East Suffolk Council
Free sports equipment available through innovative scheme
People visiting two popular locations in Lowestoft will be able to use free sports equipment available through a new locker scheme.
Delivered by the Lowestoft and Northern Parishes Community Partnership, the BoxUp project provides solar-powered storage lockers which contain a mixture of different sports and leisure equipment which can be accessed for free using the BoxUp app.
East Suffolk Council is the first local authority in the UK to install the BoxUp lockers, which will be located at Normanston Park, by kind permission of Lowestoft Town Council, and at Lowestoft’s South Beach, next to Sandy Toes café.
The sports equipment inside the boxes is free to use, and users will need a smartphone and access to the internet to use the BoxUp app.
The boxes at Normanston Park will contain equipment for football, basketball, rugby and American football, table tennis, croquet, tennis and skateboarding.
At the South Beach, the boxes will contain kites, a ring toss game and equipment for pétanque, KanJam (a flying disc game) and beach tennis.
People can download the free BoxUp app, select the activity they wish to do and open the locker from the app. The equipment can then be returned to the locker and the activity marked as finished on the app. Signs will be in place to help people use the service.
Cllr Paul Ashdown, Chair of the Lowestoft and Northern Parishes Community Partnership said: “One of the Community Partnership’s key priorities is improving the physical and mental health of children and young people in our area, and the BoxUp scheme is a fantastic and innovative new way to encourage people of all ages to keep active and try new sports. The equipment is completely free to use and we hope people of all ages visiting Normanston Park and the South Beach will enjoy having easy access to a range of sports and leisure equipment.
“I would also like to thank Cllr George King and Rachel Tucker from the East Suffolk Communities Team for their efforts to bring this project to fruition.”
Cllr George King, ward councillor for Gunton and St Margarets said: “The Box-up project was inspired by a trip to Switzerland last year, where I noticed many of the public parks had access to free sports equipment, including basketballs, volleyballs and tennis racquets. I thought this was a simple yet brilliant concept and knew how hugely beneficial a project like this would be to Lowestoft, with its fantastic parks and beautiful beach front.
“I took the idea to the Community Partnership who shared my vision, and thanks to their help - with special shout out to the brilliant Rachel Tucker from the Communities Team who has spent countless hours getting this over the line and working her socks off to make this happen - we have now implemented the scheme in Lowestoft, meaning people of all ages and backgrounds will have access to the sporting equipment provided through this project.
“The Lowestoft and Northern Parishes Community Partnership strongly feels that sport and leisure is for everyone, and accessibility to exercise is paramount not only for our physical health but also our mental health. I'm really proud to be a part of bringing this vision to life and excited to see the positive impact it has on our community."
The scheme is being trialled for one year and if successful, the lockers and equipment will be purchased and installed permanently, with other boxes installed at other locations if required.
A launch event for the BoxUp scheme takes place at Normanston Park on Saturday 1 June (11am - 2pm), with activities for children aged 8+ provided by Catch22 Positive Futures, and a climbing wall provided by Abbey Croft Leisure. Activities will include tag rugby, cricket, football and more.