Being active should be something everyone can enjoy.

But for many disabled people and people living with long-term health conditions, there can be barriers that make being active feel more difficult. It might be uncertainty about whether a venue is accessible, not knowing what to expect when arriving, concerns about communication, or simply not feeling confident that an activity is designed with people like them in mind.

At Lambeth Can Move, we want to help make it easier for everyone to find opportunities to be active in a way that works for them.

That’s why we’ve brought together a range of practical resources to help people get active, while also supporting the organisations delivering activities to think differently about accessibility and inclusion.

Starting with what works for you

Being active doesn’t have to mean joining a gym or playing competitive sport.

It could be walking, swimming, dancing, cycling, gentle exercise at home, or taking part in an activity in your local community. What matters is finding something that works for you, at a pace that feels comfortable.

For disabled people and people living with long-term health conditions, knowing where to start can sometimes be the hardest part.

Activity Alliance’s Being Active Guide provides practical advice on the benefits of being active, building confidence, choosing activities that suit you and overcoming some of the common barriers people can face.

And if you’re not sure what your options are, our Roadmap to Being Active can help you understand the different types of activities and support available, as well as where you can go for further advice.

Once you’re ready to explore what’s available locally, you can use the Lambeth Can Move Activity Finder to discover activities taking place across the borough.

Making inclusion part of the whole experience

But creating accessible activity isn’t just about helping people find an activity.

It’s also about making sure people feel confident and welcome when they get there.

For organisations running activities, accessibility can sometimes feel like something that requires major changes, specialist equipment or significant investment.

But it doesn’t always have to.

Often, small changes can make a big difference.

It can be as simple as clearly explaining whether there is step-free access, letting people know what to expect when they arrive, providing information about toilets and seating, using clear and accessible communication, or asking someone what support they need rather than making assumptions.

Accessibility starts before someone arrives and continues throughout their experience.

Five things you can do:

We’ve identified five simple ways that activity providers and community organisations can make their opportunities more inclusive:

Ask, don’t assume.
Everyone’s needs, experiences and abilities are different. Talking to people about what would help them take part is often more useful than making assumptions about what they need.

Share accessibility information.
Give people the information they need to plan ahead. This could include details about parking, step-free access, toilets, seating, quieter spaces and what they can expect when they arrive.

Think about the whole experience.
Consider every stage of someone's journey – from finding your activity and travelling there, to arriving, taking part and being able to provide feedback afterwards.

Use clear, inclusive communication.
Simple language, clear signage and accessible formats can make information easier for more people to understand.

Keep learning and improving.
There isn’t always a perfect answer. Ask people about their experiences, involve people with lived experience and use their feedback to make improvements over time.

Creating inclusive opportunities is an ongoing process.

Looking beyond the activity

Making activity accessible also means thinking about the spaces and places where activity happens.

Activity Alliance’s  Access for All: Creating Accessible Places and Spaces guide provides practical ideas to help organisations think about entrances, facilities, signage, communication, travel and arrival.

It’s about looking at the environment around an activity and asking: what could make it easier for someone to take part?

And importantly, accessibility shouldn’t be designed around an imagined “typical” participant.

Every person is different.

Our Taking a Person-centred Approach resource encourages organisations to understand people's individual motivations, experiences and support needs, while involving communities in shaping activities and learning from their feedback.

Creating change together

We know that one organisation can’t remove every barrier to being active.

Creating genuinely inclusive opportunities takes collaboration – between activity providers, community organisations, disabled people, people living with long-term health conditions and the wider organisations and services that influence people’s lives.

The more we listen, learn and share what works, the more we can make activity feel like an option for everyone.

That’s why we’re proud to bring together these resources from Activity Alliance alongside local opportunities through Lambeth Can Move.

Whether you’re looking for your first activity, supporting someone else to become more active, or running an activity in your community, there are practical steps we can all take.

Because making activity accessible for everyone doesn’t always start with a big change. Sometimes, it starts with asking a better question, removing one barrier, or making someone feel that an activity is genuinely for them.