“Everything we do is designed to ensure no one feels the way I did at 19 or 20,” explains Steph Barney. Sat side by side on a leather couch in Arts Bar, the scene of their first ever event in 2023 (a wine glass painting night that garnered some 100k views—pretty impressive for a debut event that sold out in five minutes), co-founders Steph Barney and Martin Mach are delving deep into Girls On The Go’s beginnings.

What began as a running club in Liverpool quickly grew into something far bigger. Described by Steph as “a social enterprise aiming to make the UK a less lonely place for women,” today Girls On The Go hosts a packed weekly line-up of events spanning fitness, creativity and social connection, with communities now established in Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and, most recently, Birmingham (Martin’s home city).

Loneliness is something felt all too often - according to research published by the Office of National Statistics in 2025, 33% of Britons aged 16 to 29 reported feeling lonely “often, always or some of the time” - and something Steph experienced firsthand after moving to the UK from France for university during Covid. “I experienced a real culture shock - many social activities revolved around alcohol, which just wasn’t for me. I’ve never known that.

“I struggled to make friends and felt very isolated throughout most of my university experience. When I eventually did make a friend, unfortunately he sexually assaulted me and then I was left feeling more isolated than ever,” she explains.

Her experiences became the catalyst for everything that followed. “When we created Girls On The Go, and heard other women sharing similar struggles, it really resonated,” she says.

“That’s what drives our mission: not just helping women make friends but creating a genuinely safe space,” agrees Martin.

And that sense of safety is woven into every detail. From carefully planned routes and well-lit meeting points to clear event communication and a strong women-only policy, Girls On The Go prioritises creating environments where attendees feel comfortable from the outset.

“The fact that we’re women only is a huge factor,” says Steph. “Myself and Caitlin (Lewing, Girls On The Go’s third co-founder whose stepped away to focus on her law studies currently) and I had both experienced things like catcalling and harassment while walking or running. We knew this was something many women deal with, so creating a women-only space felt essential.”

That commitment has also shaped how their run club operates today. Routes are deliberately chosen to balance visibility and calmness, avoiding overly busy areas while ensuring there are always people around. When previous locations no longer felt comfortable for members, the team adapted quickly, moving to quieter, more secure meeting points.

“There’s something about running that feels so community focused,” explains Madeline Cole, Head of Running Community. “Because its safety in numbers as well, which is so important being women.”

“It’s such a supportive community, which is why I think run clubs have boomed,” she continues. “We get girls that have never ran before, and they come to a 5k and think ‘screw it, I’m just going to go for it’, and it’s gorgeous to see that progress.”

Their work around women’s safety extends beyond their own events.

“We’re working with Liverpool City Council and Merseyrail, a transport system in Liverpool, to try make transport safe for women,” explains Steph. “It’s integrated into everything that we do… even running at night, our running leaders have headlamps, we make sure no one gets left behind and we all feel safe.”

“We also do a lot of charity work,” agrees Mads. “Theres a women’s 10k in September up in Sefton Park, and we so far have raised £75,000 for charities. We focus on women’s and children’s charities and it’s just incredible.”

But Girls On The Go isn’t just about running. What started with a single event has evolved into a diverse programme shaped almost entirely by its community. From Pilates and yoga sessions to craft workshops, colouring nights and large-scale bingo events with hundreds of attendees, the offering reflects what members actually want.

“We’ve learned that women want a mix of craft, fitness and social,” says Steph. “We’ll try anything and everything based on feedback.”

At its core, the appeal lies in its simplicity: everyone is there for the same reason.

“We remove the anxiety of “how do I actually meet new people?’,” explains Steph. “People come knowing everyone is open to connection.”

For many, especially those new to a city, that feeling is transformative. What Girls On The Go creates isn’t just a social calendar; it’s a sense of belonging.

“We can become that home away from home,” Steph says. “Many women in our community have moved to the city for work or university, not necessarily from Liverpool, and they suddenly feel connected to the city.”

“We always say we couldn’t have started GOTG anywhere else. I’m from Birmingham but I must say in my humble opinion that Liverpool is the best city in the UK,” says Martin. “Everyone is so friendly, and they’ve been rated ‘the most generous city for the past two years in a row’… Theres an energy in Liverpool that is special.”

That idea of “the local” is central to everything they do. Not tied to a single venue, but to a shared feeling - of familiarity, safety and community - no matter the city.

And it’s something they’re determined to preserve as they grow.

The collective now boasts a head of events, head of running community, seven running leaders and around 30 event managers, alongside the co-founders.

With plans to expand across the UK and into Europe, that mission shows no signs of slowing down. But even as the community grows, the intention remains the same as it was on day one: to make sure no woman has to feel alone.

Follow Girls On The Go @girlsonthegolpool.