Protect Women-Only Swimming Access in Leicester Leisure Centre

We are calling on Leicester City Council and the relevant leisure centre management to protect women-only swimming access at all Leicester Leisure Centres.

We are local women, residents, mothers, carers, and community members who are deeply concerned about the gradual reduction in accessibility, suitability, and comfort around women-only swimming sessions.

For many women, especially women from ethnic minority backgrounds, faith communities, disabled women, older women, mothers, carers, and women who feel uncomfortable in mixed settings, women-only swimming is not simply a preference. It is often the only realistic way they are able to access swimming, exercise, and leisure facilities in a way that feels comfortable, safe, and suitable for them.

Many women attend these sessions for important health and medical reasons. Some attend because of health conditions, mobility issues, pain, recovery, mental health, weight management, or because swimming has been recommended by a doctor or health professional. For these women, swimming is not just leisure; it is part of maintaining their physical and mental wellbeing.

We are concerned that recent changes and ongoing issues are making these sessions less accessible. These include:

* Lack of female lifeguards during women-only swimming sessions

* The introduction or increased use of male lifeguards during women-only sessions

* Increased costs, making attendance harder for women, families, and low-income women

* Shorter session times, reducing the benefit and value of attending

* Disabled women and women using the disabled shower room losing part of their swimming time because they need to shower and change before male users begin coming into the area

* Gym facilities across sites being mixed, leaving fewer suitable options for women who require female-only spaces

* A general feeling that women-only provision is slowly being reduced rather than supported

These changes have a real impact.

Many women already face barriers to exercise, including childcare, cost, cultural needs, modesty requirements, health concerns, disability, confidence, isolation, and lack of suitable spaces. Women-only swimming provides a vital opportunity for women to get out of the house, improve their physical health, support their mental wellbeing, build confidence, and feel part of the wider community.

If these sessions become more expensive, shorter, less private, or less accommodating, many women have already stopped attending, and many more may stop attending in future. This would be a step backwards for public health, inclusion, equality, and community wellbeing.

We understand that making physical changes to the building layout may require major work. However, practical steps can still be taken to protect women’s dignity, privacy, and access. This could include allowing sufficient additional time after women-only swimming sessions so that women, including disabled women and those using the disabled shower room, can shower, change, and leave comfortably before male users enter the area.

We are also concerned that female-only gym sessions previously available are no longer taking place. As gym facilities are generally mixed, many women who require female-only spaces have already lost access to suitable exercise options. This has created understandable worry that women-only swimming may gradually be reduced in the same way.

We are asking Leicester City Council and the relevant leisure centre management to listen carefully to the women affected by these changes and to protect women-only swimming provision. In particular, we ask that:

1. Women-only swimming sessions are maintained and not reduced.

2. All-female lifeguard teams are provided for all women-only swimming sessions.

3. Session prices remain affordable and accessible.

4. Session times are not shortened, and ideally are extended where demand exists.

5. Women are given enough time and practical privacy arrangements to shower, change, and leave with dignity before male users enter the area.

6. Clear privacy procedures are put in place, especially for disabled women and women using the disabled shower room at Spence Street.

7. The impact of mixed gym provision and the removal of female-only gym sessions is reviewed.

8. Local women are properly consulted before any further changes are made to women-only swimming or fitness provision.

9. The council recognises the importance of women-only sessions for ethnic minority women, faith communities, disabled women, women with health conditions, women’s health, mental wellbeing, and social inclusion.

10. Female-only fitness and leisure provision is supported and strengthened, rather than gradually reduced.

We also ask whether local women were properly consulted before these changes were made. Decisions about women-only swimming and women-only fitness provision should not be made without listening to the women who rely on these services.

Leisure centres should be places that encourage participation, not places where women feel pushed away, excluded, or made to feel that their needs are not important. We want to work positively with the council and leisure centre management to ensure that women from all backgrounds can continue to access swimming and exercise in a way that supports their dignity, health, and wellbeing.

Please sign this petition to help protect accessible, affordable, and dignified women-only swimming provision in Leicester.