Established in 1984, YMCAfit is one of the UK's leading trainers of fitness professionals. We have developed the largest portfolio of fitness training products available in the UK. As a charity, YMCAfit is guided by the belief that every member of society should be able to access the health benefits of regular physical activity.

Adult Learning Award 2008
NIACE Award for ground breaking project to train, qualify and employ 200 unemployed black minority or ethnic women from London in the Fitness Industry (YMCAfit’s LDA/ESF co funded project).

Lifetime of Achievement Award 2004
Robin Gargrave, Director of YMCAfit, received the Register of Exercise Professionals Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 for "professional excellence as well as making a significant contribution to the industry, making positive difference to their clients' and customers' levels of fitness and quality of life and demonstrating a commitment to raising standards within the sector."

The National Training Award for Standard and Excellence 1992
By developing a training programme for exercise and fitness teachers the London Central YMCA has ensured the high quality of its own courses and set standards of excellence in exercise teacher training.

YMCAfit is committed to raising standards in the fitness industry by ensuring that the instructors we train have the skills knowledge and confidence to not just perform their role but to exceed the expectations of employers and customers. We aim to produce instructors who inspire the broadest possible range of people to improve their health and physical fitness. YMCAfit trained instructors provide excellent customer care and go the extra mile to help ensure their clients gain and maintain the exercise habit regardless of their ability and background. We work to ensure those most disadvantaged and least likely to participate are provided with access and opportunity to gain the health benefits of regular physical activity.

YMCAfit is part of Central YMCA, a large registered charity, established in 1844 and the world's founding YMCA. Central YMCA works at local, national and international levels to improve standards in health and fitness provision, participation and education.

About the YMCA in England

In England, each individual YMCA is an independent charity, focussing its energies and skills within its own communities and providing many examples of superb work. YMCAs work in lots of different ways and each one you visit will probably be very different from any other. With regard to a national structure, autonomous YMCA associations affiliate to what is called the National Council of YMCAs - also known as YMCA England. Currently, there are some 140 independent YMCAs affiliated to the National Council of YMCAs. If viewed as one, ‘the YMCA’ is usually most readily associated with social housing for young people, youth training programmes, fitness qualifications and exercise facilities.