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This Girl Can calls for action on women's freedom to be active after dark

The annual Let's Lift the Curfew movement returns with over 320 organised runs and a renewed demand for change so women can exercise safely outside during the darker months.

27th October 2025

With the clocks now turned back and darker evenings setting in, our This Girl Can campaign is calling time on the curfew that restricts women’s freedom to be active after dark.

This week, thousands of women and their allies will take to streets, parks and trails across the country in support of Let’s Lift the Curfew – a nationwide movement that highlights how safety fears force many women to change their behaviour when the nights draw in. 

At a time of year when many people struggle with the challenges that cold and dark weather bring, being unable to safely get active could negatively affect women’s physical and mental health.

Now in its third year, the campaign has grown into an annual moment of solidarity, amplifying women’s voices and promoting cultural awareness and allyship to tackle the barriers that stop many women from moving freely outdoors in winter – from fear of harassment and abuse to poor lighting.

Runners pose with Let's Lift the Curfew signs in front of glow-in-the-dark footprints at night in Manchester

This Girl Can research found that almost three-quarters (72%) of women in the UK change their outdoor activity routines during winter.

The data also shone a light on the precautions women take to stay safe when getting active outdoors after the clocks have gone back. One in four (24%) said they prioritise well-lit routes, almost a quarter (23%) avoid certain areas altogether, and one in five (20%) glance behind them to ensure they’re not being followed.

Our marketing director Kate Dale said: "Every year when the clocks go back, women everywhere see their world get smaller – not because they want to, but because they don’t feel safe going out after dark.

"Women’s safety continues to dominate headlines – an ever-present, stark reminder that this issue hasn’t gone away. And these aren’t isolated stories; they reflect a daily reality that too many of us have accepted for too long. Let’s Lift the Curfew is our response to that: a collective stand that says ‘enough’.

"Women shouldn’t have to change their behaviour to stay safe; society should change the behaviours that make them feel unsafe. We’ll keep shouting about it until we see change and we want everyone to raise their voices with us. Because the more of us that speak out, the harder it is to ignore.

"Our movement is powered by community, empathy and allyship. When we come together, we show that belonging starts when everyone feels free to move."

With support from GoodGym and England Athletics, more than 320 events from Brighton to Newcastle this week symbolise a shared commitment to reclaiming public spaces and showing that women’s safety when they choose to be active is everyone’s responsibility.

People everywhere are encouraged to join a local event or host their own, logging their activity on Strava and sharing it on social media using #LetsLiftTheCurfew and tagging @thisgirlcanuk. 

A runner writes on a glow-in-the-dark footprint sticker on the ground.

Let’s Lift the Curfew is also a call to action, urging communities, organisations and local authorities to contribute to lasting change – from fostering greater education and cultural awareness around women’s safety and allyship, to ensuring public spaces and outdoor areas are designed with women’s needs in mind.

Find out more

Let's Lift The Curfew

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