Let’s Lift The Curfew
Essington Harriers Running Club are proud to be supporting the Let’s Lift The Curfew UK wide campaign launched by This Girl Can & supported by England Athletics.
Every year, the clocks go back – and every year, women’s worlds shrink. When the clocks go back , millions of women across the UK will once again see their world get smaller as the nights get darker. Safety concerns affect where they go, when they go, who they go with and whether they can be active outdoors at all.
No woman should have to change where, when or how she gets active in darker months because of safety concerns.
Whether shaped by past experiences, stories they’ve heard, or not feeling comfortable or confident in a particular place after dark, many women are unable to be active outdoors or use public spaces in the same way that men do.
In fact, nearly three-quarters (72%) of women in the UK change their outdoor activity routines during winter, according to our 2023 data. This impacts women’s health and wellbeing and reinforces the stubborn gender activity gap which sees half a million fewer active women than men.
Research from This Girl Can shows:
- more than half (55%) of women feel unsafe exercising outdoors alone after dark, compared with a third (33%) of men
- 69% of women fear sexual harassment when exercising outdoors after dark – up from 60% in 2023
- more than two thirds (67%) of women believe rising online misogyny and anti-women attitudes are making women feel less safe outdoors
- nearly half (47%) of men admit they underestimate women’s safety concerns
- almost half (48%) of men recognise they have to think about their own safety less than women do.
Run Clubs & Groups in the area
Essington Harriers are an England Athletics registered running club, we run on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm. We run in groups based on your pace, so no one is ever left to run on their own.
We’re not the only club in town – below are the details of other running clubs and groups in the local area.
Sneyd Running Club
England Athletics Running Club
📅 Tuesday & Thursday
🕖 7pm
📍Short Heath Royal British Legion Club, Willenhall, WV12 5PT
Willenhall Running Group
Local running group
📅 Wednesday
🕖 7pm
📍East Park, Hickman Avenue, WV1 2DS
Cheslyn Hay & Great Wyrley Running Group
Local running group
- Monday – 5.30am & 6am
- Wednesday – 5.30am & 6am
- Friday – 5.30am & 6am
- Saturday – 8am
📍Car Park at the bottom of Rosemary Road
All Girls Can.
Reclaiming the streets after dark. Because running isn’t just for daylight hours, and safety shouldn’t be a privilege.
Emergency Location: Share your live location with a trusted friend or family member.
Claim the Night: You have the right to run, train, and be active at any time of day, running after dark shouldn’t be exclusive to men; women belong on the streets and in parks just as much.
Visibility is Safety: Running in groups, clubs, or with a partner is encouraged. Seeing more women running after dark helps normalise it and makes the activity feel safer for everyone.
Be Bright, Be Seen, Be Safe: Wear high-visibility clothing and a head/chest torch to allow yourself to be easily seen, and so you can clearly see your surroundings.
Choose your Route: Trust your instincts, if something doesn’t feel right, change your route or location. Well-lit and popular run routes are preferable.
Help us Lift The Curfew.
Shared streets start with shared awareness. Be part of the solution to make after-dark running safe for everyone.
Be an Ally, Not a Bystander: Understand that your presence can be perceived differently by a woman running alone.
Be Mindful When Passing: When running up behind a woman, make a conscious effort to make your presence known well in advance, in a neutral non-patronising way, for example call out “Runner approaching”
Adjust Your Pace: Slow down, cross the street, or take other actions to create space and reduce any potential anxiety.
Call Out Inappropriate Behavior: If you witness harassment or intimidating behaviour, challenge it safely if you feel able to do so, or report it.
Join the Conversation: Show your support by participating in “Let’s Lift the Curfew” runs or using the campaign messaging to encourage open dialogue within your running club or community..
