Too many women have experienced harassment while trying to stay active and that needs to change.
That’s why we’ve teamed up with ukactive, CIMSPA and Women’s Aid to publish new guidance so fitness and leisure facilities can continue to create safer spaces for women and girls to be active.
Launched today on the newly updated Safer Spaces to Move hub, the resources give staff the tools and training they need to recognise and respond to sexual harassment, helping to make gyms and leisure centres safer for every woman who walks through the door.
Research shows that sexual harassment is prevalent across society, with 71% of women of all ages having experienced some form of sexual harassment in a public space. And harassment doesn’t stop at the gym doors: in fact, for far too many women, it’s part of the experience.
Our 2023 survey with ukactive also found that four in 10 (42%) women said they had experienced at least one form of sexual harassment or intimidation, such as inappropriate comments, staring or encroachment of personal space while in a gym or leisure facility. This figure almost doubled for those aged 16 to 24, increasing to 83%.
Claire Edwards, our head of campaign activation, said: "This Girl Can exists so that all women feel they have the opportunity to be active in ways that they love.
"Our research continues to show that more can be done to protect women in all active spaces. Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected when exercising. Harassment, whether in gyms, leisure centres or elsewhere, is unacceptable.
"Sexual harassment is a crime, but it is sadly a daily experience for many women. Today’s launch enables us to empower gyms, leisure centres and other facilities with the knowledge and tools they need to identify harassment and respond decisively, creating safer spaces for all women to be active.”
We know that gyms and leisure centres have an important role to play in supporting more women and girls to be active, with 11.5 million people over the age of 16 being members of a health and fitness club, according to the UK Health & Fitness Market Report 2025.
And Sport England’s Active Lives Adult Survey 2023-24 showed that fitness activities are growing in popularity for women and girls aged 16 and over, with 7.6 million having taken part at least twice in the previous 28 days.
As more women turn to fitness, it’s essential that the sector keeps pace by creating environments where all women feel safe, respected and able to take part confidently.
Hattie Jones, head of membership and sector development at ukactive, said: "We are proud to work with This Girl Can, CIMSPA and Women’s Aid to develop these practical resources, which mark the latest step forward in our sector’s commitment to ensure that every woman and girl feels confident and welcome using gyms and leisure centres.
"It is vital that all industries take responsibility in helping to tackle sexual harassment, and the launch of these resources will support more gyms and leisure centres to create safer spaces so more women and girls can confidently reap the rewards of being active.
"We want to continue this journey of improvement and ensure all operators and their workforces feel empowered and supported to respond appropriately to any instances of sexual harassment and intimidation."
