Upskilling courses (CPDs)

Perinatal Fitness
Older Adults
Long-Term Conditions
Menopause
Advanced Nutrition
Emergency First Aid
Safeguarding for Fitness Professionals
Mental Wellbeing for Fitness Professionals

Ante and Post Natal

Empower the women of your local community to stay strong, healthy, and confident throughout their pregnancy and into the postnatal period.

Our Level 3 Award in Perinatal Physical Activity teaches ways to design safe and effective exercise programmes for perinatal women. These skills can be transferred to group exercise classes or one-to-one sessions with perinatal clients. Importantly, upon achievement, trainers meet the requirements and professional standards laid out by CIMSPA to work with antenatal and postnatal clients.

What’s included:

How to support exercise, physical activity, health, and wellbeing during the perinatal period (pregnancy and postnatal).
Designing exercise sessions that are appropriate for healthy perinatal patients without complications.
Understanding when to redirect clients to other health services, such as a medical professional.

Learning format:

Delivered either via 4 tutor-led online sessions or face to face in the classroom by well qualified, experienced industry professionals.
Independent study each week.
4 assessment tasks, including open book questions and 2 case studies.
Modules delivered through our intuitive digital platform Suada.

Qualification:

Next Generation Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Participation in Physical Activity – Perinatal

Hours:

Older Adults

Older Adults are one of the fastest-growing demographic groups in the UK.

This course teaches fitness professionals how to create effective, safe, and engaging exercise programmes for older people who are in overall good health.

What’s included:

How to plan safe and effective sessions for older adults.
Physiological and anatomical changes of aging.
Benefits of exercise for the aging population
Working with older adults beyond exercise, including social interaction, nutrition, and healthcare referral.
Exercise modifications for different conditions and abilities.
Identifying cases when exercise isn’t recommended.

Learning format:

Delivered either via 4 tutor-led online sessions or face to face in the classroom by well qualified, experienced industry professionals.
Independent study each week.
4 assessment tasks, including questions on Suada, information resources, and 2 case studies.
Modules delivered through our intuitive digital platform Suada.
Learners must attend all 4 sessions.

Qualification:

Next Generation Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Participation in Physical Activity – Older Adults

Hours:

Long-Term Conditions

Our Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Clients with
Long-term Conditions provides the knowledge and understanding needed to offer specialised fitness services to those with long-term conditions and broaden the community reach of your membership base. Trainers will learn how to create customised fitness plans for these clients, helping them lead healthier and more active lives to better manage the symptoms of their long-term conditions.

What’s included:

Applied anatomy and physiology.
Overview of the UK health landscape and reasons for an increasing health problem.
Cause of diseases, physiology, and medical lifestyle management of long-term conditions.
How to plan and adapt exercise safely and effectively for clients with long-term conditions.
Behaviour-change theories and techniques to apply on clients with
long-term conditions.

Learning format:

Delivered either via 4 tutor-led online sessions orface to face in the classroom by well qualified, experienced industry professionals.
Independent study each week.
Assessment tasks, including 5 eAssessments and 2 written case studies.
Modules delivered through our intuitive digital platform Suada.
Learners must attend all 4 sessions.

Qualification:

Active IQ Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Clients with Long-Term Conditions

Hours:

196

Menopause

Menopause brings new challenges, such as changes in hormones and energy levels, which can impact athletic performance. This course covers ways to empower women at this stage of life through their health and wellbeing. Students learn how to create tailored exercise routines to help women gain confidence and be active in a way that works with rather than against their menopausal symptoms.

What’s included:

Fundamentals of menopause and the implications for health and wellbeing.
The effect of declining hormones on health and wellbeing for individuals transitioning through menopause.
Programming and adapting exercise to support management of menopause and menopausal symptoms.

Learning format:

Delivered either via 4 tutor-led online sessions or face to face in the classroom by well qualified, experienced industry professionals
Independent study each week.
5 assessment tasks, including 2 presentations, 2 professional discussions, and 1 case study
Modules delivered through our intuitive digital platform Suada.
Learners must attend all 4 sessions.

Qualification:

Next Generation Level 3 Award in Supporting Participation in Physical Activity - Menopause

Hours:

Advanced Nutrition

What’s included:

Nutrition for physical activity and exercise.
Structure and functions of the digestive system.
Applied nutrition for exercise, sport, and athletic performance.
Supplements, performance aids, and hydration for sports performance.
Providing dietary advice to support the needs of different athletes and sports people.

Learning format:

Delivered either via 6 tutor-led online sessions or face to face in the classroom by well qualified, experienced industry professionals
Independent study each week.
Assessment tasks, including 2 nutritional case studies and open-book exams.
Modules delivered through our intuitive digital platform Suada.
Learners must attend all 4 sessions.

Qualification:

YMCA Awards Level 4 Certificate in Advanced Nutrition, Health, Weight Management, and Sports Performance

Hours:

309

The way we eat and fuel our bodies is closely connected to our physical wellbeing and performance. Our Level 4 Next Gen Nutrition course will provide your trainers with a deeper understanding of the ways that food impacts our energy levels, athletic performance, and overall wellbeing. Our Nutrition course is fully endorsed and supported by the Association for Nutrition (AfN) and meets the CIMSPA professional standard.

Emergency First Aid

What’s included:

Roles and responsibilities of a first aider
How to conduct a scene survey and casualty survey.
First aid techniques for people who are choking or unresponsive.
How to put a casualty into the recovery position
Performing CPR.
Identifying and managing casualties with external bleeding, shock, minor burns, and scalds.

Learning format:

One face-to-face session.
Practical assessment at end of course.

Qualification: YMCA Awards Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work

Hours:

It is essential for all staff to hold an up-to-date emergency first aid qualification as a minimum to ensure they can respond quickly and effectively to accidents or medical emergencies. With clients regularly engaging in physical activity, the risk of injuries, cardiac events, or sudden health issues increases. First aid training enables staff to provide immediate care, potentially preventing serious complications and even saving lives. It also demonstrates professional responsibility and ensures compliance with health and safety regulations, enhancing the credibility and safety standards of the business.

Safeguarding For Fitness Professionals

Our safeguarding training course is designed to equip fitness professionals with the knowledge and skills to protect children, young people, and vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Why is Safeguarding Training Important
for Fitness Professionals?

Fitness professionals have a legal and ethical responsibility to safeguard individuals under their care by complying with UK laws and industry standards. They must be able to recognise and respond to signs of abuse and neglect, taking appropriate action when necessary. Creating a safe environment is essential to providing a supportive and secure space for all clients while preventing potential harm. Upholding professionalism and trust help build confidence among clients and parents, reinforcing the reputation of fitness professionals. Additionally, adhering to safeguarding policies ensures compliance for organisations, reducing liability risks and promoting a safer practice.

What’s included:

Recognising signs of abuse.
Responding appropriately to concerns.
Legal responsibilities.
Creating a safe environment within fitness settings.

(Source: FAW, 2022)

The training also includes case studies and best practices to help professionals apply safeguarding principles in applicable scenarios.
This training is crucial for anyone working with children and vulnerable individuals in fitness environments to ensure their well-being and safety.

Learning format:

One day face-to-face or online tutor-led session.
Summary assessment at end of course.

Qualification: YMCAfit Safeguarding for Fitness Professionals

Hours:

Mental Wellbeing For Fitness Professionals

Our mental wellbeing course is designed to provide foundational knowledge on mental health and how it relates to physical fitness. It aims to outline what mental health is, how it is classified and illustrates the prevalence of mental health conditions in the UK. Furthermore, the course explores the relationship between mental health and physical activity. This training is essential for fitness professionals to provide holistic support, ensuring both physical and mental well-being for their clients.

Why is Mental Wellbeing Training Important
to Fitness Professionals?

Understanding mental health helps fitness professionals better support clients facing motivation, stress, or anxiety, leading to improved results. By recognising mental barriers, trainers can tailor workouts that boost both physical and emotional well-being. This fosters stronger professional relationships through effective communication, building trust and ultimately increasing client retention and satisfaction. Creating a safe and supportive environment within the gym or training space promotes inclusivity, making clients feel comfortable and valued. Additionally, an awareness of mental health ensures that fitness professionals uphold ethical and professional standards, knowing when to refer clients to specialist support.

What’s included:

Understanding Mental Wellbeing including mental health, stress, anxiety and depression.
How physical activity impacts mental health and vice versa.
How to engage clients positively, build trust, and offer support.
When and how to refer clients to mental health professionals.

Learning format:

One day face-to-face or online tutor-led session
Summary assessment at end of course

Qualification: YMCAfit Mental Wellbeing for Fitness Professionals