ARC Fitness Scholarship partnership with North West Regional College delivers pathway from recovery to qualification

Derry-based addiction recovery service ARC Fitness is celebrating the continued success of its scholarship pathway programme with North West Regional College (NWRC), a partnership that has been delivering meaningful education and employment opportunities for members of the ARC community over the past two years.

The scholarship programme provides one fully supported place per semester on either NWRC’s Level 2 Fitness Instructors course or the Level 3 Personal Training qualification. The initiative is designed to support individuals in recovery to build confidence, gain accredited qualifications, and create sustainable futures within the fitness and wellbeing sector.

Since its introduction, the scholarship programme has proven highly effective, supporting people in recovery to re-engage with education, develop professional skills, and move forward with renewed purpose.

Warren Villa, Recovery Coach Professional at ARC Fitness and a recipient of the scholarship commented on the programme. He said, “This scholarship is all about giving people in recovery a real chance. I’ve been through the programme myself, so I know first-hand how powerful it can be to step back into education and gain a qualification that will actually open doors for you. 

Gary Rutherford, ARC’s Founder said, “this partnership with the NWRC has allowed us to offer something practical, achievable, and genuinely life-changing, and we’re so thankful to the whole team there. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for this partnership and its recipients.”

Adrian McMenamin, who also progressed through the scholarship pathway, highlighted the importance of representation and relatability within the programme. He said, “Knowing that this pathway is open to anyone in the ARC community makes a huge difference. I was able to use the scholarship myself, and now I get to support others doing the same. It shows people that recovery doesn’t limit your future, it can actually be the starting point for something new.”

Sinead O’Brien, Curriculum Manager for Sport at the North West Regional College commented on the collaboration. She said “As a college, we are delighted and proud to be in partnership with ARC Fitness. Witnessing the valuable and life-changing work being delivered at ARC Fitness has been inspiring.

"Their work in supporting individuals and strengthening the wider community motivated us to become actively involved and to contribute in a practical and purposeful way. We were keen to offer our services and expertise. NWRC is eager to ensure that this partnership creates a lasting, positive impact for those who benefit from ARC Fitness’s work”.

The ARC-NWRC scholarship pathway continues to highlight the value of community-led recovery services working alongside further education providers to deliver lasting social impact, supporting individuals not only to recover, but to retrain, requalify, and rebuild their lives. Both parties plan to continue offering the scholarship each semester, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive, lived-experience-led pathways for people in recovery across Derry and the wider North West region.

ARC Fitness first launched in 2019 by Gary Rutherford, a registered mental health nurse and a qualified personal trainer. The non-profit organisation seeks to give individuals, who are recovering from addiction, the opportunity to focus on improving their mental and physical wellbeing through physical activity, combined with professional support, and re-connection with community. 

If you’re interested in learning more about ARC and the work they do,  visit https://arcfitness.uk/.