H2O Xtream achieves Gold with Halberg Trust

Upper Hutt Council's H2O Xtream aquatic facility recently achieved the prestigious SportAccess Gold Award from the Halberg Trust.

Committed to "honouring sporting excellence and linking people with a disability to sport and active leisure" the Trust's the objective of the SportAccess is to "develop and increase accessible sports clubs and facilities that provide sustainable inclusive sport and physical recreation opportunities for disabled people."

H2O Xtream's Aquatics Operations Manager, Kerry Granshaw, who applied for the award, said she was humbled by the experience, stating "the process of the application made me look at every aspect of this facility, on every level, and from a very specific perspective. Although we'd felt we were already doing well in this area, the process really opened my eyes to see just how much more deliberate we could be in our approach to accessibility across the whole organisation."

H2O Xtream is the seventh facility to receive the SportsAccess Gold Award, making it also the second aquatic facility, and the first facility outside of Auckland.

Upper Hutt Mayor, Wayne Guppy, who has also been advocating the Halberg Trust's No Exceptions Training programme, was excited about the presentation, adding "this is a very significant award for us. We are serious about inclusiveness and value for all people in the services we provide. It is fantastic to gain such prestigious recognition but more importantly, knowing that the entire process has added significant value to our offering as well."

For more information on the Halberg Trust's SportAccess Awards, go to www.halberg.co.nz

12th October 2009 - WOMENS ONLY SWIM NIGHT AT H2O XTREAM