Andy Devaney
There’s a quiet revolution happening on the gym floor. Across Britain, more children in gyms are swapping screens for squat racks, and the movement is gathering pace fast.
New research from ukactive and Sport England shows that Generation Alpha — those aged roughly between seven and 14 — are showing a surprisingly strong appetite for fitness. Nearly half of them say they want to be healthy as adults, while almost the same number believe that staying active is the key to getting there.
These findings, gathered through a Beano Brain survey of more than a thousand children, reveal a level of awareness rarely seen at that age. And Sport England’s latest Active Lives data backs it up. Participation among children in gyms and fitness facilities has climbed by 12 per cent in six years.
Around 1.7 million young people now take part in gym sessions, putting it comfortably inside the top ten most popular youth activities in the UK.
A Blueprint for the Next Generation
To help facilities keep up with the growing demand, ukactive has published fresh guidance titled Children and Young People in Gym and Group Exercise Facilities. It’s part of the organisation’s long-term “Next Generation” strategy — a plan to get one million more children active by 2030.
The document, drawn up with help from legal specialists, gym operators, and children’s activity experts, offers clear advice on how clubs can open their doors safely to youngsters aged eight and over.
It covers everything from appropriate class types to supervision standards and how to make sessions genuinely enjoyable rather than intimidating.
Examples from operators such as Everyone Active, Lifestyle Fitness, Les Mills, Nuffield Health and Oldham Active show how forward-thinking venues are already weaving young members into their timetables, proving that children in gyms aren’t a fad — they’re the future of the industry.
A Push for Government Backing
At present, fewer than half of children in England achieve the recommended hour of daily activity. ukactive argues that this is where joined-up policy could make the biggest difference, urging ministers to place physical activity at the heart of the upcoming National Youth Strategy and to strengthen links between schools and local gyms.
Huw Edwards, ukactive’s chief executive, said: “The demand and need for gym and fitness activities among children and young people has never been greater, and we know that children value being active in safe, supportive and accessible settings such as leisure centres and gyms.
“Our members are driving the activity levels of the next generation in ways that are fun and engaging, which is vital for positive and sustained physical and mental health going forward.
“We want the Government to work with us to go even further by ensuring our sector’s facilities and services can reach every community to help create a generation of happy, healthy and more active children.
“This guidance will help our members to engage the target of one million more children and young people across the UK by 2030.”
From Playgrounds to Press-Ups
The report also highlights a new partnership with the Greater London Authority, designed to bridge the gap between schools and local leisure providers. If the model works, it could be rolled out nationwide.
What’s clear is that children in gyms are no longer a niche group. They represent a cultural shift in how the next generation sees movement, confidence and wellbeing.
The hope now is that the Government will recognise that enthusiasm and help keep the doors to fitness open — for everyone, from age eight upwards.
To access the guidance, ‘Children and Young People in Gym and Group Exercise Facilities’, click here. To hear more about the guidance, register here for the ukactive Member Webinar on Thursday 27 November.
