WIREDGOV

Our award-winning campaign has teamed up with EMD UK to create sessions for women that are low intensity, fun and great for all fitness levels.

This Girl Can is launching a new range of group exercise classes powered by the award-winning campaign.

Our national campaign, which encourages women to be active in any way that works for them, has teamed up with EMD UK – the national governing body for group exercise – to offer lower intensity, fun and supportive sessions for women who may otherwise not feel comfortable attending group exercise classes.

More than 1,500 people have registered their interest to train as class instructors and, with 21 major leisure operators already signed up – including Places Leisure and Mytime Active – there will be more This Girl Can classes available across the country in 2022.

The classes, that call on women to “Come and do your worst”, were also designed to be able to be used as part of social prescribing schemes in the future.

Tim Hollingsworth, our chief executive, said the concept was a fantastic opportunity to encourage more women to build physical activity into their lives.

“Despite the enormous progress we have made with supporting more women to get active in recent years, the gender gap for activity stubbornly persists,” he explained. 

“It’s never been more important; getting active boosts mental and physical health, helps manage anxiety and stress and creates social ties – but millions of women are missing out on these benefits.

“Providers were approaching Sport England to say that they felt that This Girl Can – with its ethos of fun and freedom from judgement, regardless of ability  – was the ideal brand and campaign to appeal to less active women who need their confidence built up.

“It’s an exciting moment for us and the fitness and physical activity sector, and we will support EMD UK to roll out This Girl Can classes all over the country by early next year.”

Click here for the full press release