956

of 2,000 signatures

To The UK Fitness Industry

Petition text

Dear Humphrey Cobbold CEO, Pure Gym; Richard Darwin CEO, The Gym Group; Martin Long CEO, DW Fitness First; Matthew Bucknall CEO, Virgin Active; Steve Gray CEO, Nuffield Health

For the past 5 months we have all been forced to take our workouts out of the gyms and into our homes. Frustratingly, this has meant less space and less equipment. But for women there has been an upside - less harassment from men.

Today, April 12th, gyms reopened across the nation and women were reminded of the constant sexual harassment that comes with working out. The secretly filming us while we squat, the constant staring, the creepy comments and the following us around the gym floor. 81 percent of women have even changed their routine to avoid being harassed (FitRated survey).

If gyms want women’s business, they need to make it their business to keep us safe.

We are calling upon every gym, big or small, to implement a robust anti sexual harassment plan, including:

1) Mandatory anti harassment training for all staff, including PTs
2) Educating all members as part of their induction
3) A clear and safe reporting process for victims
4) Signage within the gym including changing rooms, reminding men not to harass
5) A disciplinary for first time-offenders and instant ban for repeat offenders
6) An industry-wide offender blacklist

We don’t a token PR response from you, we want an open and productive dialogue.

Signed,
The 97 March
Gym Safe Ladies

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Signers list

Jasmine Puttock
Jo Smith
Olivia Wright
Jasmine Stockman
Becca Kirkpatrick
Sonia B Davis
Anne Toms
Bradley B
Eileen Graham
Fiona Tibbitt
Barbara Trim
Rachael Revesz
Sophie Ottley
Katy Tonge
Jennifer Carey
Margaret Grundy
Chris Etchells
Phoebe Cleary
Sally Churchward
Neil Griffiths
Julie de Havilland
Lucy Peaty
Justine Hargrove
Michelle Watts
Jenny Secretan
Rebekah Mcgrane
Anne Moir
Becky Smith
Margarita Todorova-Dachkova
Kate Siddall
Susan Wilshin
Jordan Dinwiddie
Rachel Glynn
Naomi Curtis
Jane Singer
Penny Russell
Nova Jordan
Veronica Ranieri
Julie Hanna
Rangi Tari
nina freer
Felicity
Nadia Ahmed
Josephine Hillda Rockson
Fiona Pot
Iara de Almeida Ivo
Clare Munks
Amber Sourbron
Pauline Dixon
Debbie Chazen

Stop sexual harassment in gyms

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