Meet the woman helping abuse victims stay active

A gym in Worcestershire has started offering free exercise classes for women who have experienced domestic abuse.

It is the brainchild of Chloe Cartwright, an accountant from Birmingham, who said there was a "missing gap" in support for victims, with classes designed to help rebuild confidence and improve mental wellbeing.

The 27-year-old said her self-funded Lift The Weight sessions would start at Valhalla Gym in Redditch at the end of September, with 20 women signing up within 24 hours of applications opening.

"The response I've had from people has just motivated me to keep going and keep doing it," she said, adding: "I've realised how much of a need there is for something like this."

The sessions will last for 45 minutes and consist of low-impact training such as Reformer Pilates, which will be followed by a group chat.

"Each week we'll look at different topics, such as body positivity and we'll do mood boards, and each week we'll ask the ladies for feedback," Cartwright said.

"We want to make it for them and adapt to their needs."

Cartwright began training at the Redditch gym about a year ago and said she got the immediate sense it had a "community feeling", which she says she is hoping to create with her new group of women.

"For lots of women who have suffered domestic abuse, a gym can be a very intimidating place.

"The thought of going by themselves... from the people I've spoken to they would never dream of doing so.

"I've made it so they will have a private entrance so they won't have to walk through the main gym and then they'll be greeted by me.

"I'll take them through the back entrance and I've put up privacy curtains inside the gym so when the sessions are run it'll be completely separate.

"We're also getting all the windows frosted so no one can see in and basically, we're trying to build a little community and get their confidence back."

The idea for the classes came when a member of her gym opened up about their own experience of domestic abuse.

"She explained how much the gym had been helping her with her confidence and getting out there to feel like a part of society again."

Some of the personal trainers at the gym also spoke about their experience and have helped design the first programme.

Cartwright said she was also inspired to act by her mum's experience of domestic abuse.

"I haven't suffered from domestic abuse myself but I watched my mum be in a relationship where we were affected by it," she said.

"People assume that domestic abuse only affects the person who has been affected directly but there is an indirect effect from domestic abuse.

"Just watching my mum when I was younger and seeing how she was affected by different relationships caused long-term effects.

"I grew up in not the nicest community so I've also seen it in a lot of women that are my friends and family."

She added: "I've been moved by a lot of people's stories and feel like this is something that is needed.

"I don't know where the motivation to do this has come from but I'm just going with the flow, and I'm really enjoying it.

"The women I've spoken to are the ones giving me the motivation to keep going."

Asked what she hoped participants would get out of the classes, Cartwright said: "The long-term plan is to get them comfortable so they can go to the gym themselves without needing the group.

"Obviously, the group will always be there for them but the hope is they feel confident enough to go by themselves or make friends via the group and go to the gym together."

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