New Industry Guide Aims to Make Gyms Safer for Women and Girls in the UK
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
As the fitness industry approaches International Women’s Day, new guidance has been released in the UK to help gyms and leisure centres create safer and more welcoming environments for women and girls.
The resource, developed by This Girl Can and ukactive, provides operators with practical tools to address harassment and improve communication with members. Titled “From Policy to Practice: How to Share Your Stance Against Harassment in Your Facility,” the guide is now available through the Safer Spaces to Move resource hub.
The document outlines ways facilities can clearly communicate that harassment and intimidation are not tolerated, how members can report concerns, and how operators can build trust in their policies and staff training.
Claire Edwards, head of campaign activation for This Girl Can, said understanding the experiences of women and other stakeholders was central to the guide’s development.
“Every part of society has a duty to prevent harassment against women and girls,” she said.
“With millions of women and girls using gyms and leisure centres, the fitness sector must be ready to tackle harassment and intimidation, and today’s launch reaffirms our commitment to helping facilities put stronger safety standards into action.”
The guide was developed in collaboration with the Safer Spaces to Move Taskforce, which includes representatives from across the public and private sectors as well as independent operators. Gym members also contributed through focus groups discussing facility communications and how they influence trust and safety.
The release comes as participation among women continues to grow. The latest UK Health & Fitness Market Report shows that 11.5 million people aged 16 and over are members of a health and fitness club in the UK.
Data from the Active Lives Survey shows that fitness activities among women and girls aged 16 and over saw the largest growth of any activity category compared with the previous year, increasing by 1.9 percent. The report found that 7.6 million women took part in fitness activities at least twice within a 28 day period, up by nearly 1.3 million since the Safer Spaces to Move initiative launched in 2021.
Hattie Jones, head of membership and sector development at ukactive, said the new guide reflects the sector’s commitment to creating environments where women feel confident and supported.
“This guide is another step forward in the sector’s commitment to ensure that every woman and girl feels informed, confident and empowered to use the broad range of services within our nation’s gyms, pools and leisure centres,” she said.
“Given the growing demand our sector sees from women and girls, it is vital that all facilities play their part in addressing the societal issues of sexual harassment and intimidation.”
