On another evening when wind and rain returned to pelt the coast, this week's turn-out from GoodGym Brighton meandered their way towards a cleaning task at the Cardinal Newman School, whose alumni (including its previous iterations) boast one of Queen Victoria's granddaughters and Ann Quin, local novelist whose 1960s experimental Brighton-set novel Berg is known for its almost circular ending.

One of the most distinctive features of the Cardinal Newman School is a circular arrow-tree in its central atrium, a kind of indoor roundabout or static carousel, with signs all around with the demand 'WALK ON THE LEFT'. The GoodGym gang, entering the building after school hours, were of course able to ambulate where they wished as they tucked into tonight's menu of assignments: sweeping/scooping pigeon excrement in an outside breakout area, or scrubbing/rubbing dirty bannisters flanking the school's showpiece staircase. Some might have projected that the outdoor crew had the short straw, but morale seemed to soar as the trio raced through their faecal challenge and posed grinning against the backdrop of a cheery mural saying 'Together'. Indoors, a larger contingent polished off the muck engrained in the stairs' florid black railings and dark wood banisters with an arsenal of antiseptic wipes, while breaking off to admire the photogenic possibilities of a four-floor selfie.

Assembling by the arrow-tree for a reunited full group photo the GoodGym group looked forward to the fast-approaching Brighton Marathon weekend where, in some instances, the rule will be to run on the right, and the potential excitements of a competitive duel in the dirt at next week's task at Moulsecoomb Allotment, though that's something to be dealt with on another evening.

At our arrival at Cardinal Newman School yesterday, Brighton GoodGymers were welcomed by the lovely duty manager Pedro and a giant infographic tower showing 5 ways to wellbeing. The 5 ways to wellbeing are a set of actions that can help students to improve mental health and wellbeing:

• Connect: Reach out to others, such as by writing a letter, phone call, or starting a conversation
• Learn: Take on a new hobby, learn a skill, or read about something interesting
• Be active: Go for a walk, bike ride, or dance
• Take notice: Be aware of your surroundings and notice the beauty, the unusual, and the funny
• Give: Thank someone, offer your time, or help someone in need

Give me a Five, GoodGymers! We clicked all the boxes at our GoodGym group community mission yesterday evening!

• All together, (Connect 😊)
• We run 8km to the school (Be active), and
• We sparkle our new DIY skills, (Learn), while
• We enjoyed the magnificence of this big school environment (Take notice), and
• We helped them to clean the school and make it inviting for pupils and staff by dusting off the banister of the huge spiral staircase in great detail (really), and by re-whitening some walls with joyful painting action. (Give).

After any GoodGym session, I always feel better, don’t you?

The Cardinal Newman School offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including sports, STEM clubs, and trips. Last time here, it was for the Running Out of Time – Save the Planet relay. I am amazed by all what is going on here, thanks to the great and responsible enthusiasm of the school staff and the wiliness of the young people to feel and make a difference!

For this week dedicated to children's menthal health, GoodGym Brighton is proud to keep helping this school path in encouraging children and young people to embrace self-awareness and explore what it means for them. 'Know Yourself, Grow Yourself'

WHAT's ON NEXT at GoodGym Brighton?
Plenty to amuse you to join us soon.

EVERYBODY is welcome!

A group of Good-Gymers jogged two miles up an incline to Cardinal Newman School. Meeting the rest of the group there! After we found the entrance we were met by the care taker Pedro who showed us the school gym which needed cleaning. We welcomed two new members Olivia and Hannah and welcomed back Daniela who quickly got stuck in.

Looking at the school website we were in the St Augustine Building which also has a climbing wall - a nice one to discover next time!

We donned gloves and got to wiping and dusting the pretty dusty gym equipment. Some of us who were good at multi tasking managed to use the running machines and clean! We had fun on the balance board. We were impressed with their moto use your muscles not your mouth although we definitely used both!

After we finished up we jogged up a hill to The Dyke Alehouse to enjoy a drink and some chips. Nice meeting here Lucia too!