A gym in Grangetown, which has members from diverse cultural backgrounds, sees an uncertain future as it will soon run out of funding.
A free female-only gym in Cardiff may be forced to close as it will run out of funding in the next few months.
Gym founder, Shaunna Driscoll, started this initiative in August 2021, to offer a safe space for women to workout at the Grangetown Girls and Boys Club. However, the short-term funding from Community Foundation Wales will only last till April.
“Hopefully, we get something in beforehand so that we can keep it going, even if it’s not from them. As much as we would love it to be, because obviously they’ve helped us on this journey so far, so it would be amazing if they could extend it, but if not, hopefully somebody else,” said Shaunna.
She decided to open this venue on Earl Lane, for women to train as there aren’t many spaces that are female-only.
With recent cases of crimes against women in the country, she stated that it is not uncommon for women to be attacked while they’re exercising at the gym. “I think, here, it eliminates that,” said Shaunna.
Sofia, a member at the gym said, “I feel like this is a nice place because we girls can work out without thinking there’s going to be danger or guys staring and so we do need more funding because we need to keep up with this as it’s helping a lot of women feel a bit more comfortable.”
Shaunna aimed to make the place welcoming for women who are culturally bound to not be able to go to mixed gyms.
“I think it’s really sad that we’re not at that point in society where we actually have those opportunities for everyone,” said Shaunna. She stated that with Cardiff being a diverse city, women who cannot workout in mixed gyms because of their cultural beliefs, should have access to fitness as well. “For me, it was female-only fitness that was the way forward,” she said.
The gym that has over 40 members, helps women who are combating mental health-related issues, stay fit, according to Shaunna.
“We have a range of different ladies that come from different backgrounds and different reasons why they’re here,” said Shaunna. “Whether it’s a coping mechanism for depression, anxiety and PTSD, or just simply trying to lose weight that they maybe put on through Covid or even like health anxiety as well, Covid and the pandemic has put that into a lot of people. A lot of the women coming through the door are worried about their health because of recent situations that we’ve been in.”
Bridget, who started working out at the gym recently, stated that it has been a lifesaver. “The fact that it’s free; I’m on a very low income so it’s an opportunity for me to have an excuse to come out of the house and socialise. Especially the last couple of years, because of the pandemic and lockdown, I think my social anxiety has just gotten worse and worse and so I can see this sort of helping to sort of just bring me out of my shell again and build up my confidence a little bit,” she said.
The initiative to set up the gym, which is open for four days of the week, was met with positive responses. “I’m not culturally bound to not go into mixed gyms, so I didn’t know whether it was going to take off, obviously being white, British. I didn’t know how it was going to take off, is anyone going to take to me…but it’s been absolutely amazing. I never ever expected it to be this good,” said Shaunna.
“I think women only, you kind of empower each other a little bit more and it’s just about a much better environment, and safer,” she said.
She aspires to set up more branches to help women who are culturally bound not to train in mixed gyms, through their fitness journey, and thus, hope to obtain funding soon.
If you would like to get involved with the gym, email: Shaunnadriscoll@outlook.com