et again This Girl Can has been at the forefront of change, recently launching its #letsliftthecurfew campaign. Highlighting how many women face barriers to exercising outdoors once the daylight fades away, causing a drop in activity levels, the new research has shown 48% of us don’t like to be active outdoors after dark.
The campaign, which was kicked off with a 5K run around central London, aims to draw attention to women’s safety concerns preventing them getting active in the winter months. This Girl Can also held a parliamentary roundtable which brought together experts, academics, influencers and parliamentarians to discuss the safety issues women face when getting physically active outdoors, and how these can be overcome.
Feeling unsafe, anxious and vulnerable are just some of the sentiments women revealed they have experienced in the winter, when thinking about going for a run outside.
Kate Dale from TGC said: “As daylight hours diminish, many women are opting to stay indoors due to safety concerns, resulting in decreased activity levels.
“The impact of this on women’s health and wellbeing is of massive concern and requires both attention and intervention,” she says, “It’s not right that, for nearly half the year, we feel we have fewer options to be active in the ways that work for us.
“And even if we go out despite these fears, it’s harder to get the joy, freedom and confidence that physical activity can bring if you’re constantly looking over your shoulder or monitoring your surroundings,” she added.
“It’s yet another emotional barrier, something else we have to manage if we want to build activity into ourroutines and lives.”
#LetsLiftTheCurfew is part of This Girl Can’s
