HFE show ‘good practice’ template for sport-based rehabilitation
Health and Fitness Education Limited (HFE) is an education provider for the health and fitness sector, and its partnership with the Prisoners’ Education Trust (PET) offers offenders a priceless chance of rehabilitation and employment in a fast-growing industry.
By giving prisoners the chance to gain qualifications and linking them up with potential employment opportunities post-release, HFE gives offenders a tangible opportunity to turn their lives around.
HFE’s partnership with the PET is a great template for education providers in the sport and physical activity sector for working effectively in the Secure Estate.
By offering practical qualifications that boost employability and feature solid links with potential employers at the end of an offender’s sentence, HFE provides support all the way through the journey of rehabilitation.
By February 2019, HFE had supported over 100 learners in prisons. As well as providing a range of different courses with self-study options, unlimited support and access to comprehensive learning materials, its wider goal goes beyond merely gaining the qualifications. It also aims to help learners realise their potential, gain new knowledge and develop practical skills.
Every course leads to an internationally-recognised qualification endorsed by the industry’s professional bodies (YMCA Awards, Active IQ, SkillsActive, REPs, CIMSPA).
New HFE graduates are linked with potential recruitment opportunities from employers such as The Gym Group and Virgin Active through the CV Connect service.
Josh Douglas-Walton, HFE Marketing Manager, said: “HFE specialises in personal trainer courses, exercise to music, yoga, Pilates, special populations and exercise specialist qualifications. We go far and beyond the standard framework for these courses, offering our students the chance to gain a broader and deeper level of knowledge, skills and confidence.
“When our graduates go out into the world, they are not only incredibly employable, but also desired by the biggest gym, health club and leisure chains in the country. We also instil a confidence in them that they can go on to craft a successful business centered on themselves.”
Justin Coleman, Co-Founder and Secretariat for the Alliance of Sport for the Desistance of Crime, commented: “These courses, starting inside custodial settings and finishing in the community with successful education and employment outcomes, follow the most effective model for effective long-term rehabilitation through sport, health and physical activity.
“HFE set an outstanding example to the Alliance of Sport’s Community of Practice in ensuring the programme inside prisons and the criminal justice system holds a long-term impact, as well as being a central part of the health and fitness journey.”
To find out more about HFE’s courses, visit the website, https://www.hfe.co.uk/
Visit the website of key Alliance of Sport supporter the Prisoners’ Education Trust here: https://www.prisonerseducation.org.uk/