Warwick Sport have created safe, supportive spaces at the University of Warwick, empowering students and staff to feel confident and comfortable being active.
Why was your Initiative created?
There is a clear and pressing need to encourage gender equality in sports participation across campus, particularly concerning female engagement.
Despite near parity in the University’s overall student population, female representation in sport and physical activity remains disproportionately low.
Reducing these inequalities is essential to fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment and aligns with our strategic priority for 2025/26 to actively challenge and dismantle barriers to participation.
Analysis of gym usage data reveals a significant gender imbalance, with approximately 70% of users being male and only 30% female.
This is notably disproportionate when compared to the University's enrolment figures, which show a nearly equal gender split.
How did you know what people wanted?
How did you promote your activities?
Enhanced social media presence
Our social media presence was supported through a structured drip-feed strategy across app and email channels, which significantly boosted pre-event registrations and improved overall campaign visibility. The approach demonstrated clear progress in engagement and reach.
Produced professional video content in collaboration with Fairlight Media
The content showcased our initiatives and served as a dynamic tool to increase awareness and inspire participation.
Feedback and impact
- Over 70 different sessions delivered over 2 weeks
- Over 1300 bookings over all the sessions
- Over 500 unique bookings
- Over 300 attendees at Women’s Only Gym Hours
- Climbing: 28 sessions delivered with over 100 women booked on
- Instructor-led gym class: 17 sessions delivered with over 340 women booked on, including Lift, Hyrox and Spin
- Substituted Women's Only RUAP: 24 Sessions delivered with over 806 booked on.
During our women’s only gym hours we got the following feedback:
Never used the gym in 4 years at Warwick before.
I’ve been going to the gym for years and Thursday was the first time I felt completely comfortable and at ease.
Loved the session and was able to use equipment I wouldn’t normally try without feeling pressured.
How did you overcome barriers?
Implementing women-only gym hours required careful planning and coordination. Closing the gym to male users for a total of four hours involved liaising with multiple University areas, providing advance notice to customers, and collaborating with marketing and social media teams to ensure clear communication.
On the day of the event, staff were deployed to support participants and manage any challenging conversations with male users, ensuring the initiative was delivered smoothly and respectfully.
Prioritising safety was a key focus of this initiative. We partnered with the Community Safety team to increase their presence on campus and introduced a “walking bus” service, offering students a secure way to travel home.
This approach directly addressed a significant barrier: many women reported feeling unsafe walking alone after dark. By providing visible support and a safe travel option, we aimed to reduce this concern and encourage greater participation in evening activities.
Actively engaged students and staff who typically do not interact with traditional university sports content on social media/UoW app.
This involved reaching out directly to academic departments and the Students’ Union to promote the initiative beyond the usual audience of regularly active women, ensuring broader awareness and inclusivity.
What are your plans moving forward?
We will continue to offer weekly women-only sessions free of charge to students and staff, creating regular opportunities in a safe and supportive environment.
Additionally, in Mach 2026, we will continue the legacy of running Warwick Women’s Night In—an event where the entire Sports & Wellness Hub will be closed to male users.
This initiative will provide women with exclusive access to the gym, Climbing Centre, and a variety of sports and activities, fostering a welcoming space to explore new experiences without barriers.
Top Tip
Don’t be afraid to innovate and try something new. Change often brings mixed reactions, and while some resistance is inevitable, the positive impact can far outweigh the negatives.
For example, when we introduced women-only gym hours and closed the gym to male users for the first time, we did receive some negative feedback.
However, the outcome—over 300 women using the gym during these sessions—clearly validated the decision and reinforced the importance of creating inclusive opportunities.
How does the work of Warwick Sport embody the action area 'Safe'?
A core principle of this campaign was ensuring women had access to safe, supportive spaces to be active—regardless of the activity.
We delivered a diverse range of women-only opportunities, including sport sessions, dedicated gym hours, and instructor-led classes.
Each initiative was designed to create an environment where women could feel comfortable, confident, and welcomed.