Evidence-based CPD training in the science of what makes groups work, helping you build belonging, engagement, and experiences people want to return to.
Group Works began in rehabilitation – but the same challenge exists much more widely.
Understanding groups matters even when attendance isn’t a problem. Far fewer of us are taught what happens between the people in the room.
Build connection and cohesion
Strengthen engagement
Create belonging and identity
Respond to attendance dips
Group Works is an online CPD programme for professionals who lead exercise, health, physical activity, and rehabilitation groups.
Drawing on psychology, behaviour change, social identity, and real-world practice, it outlines practical ways to build belonging, strengthen engagement, and improve attendance and retention.
Access from any device · Self-paced online learning
Watch Professor Tim Rees explain why some groups develop real momentum and loyalty and how the science of belonging can help leaders create the conditions for people to keep coming back.
Founded by two Bournemouth University professors bringing together psychology, behaviour change, exercise science, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation.
Co-founder · Psychology, Behaviour Change, & Group Dynamics
Tim researches groups, leadership, motivation, and social identity across sport, exercise, health, and rehabilitation.
What drives him: understanding why people feel part of some groups and why that makes them want to keep coming back.
Co-founder · Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation
Tom has led major NHS trials and helped shape national pathways for group-based exercise in older adults and people with long-term conditions.
What drives him: closing the gap between what research shows and what actually happens in real sessions and services.
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Group Works can support organisations that want to strengthen engagement, attendance, and retention across the groups they deliver.
Give multiple staff access to the Group Works online CPD programme.
Use evidence-based frameworks, prompts and session tools across your service.
Explore how Group Works principles apply to your groups, participants and challenges.
Give staff a common language and framework for thinking about belonging, engagement and retention.
Group Works is for exercise, fitness, physical activity, health, and rehabilitation professionals who lead or support groups. That could include group exercise instructors, aqua and ETM instructors, exercise referral professionals, community physical activity practitioners, wellbeing coaches, leisure staff, physiotherapists, and rehabilitation professionals.
No. Group Works grew out of research and practice in health and rehabilitation, but the principles apply much more widely. The programme focuses on the human side of groups — belonging, engagement, leadership, communication, and retention — whether the outcome you are working towards is fitness, health, wellbeing, rehabilitation, or simply helping people stay active.
Yes. If people already love your classes and keep coming back, you’re probably doing many of these things well already. Group Works can help you understand why they work. It brings together the science behind belonging, identity, group leadership and engagement, helping you make successful practices more deliberate, adapt them to different groups, and share them with others.
The principles can be applied across settings including group exercise, indoor cycling, aqua, circuits, Pilates, yoga, exercise referral, strength and balance, community physical activity, social prescribing, workplace wellbeing, and rehabilitation.
The course duration is 2.5 hours.
The free preview includes Module 1, which is an introduction to and scene-setter for the course. Across three short videos, it covers: Welcome to Group Works; Why Groups Matter More Than Ever, and How to Get the Most from This Course.
Yes. Group Works is delivered online through Thinkific and can be accessed on compatible computers, tablets, and mobile devices.
Group Works adds group-leadership skills to your existing professional expertise. It does not qualify you to deliver activities outside your existing scope of practice.
Yes — we offer a 14-day money-back guarantee. If the course isn’t right for you, email hello@groupworks.uk for a full refund.
We are developing options for organisations and teams. Contact us to discuss your setting, number of staff, and what you would like Group Works to help you achieve.
Group Works is developed with the support of world-class academic institutions, NHS partners, and UK research funding bodies.
No card required. Module 1 is completely free – try it, and upgrade when you’re ready.
