Disability Sport NI is Northern Ireland’s main disability sports charity working to improve the health and wellbeing of disabled people through sport and active recreation.

We believe that everyone should have an equal opportunity to fully participate in all areas of life. To support this, we encourage sports, leisure, and outdoor recreation facility providers to design and manage places and spaces that meet the highest standards of accessibility for disabled people.

We do this by offering guidance and recommendations through a suite of six detailed accessibility guides and two guidance notes, as well as running an Inclusive Sports Facilities Accreditation scheme to help facilities achieve levels of excellence in design.

Our Accessible Facilities Charter invites facility providers to commit to creating welcoming, accessible, and inclusive environments, enabling disabled people to enjoy sports and physical activity, whether they are participating or spectating.

By signing this Charter you pledge to enhance access for disabled people in sport, leisure and outdoor recreation facilities by:

Committing to excellence in the design and construction of all new sport and leisure facilities and outdoor places by implementing the advice and recommendations within the following Disability Sport NI guidelines:

• Accessible Sports Facilities Design Guidelines
• Accessible Sports Stadia Design Guidelines
• Accessible Outdoor Places Design Guidelines
• Accessible Sports Clubs Design Guidelines
• Guidance Notes: Sports Pavilions
• Guidance Notes: Boxing Facilities

Committing to excellence when upgrading existing sport and leisure facilities and outdoor places by implementing the advice and recommendations within the above guidelines.

Considering Disability Sport NI’s Inclusive Sports Facilities (ISF) Accreditation Scheme for your sport or leisure facility.

Aspiring to meet best practice in terms of management of sport and leisure facilities and outdoor places by considering the advice and recommendations within the following guidelines:

• Accessible Sports Facilities Management Guidelines
• Accessible Sports Stadia Management Guidelines

Committing to provide regular training to all staff and volunteers on how to support and include disabled people, with various accessibility needs, in sport and physical activity.

How to get involved

We are inviting organisations to sign the charter and pledge to enhance access for disabled people in sport, leisure and outdoor recreation facilities by completing the form below and returning to email@dsni.co.uk:

Accessible Facilities Charter Application Form