EDUCATION - SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
Accessible outdoor gym provides an exciting and stimulating outdoor activity for the pupils of the Southcote Centre, enhancing their physical and mental wellbeing.
Kings International College, part of The Bourne Education Trust , is a school who welcome children from Year 7 to Year 11. The school opened the Southcote Centre, in partnership with Philip Southcote, to provide outstanding SEN provision for children in Surrey.
The challenge was to design and install a selection of outdoor gym equipment pieces to provide an exciting and stimulating outdoor activity for the pupils of the Southcote Centre to enhance their physical and mental wellbeing.
An engaging, innovative and diverse fitness solution that the children love! To ensure the outdoor gym was inclusive to all children at the centre, wheelchair accessible products were included in the selection.
Their 11-piece, 21 user outdoor gym included:
Combi: Pull Down and Chest Press - this strength building piece of equipment has been created to offer the benefits of a chest press and a pull-down challenger all on one frame.
Accessible Combi: Pull Down and Chest Press - specifically designed for wheelchair users. It has an innovative design that works in union with the user’s own wheelchair, to allow for a dual upper body workout – a chest press and a pull-down challenger. Builds strength in the chest arms and back whilst allowing for socialisation as two users can use it at the same time.
Cardio Combi - a combination of our 2 most popular pieces of outdoor gym equipment, the Cardio Combi combines the Double Air Walker with the Air Skier, to develop muscular and heart strength, flexibility and balance.
Accessible Arm and Pedal Bike - a fantastic, low impact piece of equipment that enables the user to position their chair in front of the frame and use the equipment whilst seated. Simple yet effective low impact pedals develop cardiovascular fitness, strength and tone in the arms and legs while improving coordination, cardiovascular strength and core stability.
Leg Lift Station - used for strength building, our Leg Lift Station has been designed for users to perform knee raises and leg lifts. Beginners can start with knee raises, building strength and tone in the core and upper thighs, while more advanced users can perform leg lifts, a much tougher exercise, working the same muscles. The solid frame has handles positioned at the back of the frame, for neutral and lateral grip pull-ups.
Seated Leg Press – a great alternative to traditional squats and the seated position means less strain on the knees. Once seated, users simply push away from the frame and the resistance is provided by a user’s body weight, which is a low impact route to muscle strengthening and development.
Arm and Pedal Bike – the arm and pedal bike is a fantastic, low impact piece of equipment that allows a user to sit whilst exercising and the upright position offers good back support. It improves flexibility, strengthens the core and provides an excellent cardiovascular exercise.
Rider – similar to a rower, but positioned upright, users push with their legs while pulling with their arms against resistance, moving their entire body up and down. Setting their own pace, moving as quickly or slowly as they choose, building cardio strength, stamina and muscular strength.
Twist & Step - a two in one piece of equipment designed for users to do supported step or rotational exercises supported by a bar to hold and support the body to improve flexibility, core strength and cardio fitness.
Double sit up benches - specially designed to provide safe, yet intense core workout, our Double Sit Up Benches. Perfect for back extensions, crunches or twists, the benches allow users to work the length of their abdominal muscles. The frame can also be used for triceps dips, incline and decline press-ups to further build upper body strength.
T'ai Chi Spinners - patting your head and rubbing your tummy is a classic example of where the ‘movement centres’ of the brain are trying to process and send signals for two different movement tasks at the same time. The brilliant T’ai Chi spinners induce the same bilateral movements of the arms, calling upon the motor cortices across the brain’s hemispheres during exercise, meaning you get a body and mind workout simultaneously.
A wonderful, 11-piece, 21 user inclusive outdoor gym that provides a wide variety of fitness solutions. Supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of children attending the centre now and in the future.
This has been a fantastic project to work on. Meeting the needs of the site, boosting the physical and emotional wellbeing of children attending schools now and those who will attend in the future, it's wonderful.
TOM WILLOCK, MANAGING DIRECTOR, FRESH AIR FITNESS