954

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

Abi Sharples
Charles Ladbrook
Sophie Weddell
Samantha Singh
Louisa Brolly
Camilla Alton
Andy Wright
Eleanor
Cheryl Oksuz
Alex Gledhill
Ellen Craddock
Destiny Crowe
Jo Goodrum
Emily Munster
Zoe D'Avignon
Felicity
Sian Wicks
Amanda Law
Nicole Hunt
Verity Gow
Claire Herbert
Clare Shearers
Angela Halton
Lena Kraus
Geraldine Vaughan
Nina Hamilton
Johno Fagan
Roz Hughes
Alison Kaye
Stella Isolde
Klejda
Jenny Secretan
Julie Adams
Kelly Ellis
Daphne Caton
Hannah Robinson-Schofield
Hazel Morris
Damilare Williams-Shires
Naomi Louise Myers
Helen Woodruff
Claudine Muller
Laura Boswell
Sallie Tillson
Eryn Walkers
Maggie Davies
Lottie Salako
Julie Osman
Laura Chesson
Rachel Glynn
Kyle Ellis

Stop sexual harassment in gyms

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