Summary
• Physical inactivity is a major economic and healthcare burden, costing the UK up to £20bn annually and placing strain on NHS services.
• Regular physical activity can reduce pressure on health and social care systems by up to £10.5bn per year through illness prevention.
• Exercise plays a vital role in improving mental health, helping to reduce anxiety, depression and improve life satisfaction.
• Many people with mental health conditions struggle to meet activity guidelines, highlighting the need for accessible exercise solutions.
• NHS mental health trusts are increasingly investing in physical activity as part of patient care and recovery programmes.
• Outdoor gyms provide dual benefits of exercise and exposure to green spaces, improving mood, sleep, self-esteem and stress levels.
• Outdoor gyms help transform under-used NHS spaces into safe, inclusive fitness environments for patients and staff.
19th January 2026
A lack of physical activity is placing the UK’s finances under significant pressure, with Sport England suggesting a potential yearly toll of £20bn on the nation’s funds.
So the argument in support of sport and physical activity has never been clearer. And physical inactivity is a little-discussed drain on our economy and social fabric as well as our health.
Yet the solution – all of us moving more – is simple, within our grasp and doesn’t just save money but leads to happier lives plus stronger, healthier communities.
Sport England research has also found that better health through sport and physical activity could relieve pressure on the health and social care system by up to £10.5bn annually through illness prevention.
What’s more, this system will benefit staff as well as patients. And it applies to mental as well as physical health.
The Centre for Mental Health worked with charity Mind on the yearly Big Mental Health Report, and said last autumn that one in five adults in England lives with a common mental health problem, with women more likely to be affected than men (24.2% compared with 15.4%). What’s more, young people aged between 16 and 24 plus those living in the most deprived areas are disproportionately affected.
The powerful, positive links between working out and mental health are well known and documented, with benefits ranging from experiencing greater life satisfaction to better management of common conditions such as anxiety.
Yet some barriers do remain. A further study from UK Active says that while nearly three-quarters (72%) of those with a mental health condition state that exercise helps them to remain in employment, fewer than one in five (16%) say they are able to meet recommended guidelines for physical activity.
However, there are some indications that things may be starting to change, with a number of local NHS mental health trusts receiving grants in recent months to add more movement alongside the care they provide.
Exercising outdoors, in particular, even if only in nearby green spaces, enhances wellbeing and lessens depression and anxiety.
Outdoor gyms offer significant advantages to both mental health patients and those who care for them by offering the combined positive effects of physical exercise and exposure to the outside world, with benefits including improved mood, reduced anxiety and stress and enhanced sleep and self-esteem.
Leading provider of outdoor gyms Fresh Air Fitness specialises in this equipment for the UK’s healthcare sector, including mental health trusts.
Over the best part of two decades, we’ve installed our award-winning exercise equipment in more than 5,000 settings UK-wide, providing a complete service from start to finish, from initial site visits through to design, fitting and aftercare. We also offer plenty of help to Trusts on how they can get the most from these facilities.
An outside fitness facility allows teams to support patients in their recovery by transforming an otherwise unused or under-used space into a high-quality exercise solution.
We’ve installed pieces in locations such as Hillis Lodge, part of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust and which provides assessment, treatment and rehabilitation to patients with significant mental health issues who have committed a crime or demonstrated challenging behaviour.
The grounds here are beautiful, but space was limited. Equally, we were keen to provide a welcoming facility which would be in keeping with the feel of the rest of the site, and wanted to cater for users of all abilities and fitness levels, while the staff shared these wishes.
We believe our solution, which brings together three pieces from our strength and cardio range, built on a wet-pour surface, truly fits the bill.
Colne Ward is a psychiatric intensive care unit at the Riverside Centre, Hillingdon, and part of the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust. It provides mental health care and treatment for people whose acute distress, absconding risk and other behaviour requires a secure environment which an open psychiatric ward can’t generally provide.
Our pieces, fitted next to this acute treatment ward, allow service users and staff to work out in a safe, open-air environment. Patients can exercise with staff one-to-one, alone or with others in their free time, or in a group class.
One of our gyms can be fitted as quickly as within a couple of days and our exercise equipment complies with all relevant safety regulations.
At the same time, we offer exceptional value for money, with an extra 15% discount for all NHS customers – just quote NHS15 when placing your order.
Want to find out more about fitting an outdoor gym at your community? Get in touch – we’ll gladly answer any questions you may have.
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