Empowering sport and leisure workforce through inclusive customer service course

The Activity Alliance is excited to reveal its new updated eLearning course: Delivering an excellent service for disabled customers. The online module sets out to empower workforces within leisure and sport organisations and to up skill the teams responsible for customer care in these active environments to help enable more disabled people to have a better, positive experience.

Users will be able to learn top tips and practical advice when serving disabled customers. The module contains useful advice, including disabled people talking about their lived experiences.

The Alliance reports that prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, disabled people and people with long-term health conditions were twice as likely as non-disabled people to be physically inactive. But during this crisis, inequalities have widened, and the full impact on disabled people's activity is yet unknown.

Activity Alliance continues to work with key partners to ensure disabled people are not forgotten as we return to play. The previous Annual Survey research shows four in five disabled people do want to be more active. This means as activities resume in facilities across our communities, the workforce in customer-facing roles play a vital role. They will have a crucial part in encouraging more disabled people to be and stay active.

Barry Horne, Chief Executive for Activity Alliance, said:

"We all have a role to play in achieving fairness for disabled people in sport and activity. This course is a great way to improve your organisation's confidence and competence. Inclusive customer service brings with it a more welcoming and positive experience for everyone, including more disabled people.

"Our team is here to help in your goal to be a more inclusive organisation. We want providers to embrace the opportunities that returning to play brings for us all to be innovative and accessible. This popular eLearning course is one way to do just that."

Huw Edwards, CEO ukactive, said:

ukactive wants to encourage and celebrate inclusion and diversity, and is committed to ensuring that more people from all backgrounds are more active. With our 'Everyone Can' programme, a key part of this mission is to create a sector that is equally and freely accessed by people. Our findings show that the levels of customer service and the welcome provided by fitness and leisure facilities are vital to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the mental and physical benefits of physical activity."

Jane Nickerson, Swim England chief executive, said:

"Never has there been a more important time to reduce the barriers to aquatic activity for people with long-term health conditions or disabilities. A critical part of this is the confidence and competence of the workforce to provide a quality customer experience, which this training will deliver. We are delighted to have been able to work with Activity Alliance in further developing this essential training as part of The London Marathon Charitable Trust's Inclusive Pools project and Swim England's Water Wellbeing Programme."

Course costs:

£6 + VAT per trainee. Training costs (+VAT) are as follows:

• Bookings for 1-19 people = £10 per person + VAT
• 20 – 49 people at 20% discount = £8 per person + VAT
• 50 – 99 people at 30% discount = £7 per person + VAT
• 100 people or over at 40% discount = £6 per person + VAT

Single users, teams or organisations can access the online training here. For bulk purchase discount codes (for 20 or more bookings) contact info@activityalliance.org.uk or 01509 227750.

(Image and Content Source: Activity Alliance)