equal opportunity.
Southern Quarter believes everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity, equality and respect, and will not tolerate unlawful or unfair discrimination (including harassment) regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, religion/belief, or age. No form of intimidation, bullying or harassment will be tolerated.
We hold many charity and community events, such as team workouts, ‘bring a friend’ days, and ‘24-hour fundraisers’ for worthy causes. We have a number of memberships allowing unlimited access, right down to attending 3 session a week or less, or even a drop-in fee, to make our services as accessible as possible. We also have a coffee area so that people can just come and sit and be part of the community if they so wish, which is open to all, both members and non-members. We offer ‘free’ or ‘taster’ sessions at regular intervals throughout the year. We also plan to work with disadvantaged groups as a charitable initiative wherever possible.
Finally, we will ensure equality and diversity training is provided so that our leadership and staff are aware and active in their duties to combat discrimination in any form.
Southern Quarter is always looking to continually improve. If you have feedback or suggestions, please email us at info@southernquarter.com.