Leisure activities
Sports and fitness
Many of Salford's Fit City leisure centres are accessible and you're welcome to join in with any of the sessions. Fit City Clarendon is an Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) accredited centre. This means that special consideration is given to disabled people. There are specially designated car parking spaces, easy ground floor access, modified exercise machines and a fully inclusive exercise programme.
There are a number of disabled sports groups in the city. If you're interested in more gentle exercise, you might try a health walk - these are organised walks for small groups taking place across the city.
Leisure concessions
Cinemas
Some cinemas have subtitled and audio-described films for people with sensory impairments. If you recieve Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance or are registered blind, you can apply for a Cinema Exhibitor Association (CEA) card which allows you to take a carer to the cinema for free .
Football clubs
There are many football clubs with disabled players and many clubs also offer disabled fans discounts and support for entry into the stadium. You may also want to join the National Association of Disabled Supporters. Check before you visit to find out if your team offers discounts and what evidence you will need to provide.
Disability Arts Online is a web journal that gives disabled and deaf artists, performers, film-makers, writers, and critics a place to talk about developing artistic practice and accessing the arts.
Theme parks and other days out
Most major theme parks have concessions for disabled children, ask before you travel to find out what evidence you will need to bring with you. It's normally the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) award letter but it's always worth confirming to avoid any disappointments or difficulties. Children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are often anxious and might find queuing difficult. Many theme parks issue a band to children who have proof of receipt of DLA so they can bypass queues allowing them to go straight on to rides. They often allow a limited number of the child's friends or their carer to accompany them as the child is not expected to use the rides alone. This can make your child with OCD very popular with siblings on days out!
- Alton Towers have concessions for the disabled person and up to two helpers.
- Madame Tussauds welcome guests with disabilities and one helper without charge to the attraction but they require documentary proof of disability ie blue/orange badge or similar.
- Chessington World of Adventures offer discounted rates for disabled guests and up to two carers.
- Legoland offer free entry for the carer who is looking after the child for the day, as always documentary evidence will be required.
- Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire offer discounts for disabled visitors and easy entry on to rides.
- Drayton Manor Park and Zoo offer discounts for the disabled person and their carer on the day.
- The Eden Project in Cornwall offer one free entry for the carer when accompanied by the disabled person.
- Warwick Arts Centre allow disabled visitors to bring a companion or carer with them free of charge subject to availability.
- Howletts and Port Lympne Wildlife Park offers discounted rates for disabled children.
- Legoland offer free admission for registered personal assistants with documented proof of disability.
- Lightwater Valley offer discounted rates for the disabled person and up to two helpers on proof of disability.
- Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire offer concessions for the disabled person and a carer at their discretion.
- Thorpe Park in Surrey offer concessions for disabled children and their carer.
- The Mayflower Theatre in Southampton offer discounts for disabled people and companions. These discounts are not available for all performances.
- Hatton Country World in Hatton offer discounted rates for the disabled person and the carer enters free of any charge.
This page was last updated on 10 January 2011
