How many GoodGymers does it take to build an Ikea kitchen?!

Moving, rearranging, building kitchens, hanging doors, litter picking with tongs, running, star gazing, cookies, hot chocolate, hot water bottles down tops, falling over, star gazing & the cold.

Of all the random GoodGym nights, tonight was probably the most random. There were a lot of us in a very confined space at Bedford Fields as the ground was too frozen to do anything outside. We hung a door, started to build a kitchen and rearranged furniture.

Thanks to the none runners for staying behind to do more on the kitchen.

Congratulations to Helen on her 170th good deed! You're amazing.

Today two neighbours headed in seperate directions in Seacroft to try & clean up the area. We collected a full bag each & felt as though we barely scratched the surface of the awful litter problem in the area. There's more to be done so we'll head out again soon. Welcome to GoodGym Bronwen :)

Festive jokes & crafts were enough to get us into the (very early) Christmas spirit tonight!! The group met at Heart & our resident run leader, Helen took the group on a 4.5K run. We then headed back to the cafe at Heart, got a drink & got to work for a CAMHS Christmas craft project. We were cutting up Christmas wrapping paper & writing Christmas jokes on the back, so that the children and young people in the CAMHS units can make them into paper chains. This was a lovely task & we managed to make a respectable 200 of the strips, which will all be heading to Bath where they will distribute them across the country.

Jason helpfully came up with the pun tonight, although we amended it slightly :) :)

Welcome to Emily on her first session with GoodGym Leeds. We hope to see you again soon.

On Sunday, four GoodGymers made their way to the newly reopened Surplus To Purpose warehouse. A combination of viral social media posts highlighting what the business/charity does as well as a buy one get one free offer resulted in huge queues of customers entering the warehouse. Sadly the warehouse was closed on Saturday due a security issue so Sunday was the first day people could attend that weekend.

The GoodGymers responsibility that day was quality controlling thousands pieces of fruit and veg and keeping the shop floor well stocked. It was hard work getting around but the gang was on it. Alice and Christian returned for their second visit whilst this was Alina's first visit. Alina focused most of her time on QC-ing fruit and veg, Christian did cardboard baling, frozen food stocking, Alice mainly spent her time admiring the stacks of mushrooms - didn't really do much else (she did push the cardboard baling button, stock the drinks fridge as well as all the above). I spent my time doing some cardboard baling, QC-ing, manning the new till, and keeping the shop floor looking tidy.

The gang all had full baskets paid for by using their volunteering credits - big shout to Christian who cycled home with a 6KG box of washing powder.

Tonight we had a great evening, coming together at Heart & running down to Left Bank where we painted some event stands & the remaining picnic bench. We love visiting Left Bank as it has such a great vibe, with all sorts of activities going on from break dancing, to art, to GoodGyming! We always get the offer of free drinks at the end, which are gratefully received :) Newcomer Lloyd even decided to paint his Man City jacket!! I'm pretty sure that chief mischief maker (& Man united supporter) Jubz had something to do with encouraging this vandalism. In his words... 'when beautiful souls come together, art occurs...'. I think that sums up our night perfectly!

Congratulations to Katie Presley on her 75th mission tonight! Thanks for all you do for GoodGym Leeds.

Jason was the Piano Man at today's session at Bedford Fields!

We were tasked with fixing up an old piano as a planter & Jason took on the challenge like a pro. We fixed it back together with wood to make it sturdy enough to hold plants, herbs & a pear tree.

There was 8 of us today, so some of the gang dug up a large area of the garden to clear it of weeds.

It was great to welcome Lloyd & Caragh to GoodGym, we hope to see you again soon.

Thanks guys, the Piano looked great by the end :)