Training courses to help Shropshire gym staff work with recovering Covid sufferers
The trust that runs several Shropshire leisure centres is rolling out a new programme to help gym teams deal with customers who have been affected by coronavirus.
Shropshire Community Leisure Trust announced its Rebuild programme from training provider CAWS at its gyms across the county. The course aims to inform, educate, and prepare gym teams dealing with customers who have been affected by Covid-19 and are seeking guidance and support.
Certified coaches will be equipped to work with individuals recovering from Covid-19 and long Covid after the acute phase.
Shropshire Community Leisure Trust has responsibility for running and developing the Whitchurch Swimming Centre, Market Drayton Swimming Pool, Oswestry Leisure Centre, Shrewsbury Sports Village and The Quarry Swimming Pool on behalf of Shropshire Council, in partnership with Serco Leisure.
The Rebuild course is run virtually using content provided by world-class fitness coaches, athletes and subject matter experts. There are over 150 hours of video presentations ready-prepared to support gym teams keen to develop the skills needed to assist people who have lived with Covid-19.
The programme is recognised across Europe as the leading education course in Covid-19 rehabilitation for fitness and sports professionals.
Chris Stanbrook, contract manager for the trust, said: “As we approach the potential reopening date of April 12 for gyms and fitness facilities, it’s vital that our teams are expertly prepared to deal with the unique challenge presented by the Covid era.
"We’ve been running safety training and refresher courses during lockdowns, but the Covid-focused programme from CAWS was something that really stood out as adding value to our health and fitness offering.
“Rebuild is proving popular with our gym team who see this new type of training as adding greatly to their customer-focused skillsets. By April 12, We will have four gym staff fully qualified and ready to expertly assist those customers who’ve experienced Covid-19 at its most direct level.”
CAWS developed the Rebuild programme in direct response to the needs of individuals who have lived with Covid-19. The initiative has been personally funded by co-founders, managing director Mel Spooner and education director Dr Colin Robertson.
Mel Spooner said: “We’re delighted to be teaming up with Shropshire Community Leisure Trust to offer our Rebuild programme. As an operator, they’ve seen the necessary expertise this brings to their teams working the gym floor and just as importantly, the added value it brings to their customers who’ll be returning to much-missed facilities having lived with Covid-19.”
Dr Colin Robertson said: “As a sector we’ve made some big claims with regard to our place in this, being preventative and part of the solution. Now is the opportunity for us to step up and deliver that.
"If we get this right, if we start to work with people and have that broader impact, we can grow exercise participation as a whole beyond where it’s been sat for the last 25 years easily, just by getting the right messages across now. We’re extremely grateful to Shropshire Community Leisure Trust joining the initiative, as together we can help far more people who are seeking help.”
For further updates, visit shropshireleisurecentres.com.
