A pilot fitness and wellness programme being run by the Mayo Roscommon Local Area Employment Service, in conjunction with The Movement Castlebar, is proving to be a great success.
Revitalise 360° got underway last month and the eight-week programme sees men and women between ages 18 and 25 who are finding it a challenge to get back onto the workforce learn about fitness in the gym, yoga and fitness classes, injury prevention and rehab and exercise to music. There is also education on nutrition, food plans and a body analysis scan.
As well as the sporting side, the course gives them a free gym membership and they can also get a EQF Level 3 gym instructor qualification is they choose to pursue that avenue. There is also support if they wish to go down another avenue for career development and they will be offered career guidance.
Marian Robinson, Team Leader at the Mayo Roscommon Local Area Employment Service, said: “We’re trying to engage in a more meaningful, purposeful way with men and women who are having difficult to get back into the workforce.”
Orlagh Denneny, Programme Manager, said: “It’s to give them the confidence to get up and try again. They’re making friendships and building a little community among themselves. They seem delighted.
“You make them feel valued. They are part of something bigger than themselves. They have support after. It’s not like a cliff edge where you finish this and there’s nothing. They engage with ourselves and our case worker Sophie.”
“They have developed a relationship with the service so they’re not coming in intimidated. We’re genuinely trying to support them and guide them to the right place.”
Andy Moran, owner of The Movement, is delighted with how the course has gone and believes the programme can be rolled out across Mayo and Roscommon.
“It’s been brilliant. The biggest thing is we put them is through a system, see how it works and then we can analyse it see how they can improve going forward.
“We’re four weeks in, the response has been brilliant and we hope it keeps going in that direction. Hopefully, we can push this course throughout Mayo and Roscommon.”
Being able to work with the people in the course on a one-to-one basis, Andy has seen first-hand the obstacles people on the course have encountered in returning to both sport and employment and he hopes The Movement can play it’s part.
“It’s huge and for us, if we can help cut that down in any shape or form for a couple of people, I think that’s key.
“It’s to give people the kickstart to try and get back to, I suppose what we define as, a normal way of living, back into something they’re interested in. If it diverges into another path, that’s fine. If it’s sport, great. It’s to give them the kickstart to get back into moving again.”
Andy added: “We’re getting to know their personalities. In fairness to all the lads on the course, they’ve go into the activities and there’s a wide range from mindfulness to drug and alcohol awareness, to the sporting side and to giving them a gym instructor qualification. They’ve made their own little team and they’re backing other. It’s great.”