Lifetime Training launches certificate to develop person-centred skills at ukactive Vanguard event

Lifetime Training launched the new Certificate in Physical Activity Coaching to leading authorities in health, sport and exercise medicine at ukactive’s recent Vanguard event.

Currently in its pilot phase, the new course has been designed to equip health and fitness professionals with the skills to engage less active people. Instructors are taught how to conduct person-centred, motivating and supportive conversations about becoming and staying more active: a skill that significantly changes the approach of a consultation and the resulting levels of client engagement. Developed in consultation with the Academy for Health Coaching and led by Dr Tim Anstiss, it is underpinned by robust scientific theories, such as self-determination and self-efficacy, which are informed by the latest research findings from behaviour change and proven physical activity interventions.

By adopting this approach, aligning more closely with public health practice, the programme could act as the catalyst to create closer links to health, improve the professional credibility of the fitness industry and kick start new opportunities. The inherent skills covered by the course will effectively form a professional and operational bridge for the health and fitness industry to create a key pathway in support of a more active nation.

Nigel Wallace, Client Services Director at Lifetime Training, which sponsored this key event, explained: “Increasingly inactivity is viewed as more of an issue than obesity. ukactive’s Vanguard event provided us with the ideal platform to discuss the importance of supporting individuals who have not exercised previously. As an industry we need to develop this person-centred skill set, as it has the potential to have a massive impact on the client’s motivation to buy-in to exercise. These skills are very trainable and have the potential to be a real game-changer.”

The Vanguard event, entitled ‘Understanding the Efficacy Gap: The evidence for physical activity’, was held at the Royal College of Nursing in central London. It included a focus group and speakers such as Professor Greg Whyte OBE, Professor Ulf Ekelund from Cambridge University, Professor John Buckley from British Association of Sport and Exercise Science as well as members of ukactive’s Scientific Advisory Board.

David Stalker, CEO, ukactive, commented: “The ukactive Research Institute has gone from strength to strength over the past twelve months and this event is a great example of that. Thanks to its sponsoring organisations like Lifetime Training, the Institute is now able to attract top academics from around Europe to conduct critical work around the issue of inactivity.”

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Editor’s notes:
Lifetime Training is one of the UK’s largest vocational training providers. Established in 1995, it now delivers innovative training programmes to more than 20,000 people a year. More than 250 Lifetime trainers and tutors work directly with learners at over 3,000 workplaces and educational centres in order to deliver on both educational and business needs. Lifetime Training is the 2014 Flame Awards Supplier of the Year.
www.lifetimetraining.co.uk

For further information contact:
Abigail Harris at Big Fish Public Relations
Tel: 07738 331019
Email: abigail@bigfishpublicrelations.co.uk

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