Accessible Facilities

Discover more about how the University of Birmingham Sport & Fitness’ accessible facilities can cater for users with temporary, situational or permanent physical, vision or hearing impairments.

 

We actively encourage people of all abilities to develop their health and fitness. As a result, our club has been specially designed with accessibility in mind.

An image of the Sport & Fitness building with gardens in the forefront.
Upstairs gym area at Sport & Fitness - with lots of equipment including running machines. Along with the UoB Lion on the wall.

Accessible Equipment in the Gym

Inside the gym, we have a range of Inclusive Fitness Initiative accredited equipment. This equipment is specifically designed for users with physical impairments, such as limited or no vision, to train effectively and comfortably.

Please see FAQ’s below for more details on specific equipment. 

More about the gym

Pool Accessibility

The 50-metre pool has a manual hoist to assist people who experience difficulty getting into or out of the pool. In addition to a set of movable steps and a lift that enables wheelchair-bound and partially mobile users to easily access the pool.

Despite the pool being located on the lower ground floor, it can be accessed via the lifts at either end of the building. 

 

Alta Disabled Swim Club are a friendly swimming club who use the pool on Sundays between 1.00pm – 2.00pm. If you would like to become a member of the Alta Disabled Swim Club please email our Sales team.

Member doing butterfly stroke in the pool at Sport & Fitness.
Individuals working out in a yoga class, stretching on cushioned mats.

Accessibile Classes

All our classes can be adapted to suit your individual needs. Our instructors are fully qualified and happy to discuss specific needs privately at the start of the class.

 

If you have any questions about our classes, please email our Participation team.

 

Studio 1, the Cycle Studio and the Ergo Studio are located on the ground floor. Studio 2 and the Dojo are located on the second floor but can be accessed easily via the lift.

Class timetable

Facility Hire

We have extensive experience hosting events for disabled groups, such as wheelchair basketball tournaments and the Birmingham Inclusive Sport Festival. 


If you are interested in hiring our facilities for a recreational booking or an event, please complete our facility hire form to discuss your enquiry.

Facility Hire
Aerial shot of the Munrow Arena hosting a wheelchair basketball event
Men's football team playing football on Bournbrook 3G.

Sports Clubs

Our sports clubs are accessible to all students, staff and community members. Therefore, all training sessions and activities can be tailored to specific needs.

Discover our Sports Clubs

Getting to Sport & Fitness

Sport & Fitness has a dedicated car park for members and users of the club. There are 18 disabled spaces available to vehicles displaying a valid blue badge. The entrance to the car park is located on Edgbaston Park Road.

The campus mobility map provides further information on finding us, and also accessing services and buildings around campus

Campus Map
University of Birmingham Sport & Fitness club sign on the outside of the building

Accessibility FAQ's

Sport & Fitness

Sport & Fitness provides step-free access around the entire building. There are two lifts located within Sport & Fitness, allowing you to access each floor.

  • The first lift is located on your first right turn after the reception desk, which takes you down to the Swimming Pool, or up to the Gym, Studio 2 and the Performance Centre.
  • The second lift is located at the end of the corridor, next to Studio 1, and this will take you to the Squash Courts and the Dojo.

There are also lifts located in different areas of the facilities. Due to there being two levels within the Gym, there is a lift providing access to the lower level, located near the stairs.

The pool also has two portable units and one fixed, supporting you to get into the shallow end.

Within the Sport & Fitness car park, there are accessible bays on all levels. We, therefore, have a lift which allows you to access each level and head into and out of Sport & Fitness with ease.

Bournbrook 3G, Hockey Pitches and Tennis/Netball Courts

Our pitches are located directly in front of Sport & Fitness, and in order to access these, you should access from the Bristol Road side, via the two car parks.

Athletics Track

The Athletics Track is step free through both entrances which are access via ramps. One of these is through the Tennis Court Accommodation and the other is through the walkway in between Park House and BIA.

Metchley 3G

Metchley 3G is completely step free.

If you have any further questions in regards to access to our facilities, please contact us at [email protected] . 

Sport & Fitness

Lockers

Accessible lockers are located in the main corridor in Sport & Fitness, along with additional lockers within the Swimming Pool changing rooms.

Accessible changing rooms with showers and toilets

Alongside the accessible lockers in the main corridor of Sport & Fitness, there is also a gender neutral accessible changing and toilet facility. Within each single sex changing room, there are also inclusive and accessible changing cubicles, open to all.

 

Sport & Fitness has Changing Places cubicles – which are provided to help those who need support from equipment or other individuals. These are located both on the ground floor and the lower ground floor. In order to access these, you will need a radar key, please ask reception if you need one. 

 

All changing rooms within the Swimming Pool are gender neutral, and there are also dedicated accessible cubicles.

Bournbrook Pavillion

Next to Bournbrook 3G are the changing rooms and toilets used for activities on pitches and courts. All changing rooms here are gender neutral, and relate to whichever team is needing the changing rooms at that time.

 

There is also both an accessible toilet and a changing room cubicle here.

Metchley 3G

Metchley 3G has no changing rooms, but has accessible toilet facilities.

Athletics Track

The athletics track has both an accessible toilet, as well as an accessible changing room with a shower.

In the Gym

  • Technogym Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) resistance machines (swing away seats for wheel chair access, high visibility adjustors, lower height access) – Upper Gym
    • Chest Press
    • Shoulder Press
    • Low Row
    • Leg Extension
    • Leg Curl
    • Leg Press
  • Concept2 Rower with accessible seat (wider base with lower back support) – Upper Gym
  • Technogym Arm Bike – detachable seat for wheel chair access or standing – Upper Gym
  • Technogym Cable Machines – easily adjustable cable columns, upper and lower body attachments – Upper and Lower Gym

We can support you by demonstrating and supporting members with using the accessible equipment, offering support and advice.

At the pool 

We have a pool hoist at the pool to support members in getting in and out of the swimming pool. 

In our classes

[Helen, is there anything you want to highlight?]

Throughout the facilities, there is always someone available to support you, whatever you may need.

 

Our gym experts are on hand to assist you with any equipment you are unsure on how to work and help to guide you through a session. We also have 1-2-1 sessions which members can book to develop a personalised workout plan.

 

Our class instructors can adapt any class to suit your needs. Please speak to your instructors at the start of your session to let them know of any support you may need. You can also email [email protected] ahead of your session.

 

There are always lifeguards on hand down at the pool. So, should you need assistance here, they are there for your support.

 

We will always do our best to accommodate our guest and your needs. If you have any specific questions or requests, please email [email protected].

Yes, please call us ahead of your visit and we can ensure that someone is on hand to show you around the facilities.

Generally, the quietest times in the gym are early-mid mornings during the week, and afternoons on the weekend. 

 

[ANY INFORMATION ON OTHER AREAS?]

There is a dedicated space for prayer located at the Guild of Students. Please refer to the campus map to find your way there. 

Gym instructor supporting a member of staff.
A member lifting weights in the gym.
Member working out in the gym.

AccessAble

If you’d like to find out more, please head to the AccessAble website for detailed information and a breakdown of each area of our facilities.

AccessAble
This is my favourite part of the gym. Particularly Laura's classes and cycle with Paul. Both are excellent instructors, supportive and inclusive.
Staff are very helpful, facilities are varied and very accessible. I haven't used the swimming facilities yet so can't comment. The classes are very well planned and engaging. Instructors do a great job
I have enjoyed being a member at sport and fitness. I had a swim membership which has been great. I have loved seeing how accessible and inclusive the pool is for disabled members
I would like to compliment the sports centre on all-round excellent disability and deaf awareness from all staff. Whatever you are doing in training works very well in practice. Frontline staff know to keep excellent customer service and friendliness if they are unsure about something while seeking advice from duty managers and the managers respond super quickly. I needed to use the pool lift a lot in 2021 and 2022 and found the staff universally supportive and helpful. Staff quickly learned who I was and would use gestures like thumbs up and big smiles to communicate with me as I hear nothing without my hearing aids. I was well supported to use the accessible changing facilities which have visual emergency alarms. I hope to be back using your services in the future and I do recommend your centre as brilliantly deaf and disabled aware. I used to work for UoB in the disability team and I've used a lot of other services and never found such consistent good disability awareness at frontline upwards. So please do pass my compliments to both management and all of your staff

Website Accessibility

Firstly, we aim to make our website accessible to all, as outlined in our Accessibility Statement.

Secondly, we’re always looking to improve our website. Therefore, if you experience any problems not listed on the Accessibility Statement page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, please email [email protected].