Free CPD-Accredited Course Helps Coordinators Turn Chaotic Sessions Into Activities People Actually Want to Join
Alison has launched a new CPD-accredited course: Activities Coordinator: Overview, Planning and Leadership. This free online course teaches the practical planning and leadership skills behind activities that run smoothly and keep participants engaged: preparing sessions that are easy to follow, adjusting on the fly when group needs change, and communicating clearly when things don't go to plan. Reviewed by ANCC-certified geriatric nurse and nurse case manager Jane Rivers, the course is designed for anyone who has felt the specific stress of a session falling apart in real time with no clear way to recover it.
The course walks learners through activities coordination from the ground up: planning sessions that are simple to deliver, guiding groups step by step, adapting activities as circumstances change, and using observation and participant feedback to improve future sessions. By the end, learners will be able to plan and run activities with less stress and more confidence, respond calmly when a session needs to change direction, and build a continuous feedback loop that makes each session better than the last.
The Overlooked Cost of Disengaged Group Activities
Meaningful group activity isn't a nice-to-have in care and community settings — it's tied directly to health outcomes. The CDC reports that about one in three U.S. adults report feeling lonely and about one in four report lacking social and emotional support, with older adults flagged as a group at particular risk of social isolation. Isolation and loneliness are linked to serious health consequences, including higher risk of heart disease, stroke, depression, anxiety, dementia, and earlier death. Well-run, engaging activities are one of the most direct tools available for countering that isolation — but a poorly planned or disorganised session can do the opposite, leaving participants disengaged rather than connected.
Why Planning and Leadership Skills Change the Outcome
The difference between an activity that draws people in and one that falls flat rarely comes down to the activity itself — it comes down to planning, delivery, and the coordinator's ability to adapt when reality doesn't match the plan. Coordinators who can guide a group calmly through disruption, read the room, and adjust in real time create sessions people want to return to. Those without that structure often see the same sessions become harder to manage over time, as disengagement compounds.
Mike Feerick, Founder and CEO of Alison, stated: "A good activities coordinator does more than fill time on a schedule — they create the moments of connection that genuinely improve people's wellbeing. This course gives coordinators the practical planning and leadership skills to do that consistently, and we think that training should be free and available to everyone doing this work."
This launch expands Alison's portfolio of care, community, and leadership courses, continuing its mission to make high-quality, job-ready training available to learners everywhere, regardless of their background or budget.
To learn more or enrol in the course, visit: alison.com/course/activities-coordinator-overview-planning-and-leadership
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About Alison
Alison is a global leader in free online learning and skills development. With over 50 million registered learners across 193 countries (as of October 2025), Alison empowers individuals, communities, and organisations to upskill quickly and effectively – at zero cost.
The Alison platform provides immediate access to over 6,000 free, CPD-accredited courses, covering essential areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing, Project Management, Business Operations, Healthcare and Sustainability. Courses are created by a mix of independent experts and global leaders, including IBM, Stanford and Microsoft.
For organisations, Alison offers a Free Learning Management System (LMS) that enables unlimited learners to access thousands of courses with no upfront cost. A premium version with advanced analytics and customisation is also available. Alison's offering includes a full suite of assessments and psychometric tools, including a Workplace Personality Assessment, Mental Health & Wellbeing Assessment, English Language Proficiency Test, as well as Numerical, Verbal, and Abstract Reasoning tests.
To further support career development, learners also gain access to a Career Guide, a Resumé Builder, and the ability to study offline through the Alison App. The platform is also expanding its reach with multilingual versions, starting with complete Spanish, French, and Hindi offerings — reaffirming its mission to make education accessible to anyone, anywhere.
Founded in 2007, Alison pioneered the concept of free, large-scale online learning and is recognised as the world’s first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platform. Today, its mission continues: to break down barriers to learning, helping people gain skills, build confidence, and improve their lives — no matter where they live or what they earn.
