InstructAbility, an award winning training programme providing fitness industry training for people with disabilities, has announced a raft of new courses for 2014.

Created by spinal cord injury charity, Aspire and YMCAfit, the programme offers participants the opportunity to gain a level 2 gym instructor qualification and gives them support to find a job in the fitness industry.

The current programme - open to any disabled people aged 16 and upwards - also includes a CYQ Level 3 Exercise & Disability module which qualifies instructors to work with disabled clients.

So far, successful graduates have involved people with spinal cord injury, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, limb loss, depression and loss of function caused by stroke or brain injury.

“We want to dispel the idea that you have to be a 20-something with ripped muscles and who looks good in lycra to work in the fitness industry,” says Hilary Farmiloe, InstructAbility national project manager.

“By widening the demographic of the workforce, we can widen the range of people who feel comfortable to come in and use the gym.”

Students come from a range of backgrounds, from those who have lost jobs due to their impairment, as well as injured service personnel and those injured through sport or who are competing in para sport/ Paralympics.

The 19-week course is divided into two phases. The first is designed to give participants the skills, knowledge and confidence to begin their fitness career. Successful completion will lead to an internationally recognised qualification, the CYQ Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing and a level 3 disability and exercise qualification.

Phase two sees qualified disabled instructors undertake a 12 week (3 days/week) voluntary placement in a public or private fitness gym. Volunteer instructors will undertake community outreach to engage other disabled people in fitness and exercise sessions.

On completion of the programme instructors are encouraged to continue volunteering or progress into paid employment.

For more course details see the Aspire website