A local leisure centre is celebrating International Women’s Day by offering a range of free activities at its recently launched women’s only gym on Wednesday 8 March.

Abbey Leisure Centre, run by Everyone Active in partnership with London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council, invested £350,000 into the new gym space, transforming an unused area into a modern and contemporary women’s only gym.

Since opening the new gym, the centre has reported a rise in women joining, with 60 per cent of new gym memberships purchased by females.

From 6:30am to 10pm, the site will be offering a range of women’s only sessions including free personal training taster sessions and group exercise classes with female instructors - marking the global day to celebrate women. 

Activities will be open to members and non-members, with existing members invited to bring a female friend to use the facilities for free on the day.

Hasan Romel, contract manager at Everyone Active, said: The launch of our women’s only gym has been a huge success and we’re thrilled to be offering women from our local community the opportunity to come and try out our brilliant facilities – showcasing our continued support.

“We’re really looking forward to an inclusive day of wonderful fun activities at Abbey Leisure Centre to celebrate and bring attention to International Women’s Day. Come down and explore what we have on offer.”

Councillor Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement, said: “What a way to celebrate International Women’s Day with a host of free activities!

“It’s clear there’s a real appetite for women-only facilities like this. Keeping fit and having the space to do so comfortably is really important.

“We’re hoping this breaks down some of those barriers and encourages more of the women in our borough to use these facilities and to pop along and take advantage of these free sessions.”

All sessions will be bookable via the app, online and in centre. To find out more, please visit: www.everyoneactive.com/centre/abbey-leisure-centre/abbey-leisure-centre-women-only-gym/

The women’s only gym is open from 6:30am to 10pm, Monday to Friday and 8am to 8pm on Saturday and Sunday.