WOMAN UP are a collective of women Fitness and wellness instructors. We came together in 2021 to deliver a special virtual Zumba Fitness Class to celebrate International Women’s Day and to raise funds for the charity Refuge. Refuge supports women and children who have experienced domestic violence and abuse, a cause close to the hearts of our Queen Team.

The fitness and wellness industry we find ourselves in remains one in which women instructors are required to overcome countless barriers, sexism, misogyny, and judgements about their appearance and aesthetic. We also could not ignore the facts about the experience of Women as survivors and or witnesses to domestic violence and abuse. Not one member of our collective has avoided the impact of violence, abuse and the oppressive institutionalised cultures and values which are both a root cause and breeding ground for violence against women. We have all had to grow up and live with an ever-present fear, caution, and concern for our safety which thwarts our sense of self and our aspirations. We saw and took an opportunity to be a movement dedicated to bringing about change for our peers, our colleagues, our daughters, our female youth, ourselves, and ALL women who have experienced the same.

The WOMAN UP Virtual Class had over 120 attendees the impact of which was astounding for all involved including Refuge. The charity has received more than £5000 in donations and in-kind professional services from Woman Up since 2021. The WOMAN UP Queen Team did not know this project would resonate so powerfully with so many women nor that the planning and organisation of this class would resonate so powerfully amongst ourselves, hence why we are keeping the movement going. Afterall there is more work to be done. Going forward we want to do more at grass roots level, and we know we can best achieve by becoming a charity in our own right.

So, WOMAN UP is crowd funding. To become a registered charity, we need to generate income. Whilst we have things in the pipeline, your support on our crowdfunding page will help us to launch our fundraising future and empower us to begin the delivery of our charitable projects. Each of our projects serves to fulfil our objectives of Fitness, Wellness, Empowerment and Changed. Our fitness and wellness events will bring us together as a community of Queens and Kings, our hubs will be safe spaces in the community for our women and young girls to attend fitness classes, mindfulness sessions, explore therapeutic arts, access coaching and also our bespoke programmes and support centred around education, safety, safeguarding and mentoring. Your support will help us to make thing happen.

Through Fitness, Wellness and Empowerment we can and will elicit social Change. Through our collective skills, talents and energies we can support women and young girls. Especially those experiencing or having survived domestic violence and abuse, those who have been witness to these instances as children, as family and friends of survivors and also those women and young girls who have endured the insidious impacts of an oppressive culture of misogyny and inequality that pervades our social reality.

WOMAN UP is for ALL WOMEN! Be part of the movement TODAY and help us as we aim for Charity Status. #there’smoreworktodo.

Thank you, Queens and Kings…today and every day you WOMAN UP x