Rose Hill women invited to free gym sessions

6:10pm Saturday 26th January 2013 in News

Lisa Harold Lisa Harold

WOMEN on an Oxford estate will be able to take advantage of free workouts in private thanks to special Lottery-funded exercise sessions.

All women who are Rose Hill residents can apply for the free gym classes at the Oxford Academy.

Windows of the gym will be covered to make it escpecially inviting to Muslim women who would otherwise need to cover up.

The 10 sessions led by a female instructor will start on Monday and are a partnership between the Rose Hill Lottery project and the communities team at the academy in Sandy Lane West, Littlemore.

Gym instructor Lisa Harrold will be leading the sessions.

The Rose Hill 26-year-old said: “I think it opens up the opportunity for women to stay fit and healthy.

“I will speak to them first as everyone is different but we won’t be doing anything hardcore.”

Fran Gardner, Rose Hill community worker, said: “This is a great opportunity for women to have exclusive use of these wonderful facilities.

“The staff at the academy are so considerate of women’s feelings and cultural needs.”

Five women have signed up so far but there are up to 20 spaces available.

Ms Gardner added: “It is not exclusive for Muslim women, but it is helpful for them because usually they can’t go to a gym in the same way that we can – it is much more restrictive for them, they cannot remove their hijab and they cannot show their arms or legs in front of men.”

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A hijab is a veil worn by Muslim women to cover their head.

The classes will run every Monday from 1.30pm to 2.45pm.

To book a place call Fran Gardener on 07770 324 277.

Comments (6)

8:04am Sun 27 Jan 13

Lord Palmerstone says...

I am aware of a Gateway Club (for handicapped children) in Hampshire which cannot access Lottery funding because it has no "ethnics".This is because not many "ethnics " live in its catchment and none of them is handicapped.
We do live in a very sad and ugly country indeed, do we not? Perhaps we should have full integration into the EU and be run by Germany. The above article describes exactly the political authoritarianism which would have happened had The Soviet Union and its Nazi allies been allowed to get away with it.
I am aware of a Gateway Club (for handicapped children) in Hampshire which cannot access Lottery funding because it has no "ethnics".This is because not many "ethnics " live in its catchment and none of them is handicapped. We do live in a very sad and ugly country indeed, do we not? Perhaps we should have full integration into the EU and be run by Germany. The above article describes exactly the political authoritarianism which would have happened had The Soviet Union and its Nazi allies been allowed to get away with it. Lord Palmerstone

9:56pm Sun 27 Jan 13

rabbitrr says...

PC gone stupid, and as I very much doubt that they are going to put a similar male only event on (can you just imagine the headlines if they did?) it's very discriminatory against men, but I guess that doesnt matter.
PC gone stupid, and as I very much doubt that they are going to put a similar male only event on (can you just imagine the headlines if they did?) it's very discriminatory against men, but I guess that doesnt matter. rabbitrr

11:14pm Sun 27 Jan 13

colin777 says...

sxcas
sxcas colin777

11:18pm Sun 27 Jan 13

colin777 says...

colin777 wrote:
sxcas
Absolute joke,there is no reason Muslim women cannot go to a gym without all this ridiculous covering up windows etc...this country is supposed to be free but we pander to sexist foreigners who get funding from the lottery that they dont even pay into.....joke
[quote][p][bold]colin777[/bold] wrote: sxcas[/p][/quote]Absolute joke,there is no reason Muslim women cannot go to a gym without all this ridiculous covering up windows etc...this country is supposed to be free but we pander to sexist foreigners who get funding from the lottery that they dont even pay into.....joke colin777

10:56am Mon 28 Jan 13

fat Barry says...

This is pure discrimination, and with the price of a lottery ticket soon to go up to £2, it's the perfect time for me to stop buying National Lottery tickets.

It's going to be the Health Lottery for me from now on.
This is pure discrimination, and with the price of a lottery ticket soon to go up to £2, it's the perfect time for me to stop buying National Lottery tickets. It's going to be the Health Lottery for me from now on. fat Barry

5:04pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Grunden Skip says...

colin777 wrote:
colin777 wrote:
sxcas
Absolute joke,there is no reason Muslim women cannot go to a gym without all this ridiculous covering up windows etc...this country is supposed to be free but we pander to sexist foreigners who get funding from the lottery that they dont even pay into.....joke
Maybe it is all this covering up that forced their men to seek solace elsewhere and end up in the old bailey. Their religion has a lot to answer for in modern day Britian, but silly me of course it doesn't, because it is above the law. But hopefully, not for the soon to be locked away kidnappers and drug suppliers and rapists of little girls.
[quote][p][bold]colin777[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]colin777[/bold] wrote: sxcas[/p][/quote]Absolute joke,there is no reason Muslim women cannot go to a gym without all this ridiculous covering up windows etc...this country is supposed to be free but we pander to sexist foreigners who get funding from the lottery that they dont even pay into.....joke[/p][/quote]Maybe it is all this covering up that forced their men to seek solace elsewhere and end up in the old bailey. Their religion has a lot to answer for in modern day Britian, but silly me of course it doesn't, because it is above the law. But hopefully, not for the soon to be locked away kidnappers and drug suppliers and rapists of little girls. Grunden Skip

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