University of Bristol Sport, Exercise and Health will soon be offering gym sessions exclusively for members who self-identifies as female, to provide a safe, supportive and motivational space for physical activity. 

These sessions are a result of consultations which have taken place with our Bristol SU Women’s Network, Bristol SU Sport and Student Development, Rushab Shah, and Equality Officer, Jason Palmer, as well as student feedback received about our annual This Girl Can campaigns, and regular B:Active This Girl Can female-only swim and exercise classes. 

In 2019 our two-hour female-only #ThisGirlCan ‘gym takeover’ was attended by 230 students. Feedback from session attendees identified that the women-only environment provided a “safe” and a “non-judgmental” space for women, with many reporting feeling “intimidated” when using the gym at other times.  

It has also been acknowledged that members of our #WeAreBristol community, for religious and cultural reasons, require a women-only space for exercise.  

Visitors to these new sessions will have full access to all areas of the gym, including the free-weights and resistance machines, a functional fitness training area, cardio stations and stretching zones and will be staffed by our female Health and Fitness Advisors. There will also be a dedicated station within the free-weights area available for demonstrations with one of our instructors.