Creating safer gyms and leisure spaces for women

We’ve linked up with ukactive to publish a new guide designed to help all UK fitness facilities prevent harassment on their sites, and build confidence and trust among the women and girls who use them. 

Women's participation in fitness activities has risen sharply – up by 1.4 million since 2020/21, according to Sport England’s Active Lives Survey.

Yet harassment and intimidation remain a reality for many women, affecting how they experience being active and contributing to the gender activity gap we’re determined to close for good. 

That’s why, back in 2021, we partnered with ukactive to launch Safer Spaces to Move, the first collaboration of its kind within the fitness industry. 

The project is all about supporting women who choose gyms and leisure centres as their place to get active, and making sure those spaces actively uphold their right to feel safe. 

Today, we’re proud to release the latest resource from the project, offering practical guidance to help fitness facilities continue creating environments where women feel supported and confident.

What has Safer Spaces to Move achieved so far?

The project has been shaped by extensive insight, including candid accounts of women’s experiences of harassment in fitness spaces.  

These insights have helped us produce a suite of tools and guidance for fitness operators – all freely available for anyone to use. 

In 2025, we expanded this work in partnership with Women’s Aid and CIMSPA, publishing resources to ensure operators have the knowledge and skills to properly respond to incidents of harassment and intimidation.

And it's making a difference. In 2022, our research found that less than half of female gym users (46%) were aware that their centre had a code of conduct or safety policies, while 15% of women who didn't report an incident of harassment or intimidation said it was because they didn't know who to report it to. 

Today, awareness has rapidly increased: Sport England's Activity Check-in data from January 2026 reveals nearly two thirds of women aged 16-34 say their centre has a code of conduct (63%), clear procedures for reporting complaints (63%) and visible information on how to report harassment (62%).

But there is more work to be done.

Hattie Jones, head of membership and sector development at ukactive, said of today's launch: “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. 

“Given the growing demand our sector sees from women and girls and the popularity of these services, it is vital that all facilities play their part in addressing the societal issues of sexual harassment and intimidation. 

“We are proud to work with This Girl Can and the dedicated Taskforce to develop this practical resource, which gives operators practical examples and ideas to reassure and support new and existing members to feel confident and safe.”