Exercise and physical activity safe environments for women (ExerSafe) is a 24-month Capacity building in the field of sport initiative. It is driven by the understanding that women face unique barriers to physical activity and sport participation, particularly those related to feelings and perceptions of safety in traditionally male-dominated environments. The overarching goal is to promote the creation of harassment-free and gender-sensitive sport spaces to increase and consolidate Health Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) for women.

Key activities include analysing women’s needs regarding safety and comfort in physical activity spaces, creating online learning opportunities for sport professionals (trainers, coaches, gym staff) on building gender-equal spaces, and delivering a set of guidelines for stakeholders on gender equality and harassment prevention.

The project also aims to directly boost women’s confidence and participation by organising “ExerSafe” mixed sessions (sport + education) designed to promote positive social relationships and enhance physical literacy. Finally, it will test the effectiveness of these various strategies through a pilot implementation in clubs, fitness centers, and other sport spaces.