Councillors back Launch of East Riding's Free 'Gym in a Box' Initiative to Boost Rural Fitness

​East Riding residents can now access fitness equipment directly from the mobile library through an innovative new scheme, 'Gym in a Box'. The initiative, launched to coincide with National Fitness Day, allows local residents to borrow a range of basic exercise equipment for use at home free of charge.

​The service is delivered via the East Riding Mobile Library Service, which visits over 160 stops across rural areas each month. Funded by Libraries Connected, the scheme specifically addresses health inequalities in rural communities, where access to traditional gym facilities can be limited.

​Each portable kit includes a mini exercise bike, resistance bands, dumbbells, a gym ball, a yoga mat, a pilates mat, and pilates bricks. The equipment caters to both cardio and strength workouts, and includes exercise guidance suitable for all fitness levels.

Members of East Riding Libraries can borrow the boxes for up to eight weeks, giving them adequate time to build a sustainable fitness routine. As an added incentive, East Riding Leisure provides a free one-week pass to borrowers upon returning the kit, which can be used at any local leisure centre.

​Local councillors have welcomed the roll-out, highlighting its targeted support for isolated and rural populations.

​"This innovative scheme breaks down barriers to physical activity by bringing fitness directly to people's doorsteps. By removing cost and location constraints, we are making health and well-being accessible to everyone across our authority," stated Cllr David Boynton (Lib Dem Beverley), Chair of the Health, Care and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Sub-committee at East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

​Cllr Paul Smith (Beverley Rural- Lib Frm) added: "This initiative plays a vital role in helping residents in rural areas improve their physical conditioning, mobility, and mental well-being, while building confidence toward adopting a healthier lifestyle."
​To find out more and reserve equipment, see: Exercise at home with Gym in a Box

Community-led preventative health programs like 'Gym in a Box' align closely with the Liberal Democrat ethos of tackling core public health challenges, such as junk food marketing, smoking, and structural health inequalities, early on, addressing health risks before they develop into acute illnesses.

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