Working in partnership with Essex Carers Network CIC, the organisation has received support from the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Learning Disability and Autism Health Equalities Programme to purchase 12 specialist wheelchair-accessible weighing scales.

The investment is designed to address a long-standing gap in equitable access to routine healthcare, particularly for wheelchair users attending annual health checks and other health appointments where accurate weight measurement is required.

Evidence gathered by Essex Carers Network from families and carers highlighted the barriers many wheelchair users face when healthcare settings do not have accessible equipment. The issue is particularly important when weight is needed to calculate safe medication dosage or monitor changes in health and wellbeing.

Wendy Burt, CEO of Essex Carers Network, said: 'We regularly hear from families about the barriers they face during health appointments, particularly when environments or equipment are not accessible for their family member with disabilities.

'A recurring challenge is the lack of wheelchair-accessible scales. This becomes especially concerning when accurate weight is essential for safe medication dosing, as getting it wrong can have a direct impact on a person’s health and wellbeing. Our families already experience significant health inequalities, and gaps like this only widen that divide.'

The new portable scales will be located in leisure venues that already host Sport for Confidence’s Reconnect and Good Food, Good Moves programmes. This will allow individuals, carers, families and healthcare professionals to access accurate weight measurement in a familiar, community-based setting.

Sport for Confidence said the initiative offers a practical and non-intrusive way to improve access to essential health data, while also supporting wider awareness of inclusive practice across the health and leisure sectors.

Victoria Chesterman, occupational therapist at Sport for Confidence, said: 'This investment helps tackle a clear and longstanding inequality in healthcare access. Being able to monitor weight is something many people take for granted, yet for wheelchair users it can be a significant barrier.

'Making these scales available is a practical step towards ensuring everyone has access to the same standard of care and that no one is disadvantaged by the environment or equipment available to them.'

The successful funding bid will improve access to a vital service for wheelchair users and their families, while highlighting the role that leisure venues can play in supporting community health, prevention and more inclusive local services.

Wheelchair-accessible scales are now available free of charge at Clacton Leisure Centre, Colchester Leisure World, Witham Leisure Centre, Chelmsford Riverside Leisure Centre, The Brentwood Centre, Basildon Sporting Village, Canvey Island Leisure Centre and The Lord Butler Leisure Centre in Saffron Walden.

sportforconfidence.com.