Council staff are put through their paces
Ayrshire College students are putting North Ayrshire Council workers through their paces in Irvine.
Sport and fitness students have set up weekly circuits at the campus in Irvine Royal Academy.
A different student takes the group each week and is assessed by their lecturer as part of their course.
The exercise classes have been a huge hit with council staff, following a successful pilot scheme where workers were given personal training sessions by the college’s HND fitness group.
Student Zack Simpson, 18, from Saltcoats, said: “I took this circuit for my coursework. It was a mixture of cardio and muscular endurance and they performed four sets of the full circuit.”
Lecturer Jan Copeland said: “Following the success of the personal training pilot last year, during which the students trained around 30 council staff members between them and received excellent feedback, it seemed an obvious progression to invite them to participate in group exercise classes too.
“This has attracted new recruits, which is good news for the council, who are actively promoting the importance of health and wellbeing to their employees.
“However, it is equally beneficial for the college as the students have had the opportunity to work with real clients and gain valuable experience which will serve them well in the future.
“Hopefully, this new partnership will continue to develop.”
Andrew Fraser from North Ayrshire Council said: “Sport and exercise have huge benefits, not only for physical health but also for self- esteem and motivation.”