Following the launch of the operator communications guide ‘From Policy to Practice: How to Share Your Stance Against Harassment in Your Facility’, we hear from a private and a public operator around how they have been involved in the Safer Spaces to Move project and how they are implementing the guide to continue welcoming women and girls into their facilities.
We speak to Gabriella Macis, Marketing Manager at Gymbox and Jill Davidson, Head of Marketing, Communications & Sales at Edinburgh Leisure.
What actions does your organisation currently take to ensure women and girls feel welcomed and included?
Gabriella, Gymbox: At Gymbox, creating environments where women and girls feel safe, confident, and welcome is an ongoing operational priority. We are currently reviewing and strengthening our club rules and policies to ensure expectations around respectful behaviour are clear, visible, and consistently applied. This includes work underway to improve how club rules are communicated in-gym and during onboarding.
We are also creating a formal Code of Conduct for Personal Trainers and Instructors, alongside updates to onboarding processes, to ensure behaviour standards are clear from day one. Staff training is being reinforced to build confidence in identifying, challenging, and escalating inappropriate behaviour, including sexual harassment or intimidation.
From an environmental perspective, we are reviewing changing room signage and accessibility, with a focus on clarity, safety, and inclusion. We aim to communicate our standards in a calm, values-led way, reinforcing that Gymbox is a place where everyone can train without fear of judgement, harassment, or unwanted attention.
Jill, Edinburgh Leisure: At Edinburgh Leisure, we are dedicated to ensuring that women and girls feel welcomed, valued, and included across all our facilities. Our organisational policies promote equality, inclusivity, and respect for all members and visitors.
Staff regularly participate in training sessions that cover topics such as diversity, safeguarding, and customer care, equipping them to support a safe and positive environment. Communication throughout our centres reinforces our commitment to inclusion, and we continually review the layout and atmosphere of our facilities to ensure they are accessible, comfortable, and inviting for everyone.
As part of our ongoing efforts, we offer a dedicated women’s only session for adult women at Leith Victoria Swim Centre, designed to accommodate those with cultural or personal preferences for single-gender environments. We strive to proactively foster a culture where women and girls feel empowered to train, wherever they are within the city.
Can you describe your organisation’s involvement in the Safer Spaces to Move project and why you wanted to be part of it?
Gabriella, Gymbox: Gymbox joined the Safer Spaces to Move project because it aligns strongly with our belief that fitness spaces should actively support people, particularly women and marginalised groups, to move freely and confidently. As a brand operating busy, urban gyms, we recognise that intimidation and harassment can be subtle, situational, and difficult to challenge without clear frameworks in place.
We wanted to be part of the project to move beyond good intentions and towards practical, sector-informed action. The Taskforce provides an opportunity to review our policies, language, and operational responses against best practice, while learning from other brands in the sector.
Our involvement has helped us think more critically about how safety is experienced day to day, not just how it is written into policy. It has also reinforced the importance of consistency across staff behaviour, signage, onboarding, and escalation processes.
Jill, Edinburgh Leisure: Edinburgh Leisure is proud to be one of the many voices contributing to the Safer Spaces to Move project.
We joined the project to actively support the creation of environments where everyone, especially women and girls, can participate in physical activity with confidence and assurance.
Our involvement reflects our belief in the importance of partnership and shared learning, as we work together with organisations nationwide to uphold best practice and inspire positive change. By taking part, we aim to help shape a future where safety and empowerment are at the heart of every physical activity and sporting experience.
Has being part of the Safer Spaces to Move Taskforceimpactedhow you address sexual harassment and intimidation?
Gabriella, Gymbox: Yes, being part of the Safer Spaces to Move Taskforce has shaped how we approach sexual harassment and intimidation, particularly in terms of confidence, clarity, and consistency. Internally, it has strengthened our understanding that prevention is as important as response, and that clear expectations reduce ambiguity for both members and staff.
In practice, this has contributed to ongoing work around clearer codes of conduct, refreshed staff training, and improved guidance on how to respond proportionately and calmly when issues arise.
The Taskforce has also reinforced the importance of values-led communication, reassuring members that standards are in place without escalating fear or amplifying issues unnecessarily. Overall, it has supported a more structured and confident approach to safeguarding while maintaining an inclusive and welcoming environment.
Jill, Edinburgh Leisure: Our participation in the Safer Spaces to Move Taskforce has further strengthened our commitment to vigilance and continuous improvement. The project has provided us with fresh perspectives and practical tools, enhancing our staff’s confidence and deepening organisational understanding of how to maintain proactive safety measures.
We have reviewed and refined our practices, ensuring that our approach to safeguarding remains robust and responsive, and that women and girls always feel safe, respected, and empowered in our centres.
Edinburgh Leisure remains committed to taking a proactive stance to ensure that all venues continue to be inclusive and accessible for everyone, regardless of background or identity. We are committed to fostering environments that are open to all, continually evaluating our policies and practices to support inclusivity and equality through.
To read the guide, From Policy to Practice: How to Share Your Stance Against Harassment in Your Facility, click here.
