The previous Functional Fitness MOT Training was recognised in the Register for Exercise Professionals and CIMSPA Continuing Professional Development programmes. Later Life Training is currently applying for recognition of the new Functional Fitness MOT at Home course with CIMPSA
20 New ideas from UK Universities that will change the world
The theme of Universities week (June 9th–14th 2014) was Ideas for Life and the relevance of university research and its everyday impact on our lives. To this end, a survey commissioned for the annual event, which was run by Universities UK with Research Councils UK, the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement, asked the general public about the issues that they want university research to address.
Thirty per cent said they wanted improved wellbeing in old age; just under half (47 per cent) wanted better treatments for the UK’s most deadly diseases; a quarter wanted technology that would improve people’s quality of life; and 38 per cent said they cared about living in cities that are safe, enjoyable places. With this in mind, 20 UK university research projects that hope to tackle these issues were highlighted as part of the celebrations.
“The FFMOT was included as one of the 20 new ideas from UK universities that will change the world”.
ROAR (Reaching Older Adults in Renfrewshire)
Glasgow Caledonian University worked closely with a local charity called ROAR (Reaching Older Adults in Renfrewshire) training their volunteers to run Functional Fitness MOTs with the older people they befriend and as a result the partnership won “Innovation Partnership of the Year” (2016) from Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland. The awards, held in the Scottish Parliament, celebrated people and projects from across the country which support others to feel in control of their health and wellbeing.
You can watch a brief video about the ROAR project below:
What do our professional participants say?
Working in supported living settings – Anchor Hanover
“We’ve used the Functional Fitness MOT as part of a grant-funded project in Hackney to encourage those who’ve not yet experienced a fall to take part in preventative activities. Not only have we had some great feedback from participants, it’s helped us to better understand the level of risk among older adults living in Anchor Hanover properties. This information has helped us to think about how falls prevention services and activities can be adopted within retirement housing, and how we can work more closely with the NHS and local voluntary services.”
Amy Charters, Service Improvement Business Partner, Anchor Hanover
Working in community rehabilitation – Hampshire
“The Functional Fitness MOT is a really great tool which we run alongside our exercise classes. The seven tests are all very straight forward and all our participants are able to perform them and even enjoy it and feel motivated by it! Participants really like to be able to see where they score against their peers. It is really informative for both the instructor and the exerciser and it works as a great outcome measure and goal setting tool. Using the FF MOT we are able to promote the benefits of physical activity in succinct way. The Functional Fitness MOT training was time very well spent – we implemented it the next day and haven’t looked back”!
Caroline Taverner, Therapeutic Groups Coordinator, Hobbs Rehabilitation, Independent Provider of Specialist Neurological Rehabilitation Services.
Rural Community Physiotherapy Services, Cumbria
“We have used the Functional Fitness MOT across Cumbria as a key component in multi-agency health and wellbeing days. FFMOT has been incorporated into various health promotion initiatives such as falls awareness week, carers week and Older Peoples’ Day and we have held events in a variety of locations such as local libraries, farmer’s markets and health centres. The benefits of these events have been felt not only by participants and visitors but by staff and services taking part. FF MOT days have proved to be invaluable in building links between services and sectors including our local voluntary organisations”.
Vicky Johnstone, Highly Specialist Physiotherapist, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Working in Higher Education – Sheffield Hallam University
In developing our BSc Module ‘Working with Ageing Populations’, we included the Functional Fitness MOT as a key practical element and experience to enhance our students learning. It provides excellent insight into understanding how physical functioning relates to well-being and successful ageing and in Later Life. The Functional Fitness MOT is an absolute must.
Dr David Broom, former Reader of Physical Activity and Health, Sheffield Hallam University
A city-wide approach to well-being – Aberdeen
“As a wellbeing team, we have used the FF MOTs for 7 years now, and delivered both FF MOT events on a large scale citywide, smaller in community centres and individualised approaches in sheltered housing. We have evidence that the FF MOT is a great motivational tool to initiate conversations about physical activity and getting started! We have also realised the potential of the FF MOT to our partnership working with our local authority leisure provider, city physiotherapists, university and college students and our local care providers. We can’t talk highly enough of this great resource! #BeLikeAberdeen “
Darren Smith Wellbeing Coordinator, Public Health and Wellbeing. Aberdeen City Council
Community physical activity and falls services – Bury
“The FF MOT tool is a fantastic way to engage with individuals and provides a very tailored bespoke programme. By doing each assessment and documenting the results, you have a working document that allows the monitoring of progression for that individual with an agreed action plan. BEATS have found the individual then takes enhanced ownership of their plan, as they have something clear to work toward. It is a very powerful motivator. The FF MOT also enables our exercise referral officers to baseline test and re-test a group of individuals in one session as it’s also is very cost and time effective, which is essential when you have a small team like ours with large demands on your service”.
Shelley Caulfield, BEATS Team Leader, Bury Sport and Physical Activity Service
Further education – Perth
“I use the Functional Fitness MOT with my HND Fitness, Health and Exercise students and also our year 3 BSc Sport and fitness Degree students. All of our fitness students are qualified fitness instructors and have knowledge of the Functional Fitness MOT, as they may use this in industry in the future when working with older adults. I also teach practical sessions on functional fitness testing for older adults and the Functional Fitness MOT resources are excellent for introducing this”.
Lisa Dods, Sport and Fitness Lecturer, Perth College UHI, Scotland