To officially open our UNIQUE service for children & adults with a disability.
Saturday May 13th 9am-3pm
Unit 9, Gilchrist Close, Bessemer Road, Norwich NR4 6AT
Able2B will officially open its new gym extension and services as part of their Grand Open Day.
Having grown from strength to strength Able2B has shown that combining EXPERT MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE alongside EXPERIENCED TRAINERS can lead to huge improvements in day to day outcomes above and beyond that expected by most people.
Their unique systems in adapting fitness training for complex physical and learning disabilities means that even those with severe disability can benefit from their services.
Their expansion, partly funded by a Government Innovate Grant and the European Regional Development Fund, will see them open a ‘Swimspa Room’ to offer adapted water based training, developing their methods that have been so successful on land into the water. Their Frame Running Club will be officially launched (an olympic sport for disabled individuals who are unable to run without support) as well as their Adapted Massage to help reduce spasticity and tone and Rebound Therapy Services for the severely disabled individuals. They will also be showcasing a new rig system allowing individuals who cannot weight bear the chance to be in a vertical standing position with the option to gradually introduce body weight as and when they become stronger.
They believe their service is unique in the UK and the biggest setting specifically to support all disabilities (physical, learning, behavioural, sight-impaired, hearing impaired) including complex neurodisability where control and stability are a major issue.
Cofounded by two former Sprowston High School Pupils, Rachael Hutchinson, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Jon Thaxton, former British and European Boxing Champion, it is something Norfolk should be proud of developing and Able2B hopes is the start of expanding nationally and internationally.
Able2B is a community interest company set up to develop services that help improve function for children and adults with a disability.
The initiative was developed in 2016 by Rachael Hutchinson, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Jon Thaxton, retired boxer and personal trainer. The aim was to help people with a disability optimise their aerobic fitness and muscle strength as well as improve their concentration and self confidence in a fun way.
The service has gradually built from a single small class in a local boxing club to having received the Active Norfolk Award for ‘Services to Disability Sport’ in 2017 & 2018. Receiving backing from JustforChildren and Irwin Mitchell Solicitors enabled us to move to a new adapted gym site at 9, Gilchrist Close, Norwich NR4 6AT. In just four years we now have multiple contracts with schools, businesses and other organisations and over 200 clients a week, offering both face to face and virtual services.
One thing that is clear from our classes is that they not only offer a way to improve cardiovascular fitness, but also improve self-belief, concentration and self-confidence.
Having chronic illnesses or receiving a diagnosis of a chronic problem later in life can lead to a loss of self-belief in what might be possible for the individual.
Using Jon’s experience in motivational work and our experience in working around medical problems and the issues that may occur we can achieve outcomes that make a massive difference to day to day life.
We are also able to offer advice to schools and local businesses with regards to inclusivity, work experience and employment, in the aim to improve opportunities for teenagers and young adults with a disability.
Our aim is to help individuals whatever their problems to Discover their Ability and show their family, friends and society what is possible if you just believe.
