What happens when you bring together people who are passionate about inclusion, lived experience and the power of movement?
In Mobilates’ case, you get inspiring conversations, new ideas, plenty of laughter and a whole conference dancing along to Steps!
Recently, Mobilates headed to Birmingham for the Include to Improve Celebration Conference, bringing movement, music and a shared passion for making physical activity more inclusive.
Celebrating Include to Improve
Include to Improve is a Sport England-funded programme led by Sport for Confidence, working alongside Activity Alliance to bring lived experience into the heart of the sport and physical activity sector.
The conference brought together members of the Lived Experience Network (LEN), Strategic Partner Network (SPN) and others involved in the programme to celebrate achievements, share learning and reflect on what comes next.
Mobilates has been involved through the Strategic Partner Network, while instructor Suzanne has also been part of the programme for the past two years in her role as a Peer Advocate with Sport for Confidence.
This has created a valuable connection between the two organisations, allowing ideas, experiences and learning to be shared and translated into practical changes.
The celebration was particularly special because Suzanne and Leanne had been invited to deliver a session to the whole conference, sharing some of the learning from the partnership and, of course, giving everyone the opportunity to experience a little Mobilates movement for themselves!
From a Hotel-Room Rehearsal to a Conference-Wide Disco!
Of course, the preparation wasn’t all formal!
After travelling to Birmingham, Suzanne and Leanne enjoyed dinner together before deciding that one final rehearsal was needed. So Suzanne’s hotel room became their temporary rehearsal studio for the evening as they practised their presentation and movement session.
There was plenty of laughter, a few last-minute adjustments and probably some wondering what the other hotel guests might think!
The following day, it was time to put all that preparation into practice.
Suzanne and Leanne shared how the partnership between Mobilates and Include to Improve has influenced their thinking and helped develop more inclusive approaches to physical activity.
But they didn’t just want to talk about Mobilates – they wanted everyone to experience it!
With Walking on Sunshine setting the mood, the whole conference was soon moving together, followed by a seated disco to Steps’ 5, 6, 7, 8!
Seeing everyone joining in, moving in their own way and having fun was a wonderful reminder that inclusive movement can be accessible, engaging and, above all, enjoyable.
And judging by the smiles around the room, it certainly was!
More Than Participation – Creating Opportunities to Lead
For both Suzanne and Leanne, the conference had a particularly personal significance.
Both work in the physical activity sector while also bringing their own lived experiences of disability and long-term health conditions. They understand inclusion from different perspectives – as participants, instructors and people helping to shape how physical activity is delivered.
As Leanne reflected afterwards, inclusion isn’t just about making sport and physical activity accessible to disabled people as participants. It’s also about ensuring disabled people have opportunities to become instructors, volunteers, employees, leaders and decision-makers.
In her words:
“I want more people like me to be able to see people like me in this industry.”
It’s a message that resonates strongly with Mobilates.
Creating welcoming and accessible classes is incredibly important, but inclusion shouldn’t stop there. What happens when someone wants to take the next step?
When they want to share their experiences, develop new skills or become an instructor themselves?
These are questions Mobilates is actively exploring as it develops its inclusive workforce model, looking at how people with lived experience can be supported to gain qualifications, access mentoring and develop opportunities to teach and contribute to the organisation.
Suzanne’s own journey, combining her professional experience in physical activity with her lived experience and her role as a Peer Advocate, demonstrates the value of bringing these perspectives together.
The aim is not simply to encourage more disabled people into existing opportunities, but to consider how those opportunities can be designed differently so that more people have the chance to succeed.
Breaking Down Barriers – Starting with a Conversation
One of the conversations that particularly resonated with Leanne during the conference was about traditional health screening forms, including the PAR-Q questionnaires often used before someone starts exercising.
For people living with multiple long-term health conditions, these forms can mean ticking ‘yes’ to numerous questions before they’ve even had the opportunity to take part.
While keeping people safe is essential, it raises an important question: could some of the systems designed to protect people actually be creating unnecessary barriers?
As Leanne reflected afterwards, perhaps the starting point should be a different question:
“How can we help you move safely from where you are today?”
This is an approach that already sits at the heart of Mobilates.
Before joining a class, members have a conversation with Leanne about their individual needs, experiences and what might help them participate confidently.
Rather than focusing solely on medical conditions or what someone might find difficult, the emphasis is on understanding the person, exploring adaptations and identifying what will help them succeed.
It doesn’t mean ignoring genuine risks. It means considering them alongside each person’s abilities, goals and circumstances.
Sometimes, breaking down barriers begins with something as simple as asking a different question.
A Partnership That Creates Change
One of the most valuable aspects of Mobilates’ involvement with Include to Improve has been the opportunity to turn conversations and shared experiences into meaningful changes.
Through the Strategic Partner Network, Mobilates has been able to learn from people with lived experience, share ideas with other organisations and reflect on how its own approaches could become even more inclusive.
One example is the introduction of the Mobilates Movement Passport, an idea inspired by conversations at the very first Strategic Partner Network event. The passport gives members an opportunity to share information about their needs, preferences and what helps them feel comfortable and confident when taking part in movement.
Mobilates has also been exploring how to better support its instructors, including asking a simple but important question:
“What can we do to help you thrive in this role?”
This has encouraged more open conversations about reasonable adjustments, individual needs and the different ways people can be supported in their work.
These developments are part of a wider commitment to creating an environment where people feel listened to, valued and able to contribute.
They also demonstrate that inclusion isn’t something that happens through one meeting, one policy or one project. It’s an ongoing process of listening, learning, adapting and being willing to do things differently.
And sometimes, the smallest changes can make a significant difference.
Celebrating Together and Looking Ahead
It was also lovely to have fellow Mobilates team member Santana attending the conference as part of the Include to Improve Lived Experience Network (LEN).
Having three members of the Mobilates team involved in different ways was another reminder of the importance of creating opportunities for people with lived experience to contribute, share their perspectives and help shape the future of physical activity.
The conference was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate everything that has been achieved through Include to Improve, reconnect with people, share experiences and reflect on what comes next.
For Mobilates, the partnership has created opportunities to learn, develop new ideas and think differently about inclusion, both for members taking part in classes and for those who might want to become part of the workforce.
And, of course, there were some brilliant memories made along the way!
From dinner and a hotel-room rehearsal to getting an entire conference moving to Steps, it was certainly a celebration to remember.
Because inclusion isn’t just about making space for people to participate. It’s about creating opportunities for everyone to belong, contribute and thrive.
Mobilates CIC provides inclusive, adapted exercise for people living with long term health conditions, chronic pain, fatigue and disability.
We create safe, welcoming spaces to move, connect and build confidence in what your body CAN do, whether you join a class in person, online, or from your bed. We’re led by lived experience and powered by community. Together, we’re redefining what movement can look like.
💗 Join Da Mob: www.mobilates.com
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