Almost three-quarters (72%) of women in the UK change their outdoor activity routines during winter – and our Let’s Lift the Curfew movement is calling for that to end.
New research we've released today highlights the precautions women are taking to stay safe when getting active outdoors after the clocks have gone back.
One in four (24%) ensure to take well-lit routes, almost a quarter (23%) avoid certain areas altogether and one in five (20%) glance behind them to ensure they’re not being followed.
A similar study last year found under half (46%) of women were changing their outdoor activity routines during the darker months, indicating a rise in safety concerns and the impact of shorter daylight hours on women's ability to get active as winter approaches.
Returning for a second year, Let’s Lift the Curfew challenges the idea of a curfew during winter months which prevents women getting out and enjoying getting active.
To mark the onset of the curfew after the official end of summertime on Sunday (27 October 2024), we invited hundreds of runners to take to the streets as part of Let’s Lift the Curfew runs across the country.
From Southampton to Durham, more than 100 runs symbolised a collective effort to defy the restrictions women feel during the darker months and demand urgent change to tackle women’s safety fears.
A flagship run in Manchester featured a glow-in-the-dark display of UV-lit footsteps which lit up the ground with words such as 'vulnerable', 'anxious' and 'afraid', spotlighting the feelings women experience when getting active outdoors after the clocks go back.
And our director of marketing Kate Dale wants the event to be the catalyst for meaningful collective action to tackle the issue.
"Women should have the freedom to run, walk, or cycle without the fear of what might happen in the dark," she said.
"Yet many feel they have no choice but to change their routes, routines, or avoid exercising outdoors completely when the sun goes down. This isn’t just inconvenient – it’s an injustice.
"Violence against women and girls is an epidemic, and our research suggests that women’s safety fears getting active in winter have worsened over the past year. This should be a wake-up call for everyone – women, men, allies, and all sectors – to confront the issue head-on, with urgency and action.
"Let’s Lift the Curfew is demanding lasting change so that every woman can move freely and safely. Women deserve to feel confident, strong, and safe when they’re getting active, day or night, and we won’t stop until that becomes the reality."
Last year, Sport England held a discussion in parliament about the issue of women’s safety and physical activity. This year, we're spotlighting five action areas to advocate for systemic change: