InstructAbility, the award-winning programme providing fitness instructor training for people with disabilities, is to roll out courses across the north of England for the first time this year.

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.

Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield will be the first northern venue to host the programme as part of its expansion. A selection day is being held on 25 February and anyone interested in taking part is encouraged to apply now. There are also plans to run courses in Liverpool and Manchester later in the year.

Hilary Farmiloe, InstructAbility national project manager, said: “The first InstructAbility courses started in London three years ago and they have proved a real success for supporting disabled people into the workforce, and in turn making gyms more welcoming for disabled customers.

“Thanks to Sport England funding we have been able to expand to other regions and I am excited to have our first course in the northern region based in Sheffield and we are planning other courses in Liverpool and Manchester.”

Once qualified through InstructAbility, instructors are placed within gyms to gain work experience and to encourage other disabled people to get active. The free programme is open to any disabled people aged 16 and upwards and more than 50 per cent of graduates have been offered paid work following successful work placements.

For more information, visit the Aspire website.