Active Support

Promoting Participation, Independence and Meaningful Lives

Gain the knowledge, confidence and practical skills to embed Active Support into everyday practice with this engaging one-day Active Support training course. Designed for health, social care, education and support services across the UK, this programme helps learners move beyond simply caring for people and instead focus on supporting individuals to actively participate in their own lives.

Active Support is a person-centred approach that focuses on working with people rather than doing things for them. It enables individuals to take part in meaningful activities, develop skills, build relationships and achieve greater independence, regardless of their level of ability. Research has consistently shown that when people are actively involved in everyday life, engagement, learning, independence and overall quality of life improve.

Ideal for organisations supporting people with learning disabilities, autistic individuals, people living with dementia, mental health needs or other support requirements, this course provides practical tools and strategies that can be immediately applied within day-to-day support.

What this course offers

Delivered over one day (7 hours), this interactive and practical training course provides learners with a comprehensive introduction to Active Support and how it can be embedded into everyday support practices.

Participants will explore the principles behind Active Support, understand why participation matters, and learn how to recognise and create opportunities for engagement throughout the day. The course demonstrates how seemingly ordinary activities such as making a drink, shopping, preparing meals, household tasks and social interactions can become valuable opportunities for learning, communication, choice and skill development.

Learners will explore practical tools such as graded assistance, AIMS support strategies, meaningful choice making and person-centred approaches that help individuals experience success whilst maintaining as much independence as possible.

The course also examines communication, engagement, motivation, wellbeing, relationships and personal development, helping learners understand the wider factors that influence participation and quality of life.

Through discussion, reflection and practical examples, learners leave with a clear understanding of how Active Support can transform everyday interactions into meaningful opportunities for growth and achievement.

Why this training matters

Too often, people receiving support can become passive recipients of care rather than active participants in their own lives. Active Support challenges this by encouraging support staff to focus on participation, contribution and opportunity.

The philosophy behind Active Support is simple: people learn through doing. When individuals are supported to take part in everyday activities, they are more likely to develop skills, experience achievement, build confidence, strengthen relationships and improve their overall wellbeing.

Active Support is not an activity programme or a collection of organised sessions. It is a way of thinking that turns everyday moments into opportunities for participation, learning and personal development.

By embedding Active Support into daily practice, organisations can improve quality of life, reduce dependence, increase engagement and support individuals to have greater choice and control over their lives.

Active Support in Practice

A key focus of this course is understanding how small changes in the way we provide support can have a significant impact on outcomes.

Learners will explore:

• The principles of Active Support

• Moving from "doing for" to "doing with"

• The importance of engagement and participation

• Graded Assistance and providing the right level of support

• The AIMS model (Ask, Instruct, Model, Support)

• Little and Often approaches

• Maximising Choice and Control

• Recognising opportunities for participation

• Supporting meaningful activities and relationships

• Creating opportunities for learning and growth

• Supporting autonomy, confidence and self-determination

• Reducing barriers to participation

• Building a culture of inclusion and independence

The course provides practical examples and strategies that can be applied across a wide range of support settings.

Communication, Engagement & Wellbeing

Effective Active Support relies on understanding the individual and recognising the factors that influence engagement.

Learners will explore:

• Communication barriers and how to overcome them

• Understanding sensory processing differences

• Supporting people with different communication needs

• Communication styles and approaches

• Intensive Interaction principles

• Motivation and engagement

• Self-Determination Theory (Autonomy, Competence and Relatedness)

• Meaningful activities and relationships

• Choice, control and belonging

• The role of wellbeing in participation

• Positive approaches and expectations

• The SPELL Framework and Active Support

Understanding these factors helps staff create environments where people are more likely to participate, develop and flourish.

Course Benefits

• Develop a thorough understanding of Active Support principles

• Learn how to increase participation and engagement

• Build confidence in supporting independence and choice

• Understand how communication influences outcomes

• Recognise opportunities for learning in everyday activities

• Improve quality of life for the people you support

• Develop person-centred support skills

• Increase understanding of motivation and wellbeing

• Promote choice, control and meaningful involvement

• Support positive behavioural and developmental outcomes

• Create more inclusive and empowering support environments

Other organisations may call this...

Depending on the organisation or training provider, similar training may be referred to as:

Active Support Training, Person-Centred Support Training, Participation Training, Engagement Training, Independence Skills Training, Positive Support Training, Learning Disability Support Training, Enabling Support Training, Quality of Life Training, Empowerment Training, Meaningful Activity Training, Support Planning & Participation Training, Everyday Living Skills Support Training, Person-Led Support Training,

Whilst the terminology may differ, the aim remains the same: supporting people to participate, contribute, learn and live meaningful lives.

Certification and Progression

On successful completion, learners will receive an Active Support Certificate.

Regular refresher training is recommended to maintain knowledge, reflect on practice and ensure Active Support principles remain embedded within everyday support.

This course can support progression into:

• Advanced Active Support

• Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)

• Autism Awareness

• Learning Disability Awareness

• Person-Centred Planning

• Communication & Engagement Training

• Intensive Interaction

• Quality of Life Frameworks

• Specialist Support Practice