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InstructAbility

Working with Aspire, a national charity supporting people with spinal cord injuries, YMCAfit has developed InstructAbility, a targeted project designed to introduce and increase the numbers of disabled people becoming fitness instructors.

InstructAbility proactively supports and trains those with disabilities to hopefully secure employment in the fitness and leisure sectors. It is hoped that this will help tackle the massive under-representation and the prejudice which people with disabilities who work in the health and fitness sector still face.

Denise Page, Director of YMCAfit explains: “We hope that learners will overcome barriers specific to the fitness sector and disability, such as a lack of disabled role models, difficulty accessing training and work venues, and an assessment structure which can be impractical for certain participants”. 

Watch the video to discover more about InstructAbility

Gym Instructor course

The program involves participation in our Gym Instructor course, a fifteen day course designed to give you the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to begin your fitness career.

Successful completion of the course will lead to an internationally recognised qualification, the CYQ Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing.

The second phase of the program involves a six week work placement to be undertaken at a local IFI gym, two days a week. During this time you will gain valuable work experience and the potential to find full time or casual work in the industry.

Prerequisites

To enrol you must be:

  • disabled
  • over 16 years old
  • unemployed
  • experienced and/or knowledge in using gym equipment
  • able to complete a pre-course assessment
  • available to attend an induction

Course dates

To find out about upcoming courses or for more information, please contact Hilary Farmiloe, Aspire Inclusion Manager, on 
020 8420 6730 (office), 07917 822977 (mobile) or via email.