The UK Fitness Industry Association (FIA) has launched a new set of guidelines for members who would want to offer gym use and group exercise to children.

David Stalker, CEO, FIA said: “Over the last few years, the FIA has received more and more enquiries requesting information to allow children into gyms.

Therefore, working in partnership with other experts we have launched a competent set of guidelines for our members who would like children to take part in their gym-based activities.

“It is ultimately up to an individual leisure centre to decide if they allow members of the public under 18 to use their facility, however, at a time when child obesity is rife, we would encourage them to promote a healthy lifestyle for this age group by opening their doors to children and using these new guidelines to ensure a safe and healthy environment is provided.”

The guidelines cover areas such as appropriate insurance, risk assessment and policies to ensure the necessary permissions, pre-screening and safeguarding measures, as well as advice on appropriate marketing for the under-18 age group.

Additionally, the guidelines also look at the training and qualifications required to adapt exercise sessions to accommodate children into mainstream adult sessions.

The guidelines are available now in the members’ area of the ukactive website (formerly the FIA).