Inspiring ​NI fitness instructor Elaine Hutton, who works at Aurora leisure centre, Bangor, wins top UK award

The 56-year-old, who beat off stiff competition from nine other finalists in her category (which was decided by public vote), said she is “still buzzing” to have scooped the top accolade.

“I am totally delighted. It’s something that I never thought would happen to me. I am just a normal girl going about her job every day, loving what she does, but I am just over the moon to have won.

"My thanks to Will Carson, who is my sports development manager and who nominated me in the first place. He started this ball rolling. And also thanks to everyone from Serco (Aurora leisure’s managing agent) who looked after Sharon Hind (fitness instructor) and myself at the awards.”

Elaine has been working at the Aurora leisure centre in Bangor since 2016. Before she became a fully qualified instructor, she was a regular at group workout classes several times a week, joining up initially to lose weight.

“I was overweight, unfit, unhealthy and thought I need to do something about this. I joined the old leisure centre, met a great group of girls, who are still my friends today, and they motivated me and inspired me along the way, as did an amazing fitness instructor there called Sharon Hind, who is still my friend and she was with me at the awards and she started me on my fitness by her motivation as a fitness instructor."Elaine, who lost an incredible three stone and had previously tried every diet “under the sun”, added that exercise and good support was the key to her maintaining her weight loss and fitness.

The fitness classes she took sparked a passion in Elaine, who then decided to quit her job in retail to volunteer at Aurora. She worked hard to become a fitness instructor, and was quickly offered a job as soon as she qualified.

"In 2016 after losing the three stone I thought I’d love to do this as a career because I was just loving it, and I wanted to help people the way I’d been help. It was about paying it forward, so I retrained and got a job at Aurora.

"When I was hired there, I just loved working in the gym, working with people, motivating and supporting them in their journey.

"Then I did several qualifications which I never thought I would do – chair-based exercise, GP referral instructor, Level 4 cancer rehab instructor. I am currently studying for a Level 4 mental health qualification. These are things that I never thought I would do in my lifetime. I have packed a lot into seven years and I have loved every single day of it.”

Elaine works a lot with the older population on the Active Ageing timetable.

"I have a great group on a Monday and a Friday. I love the older community and we are very community-based in Aurora.

“I give talks to different groups, the most recent was Versus Arthritis, on the benefits of physical activity and also inform people about the GP referral scheme, which is that you can get referred to your local leisure centre for 12 weeks and you’ll be with a specialised instructor for whatever you have been referred for, whether it’s mild to moderate anxiety, stroke recovery, etc.”

She added: "People’s perception of the gym can be very different. They might say, ‘I can’t go to the gym because I’m not fit enough’, or ‘I don’t want to bulk up and put lots of muscle on’, but that will not happen, things are very specific.

"People want to lose weight and just feel better for all sorts of different reasons, maybe looking after grandchildren, playing football with their own children, it’s such a wide variety of people you meet on a day-to-day basis, which is just fabulous and if I can help anyone, it’s just great.”

Elaine holds a class every Thursday morning for people with dementia, and their carers are also welcome to come along.

"It’s difficult for the person living with Alzheimer’s, but also their carer needs a little bit of help too, so the more we can do for people, the better.

"It’s a chair-based class, but some may want to stand up. We use little light weights to try and keep the upper body strength up. We use resistance bands for the lower body and we have fun. We put actions to music and we use hula hoops and sparkly scarves.

"My mantra has always been ‘fitness should be fun’, don’t take it too seriously, be it swimming, zumba, aqua aerobics, you will definitely find something that you enjoy in your local centre. Don't be afraid to put your foot in your local gym.”

Elaine has earned praise from representatives from Alzheimer’s Society NI, for the ‘Active Ageing’ classes held at the leisure centre for older people and those suffering from dementia.

Lynda Williams from Alzheimer’s Society UK, said: “Elaine epitomises what it means to support and encourage people to care for themselves. She is not only approachable and caring, but she has a way of making people feel they can achieve their goals.

“Elaine is an absolute star who makes the world a little brighter. She’s a pleasure to work with thanks to her enthusiasm, and her encouraging and determined nature. I can’t think of anyone who is a better ambassador in her field.”

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