Leisure centres in Croydon and Lewisham are part of a four-week project promoting screenings in hard-to-reach communities.
GLL, the charitable social enterprise that operates the ‘Better’ leisure centres, is working with NHS England on the scheme to encourage women from ‘hard to reach’ groups to attend NHS breast cancer screening appointments.
Instructors at the gyms are to talk to their classes about how important breast screenings are, encouraging women to attend when they receive their invitations and handing out wallet cards containing further information.
The pilot areas have been identified as places where the uptake of screenings is low.
This includes younger women, women living in areas of higher deprivation, ethnic minorities, disabled women, and those with accessibility issues.
The pilot project is part of a wider national NHS breast screening awareness initiative that includes broadcast and print advertising and social media campaign.
If successful, the scheme will be rolled out to all Better leisure centres across England in autumn 2025.
Joseph Rham, customer and communities director at GLL, said: “Breast screening has been proven to save lives, yet attendance levels for this free NHS service remain lower than before the pandemic.
“We hope that the relationships forged between our fitness class instructors and their groups, will give women the reassurance and confidence they need to attend a screening appointment.”
Caroline Clarke, regional director for the NHS in London, added: “There are lots of reasons why women may not go to their breast screening appointment, but if 80% of eligible women attended next year, more than 7,500 additional breast cancers could be identified at an earlier and more treatable stage.
“For most women, their breast screening appointment will provide peace of mind that they have no early signs of breast cancer, but when you receive your invitation, book your appointment – it could save your life.”
Breast cancer survivor and fitness instructor Judy Humphries also lends her voice to the campaign.
The yoga and pilates instructor said: “As a yoga and pilates instructor for Better, health and fitness has always been my top priority, so it came as a shock when I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“However, it can happen to anyone but the earlier it’s found the better your chances of successful treatment.
“Therefore, I always encourage women to attend their screening appointment when invited.
“It doesn’t cost anything, so show up for yourself and your loved ones by attending the appointment, it could end up saving your life.”
Women in the UK are invited for their first routine mammogram between the age of 50 and 53, with further invitations every three years until they reach 71.
It is estimated that screening prevents 1,300 deaths each year and identified cancers in 18,942 women in England in 2024.
