Our Story
HELPING YOU DISCOVER YOUR ABILITY
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 has enabled us to move to a new adapted gym site at Norwich Clinic, 9, Gilchrist Close, Norwich NR4 6AT, so that we can develop this concept further, reaching a wider audience.
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.
Having learnt from our initial classes and being in our own facility, allows us to expand the initial concept to offer classes to other client groups-such as those with learning difficulties, the deaf and partially sighted, post stroke and heart attack patients, diabetes and obesity.
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.
If you are interested in developing classes with full medical support for a specific group of people, please contact us to discuss further
Where are we now?
Due to our success and high demand for our service, we have employed a whole team! This means that we can offer more sessions and classes.
Recently, we have extended our facility so we have double the space and excitingly part of this is a hydrotherapy pool!
We have started a frame running club, which is a brilliant disability sport! We run this at our local University Sports track.
Who We Are
Not Forgetting…..Our Brilliant Volunteers
Able2B Client Experience
See why Sam brings her children to Able2B.
Able2B prides itself in understanding that self-belief and building confidence are just as important as improving your physical function.
Providing an environment where each person can feel supported is an essential part of our services.
Harper's Story
Harper has Cerebral Palsy and wasn’t able to walk. We helped build her strength and coordination and supported her through SDR surgery and beyond.
Harper now walks INDEPENDANTLY!!!
Making her visits to Able2B fun and part of the family routine allows for a sense of normality and also means we can adjust her sessions to grow with her as she gets older and her ability improves.
She LOVES coming to Able2B and sees Ella has her ‘twin princess’ and one of her friends.
Building relationships with clients and their families is a priority for the team at Able2B.
“If we hadn’t found Able2B she wouldn’t be doing what she’s doing now, she’s learned everything here”
Steve Sharrocks – Harper’s Dad
At Able2B we recognise the importance of mindset.
With a chronic condition, it is very easy to focus on what can’t be done and what was lost rather than remembering what might be possible.
We 100% focus on the positives in EVERY individual to optimise what can be used to supplement the parts that are not working so well.
The results speak for themselves!
We help all ages
We can help individuals from 0-100+ years!!
We have clients with congenital diseases and those with acquired disability such as after a stroke or head injury, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and many more.
We pride ourselves in working with clients with no voluntary movement and also with very severe behavioural and learning disabilities.
At Able2B we will NOT turn anyone away. We can’t always promise success and that we will get it right all the time, but we will drive forwards with passion, give it our best efforts and have some fun too!!!
Social Prescribing
Able2B’s methods are a great example of social prescribing benefitting the individual and society.
We can show how, in a very cost effective way, large numbers of individuals with chronic conditions can be supported to improve their outcomes over a long period of time.
Working alongside NHS and public sector organisations could lead to a much more effective and cheaper system of care.