Body Rocks offers ex offenders and other young people at risk of social exclusion the opportunity to achieve a fitness teaching qualification.
Who we are
Single sex groups of 15 - 20 year olds who are educated outside of mainstream education alongside ex offenders.
Where we're based
Reading, Berkshire
When we started
Creativity in Sport was founded in 2003 and the Body Rocks Project started in October 2008
How we started
The 2 project leaders were volunteers at Huntercombe Juvenile Boys Prison. Lizzie introduced aerobics and dance and an innovative physical activity course evolved over a period of 16 months. They decided with the help of these ex offenders to use the course called “Body Rocks†for intervention and prevention work with young people in the Reading area.
Our work
We run Body Rocks courses which is a national accredited Level 2 teaching qualification. When the young people gain the qualification they become Body Rocks apprentices who teach the next intake of disengaged students, becoming their peer educators and mentors. Lone parent mums also attend and are taught by their sons, with some studying the qualification so they can teach other lone parents.
Future plans
We are extending the project into other counties including Surrey where the Body Rocks apprentices are also teaching ISSP students. When qualified, they can either follow the format of becoming apprentices and help instruct and guide previously disengaged young people in schools and the youth justice system or apply for jobs in the fitness industry. With more funding we hope to roll out the project to encompass more communities.
