CIMSPA new chair of EmployAbility Leisure Strategic Partners Group

The EmployAbility Leisure Strategic Partners Group is entering its next phase, as Activity Alliance hands over the secretariat of the group to the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).

Over the past year, Activity Alliance has chaired the group and continued to build momentum around its shared commitment to ensuring disabled people have equal opportunities to pursue careers in the physical activity and leisure sector. CIMSPA is well placed to continue this important work and drive progress across the sector.

Following the publication of the EmployAbility Leisure evaluation summary last year, partners have worked together to develop an action plan focused on three priorities:

• Promoting careers in leisure as viable and attractive to disabled people
• Building workforce confidence and knowledge around employing disabled people
• Encouraging inclusive workplace cultures across employers, training providers and awarding bodies

Members are embedding this action plan within their organisational priorities, helping to move inclusion into everyday practice.

Over the past year, the group has also shifted its focus beyond promoting the EmployAbility Leisure guides alone, working towards greater system and sector-wide influence. This includes coordinating communications, mapping related EDI groups and programmes, and strengthening alignment across organisations to maximise impact.

The group is delighted that the EmployAbility Leisure guides are now embedded within the Moving to Inclusion framework, providing a central hub for inclusive resources. Working with Sport England the guidance is now featured on the resources & support page of the Moving to Inclusion website.  All employers, training providers, and professionals are encouraged to use and share them, ensuring the leisure workforce reflects the diversity of the communities it serves.

• Guide A – Training and working in the fitness and leisure sector: for disabled people exploring careers in the industry. 

• Guide B – Training disabled learners in the fitness and leisure sector: for training providers and awarding bodies. 

• Guide C – Employing disabled people in the fitness and leisure sector: for employers seeking to become disability confident. 

Partners also collaborated on coordinated communications for National Inclusion Week 2025, with lived experience remaining central to the group’s work. A from Sport England featured  Michelle Felix, a visually impaired instructor and experienced inclusion specialist, whilst UK featured Sam James, an award-winning disability fitness specialist with Cerebral Palsy,

InstructAbility graduates continue to play a key role, and the group welcomes contact from other graduates who may wish to contribute.

Colin Huffen, Associate Director for regulation and standards at CIMSPA will be the secretariate for 2026 and said:

"I’m delighted we have the opportunity to take the baton from our friends at Activity Alliance, they’ve done a great job in their stewardship of the group and we hope to continue the great work breaking down the barriers for disabled people in participating and working in leisure facilities."

The EmployAbility Leisure Strategic Partners Group includes Activity Alliance, CIMSPA, Sport England, ukactive, UK Coaching, Community Leisure UK, Exercise, Movement and Dance UK, and InstructAbility graduates Michelle Felix (Michelle Felix Group) and Sam James (InclusFit).