It was clear, there was, and is significant demand for this
“From our Local Skills Accountability Board (LSAB) meeting we had many members of the board express a keen interest and need for chair-based exercise courses across Derbyshire. It was clear, there was, and is significant demand for this.
These insights led us to partner up with one of our 3 star ‘Enhancing’ training provider partners AMAC, to put on today’s bespoke course with the goal of developing the delegates’ skill set and knowledge in understanding, planning and delivering chair-based exercise sessions which focus on appropriate exercises to improve aerobic fitness, muscular strength, mobility and flexibility in frailer older adults and disabled adults.
“This in turn presents opportunities for local practitioners to get the quality assured training they need in order to meet the demand of clients across the county, and ultimately bridge that skills gap.
“As with any project we’ll then come together as a board to analyse the impact of the session and how we will continue to move forward in bringing together local employers, education providers, and employability-focused organisations to effectively and efficiently match supply and demand in Derbyshire.”
Including chair-based exercise into our weekly programmes will really benefit our people in becoming more active
During the day we caught up with Al Didridge, Day Service Manager at Community Links in Spondon, Derby, who was keen to learn about chair-based exercise so he can qualify as an instructor and ensure he has provision to safely and effectively help everybody he works with to maintain an active lifestyle.
“I want to learn how I can incorporate these skills into our service where we support people who have a range of learning disabilities and autism.
“Some of our people are physically able, others are not so physically able, and as such It’s really important to us that we have the right qualifications, so we can deliver this type of training safely to the people we support on a daily basis.
“Quality is really important to us, when we heard CIMSPA, with their reputation, were recommending a quality endorsed course, we decided to choose this course.
“We have a firm passion for health and wellbeing, we like to take people on long walks, go swimming, but of course not everybody we work with can do those things. Including chair-based exercise into our weekly programmes will really benefit our people in becoming more active.”
The Training Academy gives us that reassurance that means we’re confident we’ll get to the level we need
We then asked Al how he felt about this course being listed on the CIMSPA Training Academy for Sport & Physical Activity and therefore coming with the assurance that the training provider AMAC are one of our highest quality assured training provider partners.
“It’s really important for us to know we are getting high quality training, and the Training Academy gives us that reassurance that means we’re confident we’ll get to the level we need to be able to deliver this course to our people.
“It also means we get training we know adheres to standards from a health and safety perspective.”
I’ve taken away so much more than I ever could have envisaged
At the end of the full day’s training we spoke with Abdul Khayum, who works at Derby Arena as a Health and Wellbeing Advisor. We asked Abdul how the training had been for him.
“It’s been an eye opener. I came as open book because I wanted to learn what I could. I’ve taken away so much more than I ever could have envisaged.
“Honestly, mind blown. Mind blown!
“I work with a lot of people in wheelchairs, people with visual and hearing impairments, and others that have a variety of accessibility needs. Therefore, my focus is to work on what these people can do in the comfort of their own home.
“We all use a chair when we’re at home and I’m trying to drive that education and engrain into my people’s minds that even doing just the basic chair-based exercises can really help.
“It’s not always about making people stronger; I want to get people moving first and get some longevity in keeping them active and ultimately enhancing their quality of life.”
I’m hungry to embrace this approach and teach people what I’ve learnt
Based on what Abdul had learnt that day, we asked him about what the next steps would look like for himself and his clients.
“I want to get a class running as there is definitely a need for this. I’m hungry to embrace this approach and teach people what I’ve learnt, and the beauty is it doesn’t need to be in a studio, it can be anywhere.
“It’s just opening people’s eyes to a new way of training.”
Abdul then went on to tell us about what it meant to him to know that this course had been booked through the Training Academy for Sport and Physical Activity, and as such he knew it was an ‘Enhancing’ training provider partner who had been quality assured by CIMSPA.
“Without CIMSPA’s accreditation of this course I’m not sure it passes the acid test. We’ve done courses over the years, and they’ve not always been accredited, or have been accredited by providers who have now been dissolved. I question whether that qualification actually means anything anymore?
“Having CIMSPA there telling us it’s accredited lets us know its top quality. You can rest assured that you are learning quality and driving quality. That’s what it’s all about.”
People can trust they are going to get a good experience with you
Sarah Bolitho delivered the course for AMAC, a 3 star ‘Enhancing’ quality assured CIMSPA training provider. We caught up with Sarah during the day to get her take on what quality assurance means to her.
“It’s something I’m really passionate about, not only getting that ‘Enhancing’ training provider status, but maintaining it. I strongly believe in quality assurance and having high standards, so that people can trust they are going to get a good experience with you.
“Being on the Training Academy means that people can get all our course information from a trusted source. It’s not just like stumbling upon a website, CIMSPA have done all of their checks and have accepted that provider into the Training Academy.”
They know they are getting the ‘real deal’
Sarah then went on to give her thoughts on how the Training Academy is thought of among the delegates on the course.
“I think it’s important as they know they are getting the ‘real deal’, they know they are getting something where both the organisation providing the session and the delivery of that course have been checked and approved.
“This gives people that trust factor, and let’s face it when people know, like and trust you they come back, they want to do more, they refer people to you and that word of mouth is invaluable for us providers.
“Having that trust then drives myself and AMAC to continually improve, there is no resting on your laurels. It’s all about driving positive experiences.”
Creating a positive experience and continually improving the customer experience
Sarah concluded by telling us a bit more about her approach and her drive to push herself and other instructors to continually improve.
“It’s all about driving improvement. I want good instructors out there who are safe and effective, and therefore clients can trust them.
“I offer ongoing support, when the course finishes, delegates can contact me, they can reach out and ask questions as and when they think of them and that is part and parcel of creating a positive experience and continually improving the customer experience.”
Giving back to those sections of society who really need, and are reliant upon, the support we can offer
As a hugely impactful training session concluded it was clear that many of the learners had not only enjoyed the day but had been inspired by the potential impact of what they had learnt.
Courses like this offer unique opportunities to positively influence the local community and have a tangible impact on improving people’s quality of life. Whilst the physical benefits are undeniable, it was apparent how much learners realised the significance of the mental and social health benefits of chair-based exercise.
There was a definite excitement and eagerness to implement the skills that had been learnt, and at the prospect of giving back to those sections of society who really need, and are reliant upon, the support we can offer.
Moorways Sports Village in Derby was the venue for the recent Training Academy chair-based exercise course where like-minded sport and physical activity professionals were in attendance to develop their skills and understanding in leading seated exercise classes for frailer older adults and disabled adults.
Training Academy is packed full of CPD and skills development opportunities that are exclusively delivered by providers who have achieved CIMSPA’s highest quality assurance and meet the sectors relevant professional standards.
