Three leading organisations in the UK’s fitness and wellbeing sector – awarding organisation Active IQ, training provider Future Fit, and men’s mental health charity StrongMen – have partnered to provide StrongMen volunteers and staff with accredited wellbeing qualifications.

Through this collaboration, Future Fit Training will provide its Wellbeing Coach qualification free of charge to 30 StrongMen staff and volunteers, while Active IQ covers all registration and certification fees. This initiative aims not only to upskill the volunteers, but also to equip them with valuable tools to support others in their community through a holistic approach to wellbeing.

The qualification made available to StrongMen further strengthens the charity’s capacity to deliver impactful, person-centred support. Importantly, all of StrongMen’s volunteers have experienced loss, bringing a unique empathy and understanding to their roles.

StrongMen is a charity dedicated to helping men navigate bereavement through comprehensive support, including weekend retreats, peer networks, and other helpful services. Its volunteers, all of whom have experienced grief themselves, play a vital role in delivering emotional support and building meaningful connections within the community. These qualifications will enable them to use physical activity more effectively as a tool for recovery and long-term resilience.

StrongMen is a proud advocate for bridging the gap between mental health, wellbeing and physical activity, and views this training as an important step in strengthening that connection.

Jenny Patrickson, Managing Director at Active IQ, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to support this initiative that puts real purpose behind professional training. By removing financial barriers to qualification, we’re supporting StrongMen’s volunteers to gain recognised credentials to enhance both their personal and professional lives, while strengthening their ability to support others.”

Tom Goodwin, Group Operations Director at Future Fit, added:
“Education is a force for change. Partnering with StrongMen and Active IQ to provide high-quality training at no cost is our way of investing in people who are already making a difference. These volunteers are inspiring, and it’s an honour to be able to support them in broadening their impact through fitness.”

Efrem Brynin, Co-Founder of StrongMen, commented:
“We’re truly thankful for this partnership and the opportunity it brings to our community. Our volunteers have first-hand experience of grief, and this programme allows them to channel that experience into something meaningful. Fitness has always been a key part of our support strategy, and this takes it to a whole new level.”

This partnership marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration, with shared ambitions to expand training opportunities and continue fundraising efforts in the years ahead.