A Bradford running club is backing a national campaign aimed at helping women feel safer exercising after dark, as concerns over personal safety continue to influence how many people use public spaces during the winter months.
Idle Athletic Club (AC) is once again supporting Let's Lift the Curfew on October 29, as part of a nationwide initiative from This Girl Can which highlights the impact darker nights can have on women’s freedom to exercise, socialise and travel independently.
The campaign comes as West Yorkshire Police continues to roll out a new initiative designed to tackle predatory behaviour and improve safety for women and girls across the region.
Growing number of women joining club
Naomi Clegg, secretary of Idle AC, said the club had seen a significant rise in female membership over the past few years.
She said: "The amount of ladies that have now joined the club and regularly come to our two sessions a week speaks for itself. Women feel safer running with other people, especially in the winter months."
Ms Clegg said many women change their routines as daylight hours shorten, often opting to run in groups rather than alone.
She said: "I feel much happier and much safer running in a pack than running on my own.
"If you run together, you're not going to be hounded as much or cat-called, and you don't feel as threatened."
Runners from Idle AC. The club says group running can help people feel safer and more supported during the autumn and winter months. (Image: Idle AC/ Facebook)
'You make those decisions without thinking'
The Let's Lift the Curfew campaign was launched to challenge what organisers describe as the "curfew" imposed on women by fears around safety after dark.
Ms Clegg said many of the precautions women take have become second nature.
She said: "If I go out for a run at night, I'll stick to the main roads, I'll go with my dog and I'll make sure my location is on."
She added that while safety concerns can affect everyone, women are often forced to consider factors their male counterparts may never think about.
Ms Clegg said: "My husband and son are both runners and they wouldn't even think about it."
New police initiative launched
The campaign is taking place alongside the launch of Project Vigilant, a proactive policing operation by West Yorkshire Police and the Mayor's Women's Safety Unit.
The initiative sees specially trained officers working with local authorities, transport providers, businesses and licensed venues to identify and disrupt concerning behaviour before offences take place.
Police say the project forms part of wider efforts to tackle violence against women and girls, with officers trained to identify behaviours such as following people, making inappropriate sexual comments or attempting to isolate vulnerable individuals.
Community support
Idle AC, which has been running for more than 20 years, meets twice a week at Hepworth & Idle Cricket Club and caters for runners of all abilities.
The club will host its latest Let's Lift the Curfew event at 6.30pm on Thursday, October 29, inviting women to run, jog or walk a 5km route around the area.
Ms Clegg said the club wanted to show people they do not have to face darker evenings alone.
She said: "We absolutely encourage everybody to come along.We don't leave anybody behind and there's always support there."
Ms Clegg added: "We're a small club, but we're a very friendly club. We want people to keep exercising and not feel like the dark nights are a reason to stop."
Have your say
Have you changed your running, walking or exercise habits because of safety concerns after dark? Do you take extra precautions during the winter months?
The T&A would like to hear from women across Bradford about their experiences. Email jessica.blissitt@newsquest.co.uk.