Sports trust Impulse Leisure relaunched Blackshots gym in Essex as an Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) facility this month.

Funded by Awards for All (£5,000), Thurrock Council (£7,000) and The Healthy Living Centre (£2,500), the scheme has also been awarded £32,000 in match funding by the English Federation of Disability Sport, which runs the IFI.

Following the refurbishment of the gym, which saw new Life Fitness equipment installed and gym staff trained to work with people with disabilities, the trust aims to attract around 100 disabled members.

An inclusive activator has been appointed to meet with disability groups to promote the new facilities.

Impulse Leisure has also begun work on a £1m redevelopment of its Corringham site in partnership with Thurrock Council.

A new building is being constructed to house an 80-station, 640 sq m (6,900sq ft) gym equipped by Technogym, a health suite, health and beauty treatment rooms and an indoor pool. It is due to open in January 2006. Details: www.impulseleisure.co.uk