Reflections from the Kitchen: A Meal, A Moment, A Memory

This experience was deeply emotional for me on a personal level. It began as a community mission, but due to a delay, I arrived late — and coincidentally, I was the only one from GoodGym to show up. Still, I was warmly welcomed at One Church Brighton.

As a Muslim, I’ve always felt safe and embraced in churches, and this was no different. I was introduced to John — the chef and, frankly, the unsung hero of this story. He’s been cooking for the homeless for years, always with a smile, patience, and an open heart.

I quickly jumped into action: whipping cream, mashing potatoes, searing onions, and boiling milk. There was a lot going on in that kitchen, but John answered every one of my (sometimes silly) questions with kindness and encouragement.

After the service, more beautiful souls arrived to help get the meal prepared and served — ready to welcome our fellow brothers and sisters whom life, in its randomness, had not given the security of a roof over their heads. And yet here we were — the lucky ones — with the opportunity to give something small, but meaningful.

I’ll admit, I had a personal struggle preparing the pork sausages — something I don’t eat. But I reminded myself: I was cooking them, not eating them. Still, I suddenly understood how Superman feels around kryptonite.

Once the meal started, I saw something simple but powerful: smiles. Each time I brought out a new dish or refilled a tray, there was a sense of gratitude in the room. I insisted on serving dessert — a delicious fruit pie with cream — until John gently suggested I try a piece myself and maybe sit down to eat with our guests.

So I did.

I sat next to N. He was born and raised here, British accent and all — unlike me. “I struggle with mental health,” he told me. “That’s why I’m homeless.” But instead of crying, he laughed — a loud, echoing laugh that filled the church hall and shook something deep in me.

You see, I lost my job six months ago, because I decided to stand up for my people in Palestine and talk about the Genocide and starvation in Gaza. I’ve been living off my savings. I’m not at risk of homelessness yet, but I am struggling. One extra blow, and I might be in their place.

But that’s why this moment mattered so much.

Because now I know — I can count on GoodGym, and on the kind, generous people at One Church Brighton, to restore dignity and offer more than just a warm meal.

They offer connection. A seat at the table. And a reminder: none of us are alone.

On an evening that offered a blustery and overcast reprieve from the recent heatwave, the Brighton GoodGym gang again dialled up the kms to advance on one of Brighton's most celebrated woodland spaces Stanmer Park to offer assistance at a true hidden gem (including in that some have got lost finding it), the Centre for Ecotherapy.

Tonight's task menu offered two contrasting assignments. One group was allocated to clearing a clearing by hacking back buddleia (which can grow invasively fast), using hand saw and bare hands to expand a space large enough for a breathwork and art therapy tent to be pitched. The other contingent was assigned to weeding and laying down woodchips around a pond in an idyllic glade, bringing wheelbarrow loads from a nearby area with huge rolling mounds of woodchip, using eagle-eyed sifting to avoid damp, mouldy or green chips.

Afterwards the team rested on tree stumps under the Centre's shelter, built in 2016 with 8 wooden pillars and a reciprocal roof, a type of roof where interlinking bits of wood support each other to keep it standing, an apt visual metaphor for the power of teamwork. Liz, manager at the Centre for Ecotherapy, offered rewards to the group by way of chickpea stew and raita, chocolate cake and herbal tea using a trusty old Kelly Kettle, telling a tale of how at her auntie's 90th they had a four-way Kelly Kettle race to see whose would boil first (and one can only imagine the accompanying sports commentary).

Liz also relayed how the Centre for Ecotherapy aims to help vulnerable people in the local community, where they receive many referrals from health practitioners, for nature-based and horticultural therapies, meditation and practical activities. They also have an organic allotment garden and an "organic wilderness" area. While many find sanctuary at the centre (one moving testimonial on the website simply says "I felt alive today"), Liz explained that they are very reliant on donations and volunteering for support.

Liz invited GoodGym Brighton to return on 26th July to the Stanmer Organics Open Day which also coincides with the Maverick East Sussex trail races being held at Stanmer, an event already on the GoodGym running radar, so an imminent return to the woods is very much on.

“BUY - FIX - RIDE - DONATE YOUR BIKE” is the strapline of Brighton Bike Hub, a volunteer-led community bike workshop open five days a week for anyone to drop in and get help repairing their bike. Their mission is reducing wastage of abandoned bikes and enabling members of the community to access affordable cycling.

“RUN - FIX – RIDE”😊 is what 10 Brighton GoodGymers did yesterday at our group session at the Brighton Bike Hub. We ran and cycled to the Bike Hub East workshop in the Big Lemon bus yard, not open to the public, where there is a mountain of bikes needing lots of TLC. Paired for mechanical action, our task was dismantling old and rusty bikes and recover all the good parts that can be used to refurbish other bikes and make them suitable for riding. The hub offers to help people fix, maintain and get their bikes back on the road for free. Euan was tempted to donate his bike but then convinced to get it fixed. Let’s see if he will show up at our next session on the two wheels 😊.

We fully enjoyed the session at Bike Hub and welcomed Christophe, who recently moved to Brighton from GoodGym London. Let’s keep getting active together at our next GoodGym Brighton’s sessions.

Worth remembering that the Bike Hub runs regularly monthly free cycle maintenance sessions as part of Cycling UK’s Big Bike Revival, and NEW! Bikeability Adult Cycle Training. You can book HERE

I had a lovely morning marshalling at Hove Park, in my favourite spot. I was able to cheer on the runners, joggers and the parkwalkers as they did their 5K Parkrun. I also had a post run natter with a GoodGymer post marshalling!

This Tuesday, GoodGym Brighton had a double bill.

Frances, Sarah, Ruth run 13 km from Worthing to Portslade holding the baton at stage 245 of the Relay Your Way - Celebra's nationwide relay travelling 2500km from Glasgow to Windsor and celebrating inclusive sport, movement and play. This epic journey across the UK kicked off at the beginning of June to champion the 1.5 million UK children with disabilities by running, cycling, or wheeling for inclusive sport and play. GoodGym was invited to participate, and so our tree wonder women responded to the contest, facing a challenging hot weather.

Meanwhile, other five GoodGymers gathered at Wellsbourne Health Care Centre to help Lucy to maintain the community and therapeutic garden, located between the Wellsbourne Hub and the Library and growing flowers, plants, trees, vegetables, herbs and fruit, for everyone to pick and eat. Wellsbourne Health Care CIC (Community Interest Company), is a community-run, non-profit GP surgery in East Brighton where hands-on relationship-based care is delivered by people who know well the area, reflective and responsive to the local needs. Wellsbourne Health Care is currently facing a challenging time as at risk to be overtaken by a distant private provider. GoodGym Brighton wished Good Luck with their appeal.

Double Bill, and Double Good, with oranges, cakes and lots of water for our (and plants) refreshment.

Today, aspirant new GoodGymer Rachel took part to our session as part of the Brighton & Hove TAKE PART festival of active living. We wish to meet her again to get active together at our next sessions.

I had a great time marshalling at Hove Parkrun my local parkrun. I clapped, cheered and wooped the walkers, joggers and runner this morning!