Reading Voluntary Action has received funding to deliver an in-person 16-month Community Wellbeing Training Programme in our town centre training suite, for health and wellbeing practitioners (open to paid staff and volunteers) active in local voluntary and community organisations (VCOs).

The course is split into 5 modules. The first covers: what is Physical activity, benefits, barriers tips and guidelines. The second introduces participants to the concept of Behaviour Change covering several common modules and theories. Modules 3-5 will introduce the leaners to the concept of Motivational Interviewing, a counselling style aimed at supporting client behaviour change. Whilst our emphasis is physical activity the course will benefit anyone working to support others in changing lifestyle factors including smoking, drinking, diet to name a few.

• Kirsty Heath is the Strategic Lead for Ageing Well at Get Berkshire Active. She leads on the development of GBA’s Ageing Well theme, aiming to create the conditions for a healthy and independent later life. She is also lead liaison for Berkshire West Local Authorities. With over 15 years’ experience within the physical activity sector her previous roles were in local authority and the NHS, before joining GBA at its inception is 2011.
• Brett Nicholls is the CEO at Get Berkshire Active. He joined the organisation in 2013 after a 27 year career as an officer in the Royal Air Force. There he was responsible, amongst other things, for the development and implementation of the RAF’s Fitness and Heath Strategy. It was for this programme that he started to work in the sphere of behaviour change and the introduction of Motivational Interviewing.

Please click here to book onto this event. If you have any questions, please email rhiannon.stocking-williams@rva.org.uk