Kingdom

Kingdom Fitness

Training Those Who Care

Kingdom Fitness is a not-for-profit organisation which seeks to serve the community by providing good quality, low cost training, designed specifically for carers and volunteers who work with, or plan to work with, older people.  

The training course provides the knowledge, skills and confidence required to set up and run community groups for older people, where safe and simple exercise advice may be given which will help improve and maintain health, strength and independence, along with opportunities for exciting, fun packed social events, educational activities, simple health checks and pastoral care...

Below is a summary of the contents of our web site

About Us:  Kingdom Fitness grew out of the successful community exercise programme, 'Younger for Longer' ^© which was inaugurated in Wimborne, Dorset, in January 2000 by a Registered Nurse who was also an exercise instructor and personal trainer.   The number of classes in the programme rapidly increased to 16, totalling 321 participants, 88% of whom have continued attending long term.   There were also requests to run several additional classes within a 30 mile radius indicating the need to train more teachers.  

The Y4L exercise programme offers a variety of exercise sessions: seated sessions for less active older people, exercise to prevent falls and injuries, cardiac rehabilitation sessions, circuit training sessions, exercise to music for active older people.  In addition a variety of other opportunities are provided: learning new things, for example, a number of older people have recently gained the OCN 'Learning Champions' certificate, helping to enrich the lives of others, for example, taking part in the 'Operation Christmas Child' appeal, day trips to parks, houses and places of interest, 'bring & share' lunches and teas, 'Carols by Candlelight' Services at Christmas.  The sessions take place in a variety of venues: private homes, retirement flats, sheltered accommodation, church and community halls, luncheon clubs

The Increasing Need:  It is well known that many older people in the UK live alone (Census 2001), and we are aware that the Wimborne programme is only reaching the tip of the iceberg. As in many other countries around the world, the average age of the population of the UK is increasing, in fact The World Health Organisation estimates that by the year 2020 there will be two billion people who are 60 years of age or more and it is estimated that by the year 2050, for the first time in history there will be more older people than children living on the earth (Laurence, 2006).

Research has shown that: many older people in the UK today experience social isolation and an unnecessary decline in health and wellbeing. For example, 25% of older people report that they have no close friends and 33% see the supermarket as being the best place to socialise, 1 in 5 eating their meals there rather than eating alone at home (Age Concern, 2005).   Studies by Help the Aged, 2007 revealed that one and a half million older people feel socially isolated, nearly 300,000 stating that they can go for a whole month without speaking to a member of the family or to a neighbour

Research has also shown that regular physical activity decreases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity and also has a role in preventing falls among older people (Department of Health, 2007).  And evidence suggests that it is never too late for older people to learn (Age Concern, 2007).   However, many older people in the UK lack the encouragement, motivation, transport or finances required to enjoy their lives to the full, for opportunities that are affordable, beneficial and of interest to older people are becoming more and more difficult to find.  

Kingdom Fitness has been established in order to help address this ever growing need.

Our vision is to see an abundance of community groups, day centres and luncheon clubs across the UK where a wide range of needs are being met - physical, social, emotional, cognitive and spiritual; where at least one member of staff has the knowledge, confidence and skills required to provide a range of activities that will enrich the lives of those in their care, improving health, quality of life and feelings of self worth.  We will seek to realise this vision by offering good quality, evidence based training which has been designed specifically for those working with older people and which provides the knowledge, skills and confidence required to deliver this much needed service, adapting the training in order to meet the specific needs and requirements of individual applicants and care providers, seeking to attract funding which will help to keep the costs low,  working in partnership with other organisations in order to maintain quality assurance, keeping our tutors and students up to date with the results of relevant research

Our mission: We are passionate in our desire to train dedicated individuals who share our vision to promote the health and well-being of this valuable group in our society.   We believe that by working together, we will be able to guarantee easy access to opportunities that will help to maintain health, strength and independence, enhance feelings of self worth and enrich the lives of countless older people, thereby ensuring that no older person is forced to live a lonely, isolated life which is devoid of meaningful relationships.  

Our course: We have one basic course that may be adapted to meet individual requirements resulting in two main qualifications. 

The full course results in the: Life Enrichment Facilitator for Older People Diploma.  This is ideal for anyone intending to set up new community groups for older and less able people, church members working with older people, voluntary workers, day centre staff, luncheon club staff and community club staff.  The full course will give caring people the knowledge, competence and confidence required to: set up and run new community groups for older people in their church, village or community hall, e.g. new luncheon clubs & new exercise groups, ensure that they meet the requirements of the law, develop the provision of existing community groups, assess a persons levels of general health, fitness and lifestyle

And to offer some or all of the following: safe, simple yet effective evidence based exercise advice to generally fit and healthy older people, including a variety of exercises that will help improve and maintain the health, strength, mobility and independence of older people, safe, simple yet effective evidence based exercise advice to older people suffering with chronic diseases and conditions associated with ageing, for example, exercises to prevent falls and injuries, exercises to improve the cardiovascular system, fun and social interaction, e.g. 'Holiday in the Hall', day trips, tea dances, lifelong learning opportunities, e.g. participation in the 'Dark Horse Project', simple health checks, e.g. monitoring of blood pressure, gentle advice and guidance concerning changes required for a more healthy lifestyle, pastoral care, opportunities for older people to help enrich the lives of others.   By doing this, countless numbers of older people will be assisted to live life to the full and avoid the loneliness, isolation, low self esteem, ill health, falls, injuries, loss of mobility and independence that might otherwise be theirs.  They will know that they are valued, loved and cared for, and will have the opportunity to show that they still have an important role to play in the community.

Where required some units may be omitted resulting in the: Diploma in Teaching Therapeutic Exercise to Older People.   This is ideal for healthcare professionals, healthcare support workers, carers, exercise instructors, anyone who wish to help an older person to improve & maintain their health, strength and quality of life and anyone wanting to know how to safely maintain their own health, strength, mobility and independence without the expense of joining a leisure centre or club.   The shortened course will give caring people the knowledge, competence and confidence required to give safe, simple yet effective evidence based exercise advice to older people suffering with chronic diseases and conditions associated with ageing, for example, exercises to prevent falls and injuries, exercises to improve the cardiovascular system, give safe, simple yet effective evidence based exercise advice to generally fit and healthy older people, including a variety of exercises that will help improve and maintain health, strength, mobility and independence, ensure that they meet the requirements of the law, set up and run new exercise groups for older people in the community, assess a persons levels of general health, fitness and lifestyle, perform simple health checks, e.g. monitoring of blood pressure, give gentle advice and guidance concerning changes required for a more healthy lifestyle.  By doing this, countless numbers of older people will be assisted to live life to the full, maintaining health strength and independence and avoiding falls, injuries and other health problems.

Three additional qualifications may be gained where required: Level 2 Essential Food Hygiene Certificate, Level 2 Literacy, Level 2 Numeracy

Advice will be given to all students concerning possible progression and further training, for example: Healthcare Training: nursing, healthcare support worker, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, Exercise Instructor Training: phase lV cardiac rehabilitation, postural stability instructor, G.P. referral consultant, personal trainer, Teacher Training: diploma for teaching in the lifelong learning sector, B.A. degree in post compulsory education & training, assessor award, verifier award, Other Training: first aid at work, health & safety, level 3 award in supervising food safety in catering, nutrition, counselling,

Syllabus: This is a very practical course, however it is vitally important that the skills gained are founded upon a good understanding of sound, evidence based theory, both are therefore included in the course syllabus. 

Module 1 the human body, basic human needs, introduction to good nutrition  

Module 2 the effects of ageing, diseases & conditions associated with ageing, relevant medications, promoting safety in the home & the prevention of accidents

Module 3 communication skills, equality & diversity, data protection, health, safety & risk assessment, basic first aid, CPR skills, manual handling, business awareness - staying within the law

Module 4 promoting an active lifestyle, principles of exercise, evidence based exercise for people with ongoing health conditions & diseases associated with ageing, planning to teach a range of safe & simple exercises to older people, teaching a range of safe & simple exercises to older people, evaluating the session and own performance

Module 5 can older people really learn new things?  promoting lifelong learning, overcoming barriers to learning, learning styles, providing learning opportunities

Module 6 providing opportunities for pastoral care & counselling, providing opportunities for social interaction, organising 'holidays in the hall', going 'the extra mile'

Both 'Younger for Longer' ^© and Kingdom Fitness have been delighted to receive support for their work from several organisations, we thank them all most sincerely for their generosity.  

Help the Aged In 2003 the Retail Division made a grant of £2000 to assist in the setting up of the 'Younger for Longer' ^© Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise sessions and in 2006, the Community Services Division of Help the Aged made a grant of £3500 to assist Kingdom Fitness pilot the new training course for carers and volunteers in Wimborne.   

East Dorset District Council In 2003 East District District Council helped to set up the Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise sessions by kindly donating £500, this contributed to the cost of two static exercise bikes. 

The Co-operative Foundation In 2006 the Co-operative Foundation kindly donated £435 which was used to purchase four 'Little Annie' resuscitation dummies which are used to teach Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation to people attending the Younger 4 Longer exercise sessions as well as to students attending the Kingdom Fitness training course. 

The Anchor Foundation In 2006 the Anchor Foundation kindly donated £785 which was used to purchase an Epsom projector which is used to make PowerPoint and other audio-visual presentations throughout the course. 

The Seedbed Trust In 2007 the Seedbed Trust kindly donated £5,000 to be used as required in the training of volunteers. 

If you would like to join the above and help to support the work of Younger 4 Longer and/or Kingdom Fitness we would love to hear from you, or please send a donation to the Registered Charity - EqY4L - Number 1112382.

Kingdom fitness is ideal for anyone working with older people and provides good quality training courses: Exercise teacher training prevention falls, exercise ageing, exercise teacher training phase lV cardiac rehabilitation, training course for teaching exercise to prevent falls and injuries: Exercise to prevent falls and injuries for healthcare workers, Exercise to prevent falls and injuries for volunteers, C.P.D courses for Exercise professionals, C.P.D courses for fitness instructors, C.P.D courses for healthcare professionals.  Exercise Teacher Training for Care workers working with elderly people, giving care in the community, Exercise Teacher Training for Healthcare Professionals who work with older people, Exercise Teacher Training for Exercise Instructors needing to study for Continuing Professional Development, Exercise Teacher Training for Voluntary workers who work with older people in the community, Teaching Exercises to Prevent Falls and Injuries (ideal for nurses, healthcare assistants, other healthcare professionals, care workers, voluntary workers, exercise instructors, fitness instructors who work with older people in the home, in the community, in retirement or care homes), Teaching Exercises to Prevent Heart Attacks (ideal for nurses, healthcare assistants, other healthcare professionals, care workers, voluntary workers, exercise instructors, fitness instructors who work with older people in the home, in the community, in retirement or care homes), Teaching Exercises to Prevent Calf Pain (ideal for nurses, healthcare assistants, other healthcare professionals, care workers, voluntary workers, exercise instructors, fitness instructors who work with older people in the home, in the community, in retirement or care homes) Teaching Exercises to people with chronic health conditions and diseases associated with ageing (ideal for nurses, healthcare assistants, other healthcare professionals, care workers, voluntary workers, exercise instructors, fitness instructors who work with older people in the home, in the community, in retirement or care homes) Exercise Teacher Training for Individuals wanting to maintain their own health and fitness, Training for Churches wanting to serve older people in their community, Courses also include anatomy and physiology, the effects of ageing on the human body, medications, first aid training, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), principles of exercise, safe exercise prescription for older people, preventing accidents in the home, basic food handling / hygiene, manual handling, health and safety, risk assessment, equality and diversity, promoting equal opportunities, communication, lifelong learning, learning styles, barriers to learning, overcoming barriers to learning, data protection, business awareness, providing social activities for older people, providing learning opportunities providing pastoral care, promoting healthy life style, level 2 literacy, level 2 numeracy (where required), Courses help care works to promote health, strength and mobility, promoting active lifestyle, independent living in the community, to reducing social isolation and promoting inclusiveness.  Find out more about our exercise teacher training course and the life enrichment facilitator course at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Congress and Exhibition 2008, taking place in the BIC, Bournemouth, Dorset, http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/congress/2008/exhibition

Student Area First Aid Quizzes - Avoiding Cross Infection, Life Saving Priorities, Action in an Emergency, Primary Survey, Giving Artificial Ventilation, Giving Chest Compressions, Signs & Symptoms, Secondary Survey, Priorities of Treatment, The Unconscious Casualty - Scenario 1, The Unconscious Casualty - Scenario 2, The Unconscious Casualty - Scenario 3, The Unconscious Casualty - Scenario 4, The Unconscious Casualty - Scenario 5, The Choking Casualty, Bone, Joint & Muscle Injuries, Respiratory and Circulation Problems, Common Medical Conditions