There are so many ways in which Health Coaching can make a difference in the world and with Project RIO, Health Coaches Academy is on a mission to do exactly that!
For the team at HCA, we are inspired about being able to leverage our position as the leading Health Coach training provider, to create real impact and support healthier, happier communities globally. This ethos is embodied by our students and graduates, who are already making a profound difference in the lives of individuals. Project RIO is our way of extending our reach to deserving communities and non profits (NPO) around the world.
Project RIO will also be harnessing the power of the collective health coaching team (students, graduates, HCA team members), to evidence the efficacy of health coaching so that it becomes even more widely recognised as an important contributor to the global health crisis.
What is Project RIO?
This initiative consists of three core components:
Research & Development
Under the Research & Development umbrella, we will be gathering data from a range of sources in order to provide even more evidence for the impact of health coaching which will influence the trajectory of the profession.
As an integral part of our Health & Wellness Coaching Diploma training course, students are required to carry out case studies. These case studies go beyond merely providing support to individuals; with hundreds of students completing our course each year, we have the potential to impact over thousands of lives on an annual basis through our Health Coach training. This means we are well positioned to conduct some of the most extensive research in the field to date, collating valuable evidence of effective practices to help the profession grow.
Innovation
In the realm of Innovation, we are exploring creative avenues for Health Coaches to practice and introduce health coaching in new and unique ways.
For example, HCA graduate, Vicky Barnard, conducted a project focussed on stressed-out teachers, initiating a competition where individuals could vote for the most deserving teacher to win a free Health Coaching programme.
The impact was profound; not only did it provide much-needed support to the winning teacher, but it also sparked a ripple effect within the school community. By addressing the wellbeing of one teacher, Vicky's project catalysed conversations about self-care and mental health among other educators, ultimately fostering a healthier, more supportive school environment for both staff and students alike.
We are exploring questions such as:
How else can Health Coaching be done?
Which groups of people could really benefit from additional support for their health and wellbeing?
What innovative techniques or tools can enhance the effectiveness of Health Coaching?
Our goal is to expand the profession's reach and clarity, making sure that the role of a Health Coach is really well known and understood.
Our students are already brimming with creative ideas and we’ve had an overwhelming response in the short time since RIO launched in early 2024, with many HCA students and grads eager to contribute and exchange valuable ideas.
Outreach
The Outreach aspect of Project RIO is dedicated to supporting the broader community and making a meaningful difference in NPOs. We are speaking with charitable organisations which could really benefit from Health Coaching and already have two exciting volunteer projects underway with Happy in Your Body CIC in London and the Bellhaven Harm Reduction Centre in Durban.
'Happy in Your Body' is a Community Interest Company (CIC) dedicated to empowering disadvantaged women in deprived areas of London. Their ongoing pilot programme in Tower Hamlets, which has been running for a year, has shown remarkable outcomes for individuals dealing with chronic pain.
As part of our commitment, one of our HCA students is volunteering with the programme, providing health coaching and supporting cooking sessions.
We also have the Bellhaven Harm Reduction Centre project in Durban, South Africa, where nine of our HCA students from around the globe are volunteering.
The Bellhaven Harm Reduction Centre offers medical and psycho-social services to approximately 200 low-income clients dealing with substance use disorders. This invaluable opportunity is allowing our students to gain hands-on health coaching experience in a community based drug treatment setting.
These two initiatives represent just a couple of the diverse avenues through which we can extend the reach of Health Coaching into the world.
Together, through Research & Development, Innovation, and Outreach, Project RIO aims to elevate the impact of Health Coaching on a global scale.
How to get involved in Project RIO:
If you have any connections with Not-for-Profit organisations that could benefit from voluntary health coaching opportunities and wish to join us in our mission to amplify the impact of health coaching globally, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at: rio@healthcoachesacademy.com. We always welcome new ideas!
