A welcome return visit to see Chris at the Crisis Warehouse this evening, and as always he had just the job for us - after a quick H&S brief (how heavy is this bag?), it was into the warehouse for our intrepid gang of ten, which included first timers Ieva and Steve, and straight to work, as there were a lot of bags of clothes to be shifted, sorted, counted and repacked in the various cages, so as to make life much easier for both Chris and his delivery drivers when they come to transition the range in the Crisis shops on the high street from Summer to Winter wear.

With a rough plan drawn up (tallest to the front...try and avoid an avalanche of sacks), it was then a chain gang effort to get the mixture of bags from all the different shops across London out of the storage cage, sorted by location (Hackney, Camberwell, Elephant & Castle, Hackney, Streatham, Hackney, Kilburn...did I mention Hackney...), identified either by the colour of the cable tie at the top, or more helpfully where the shop had written the source on the label.

The second half then involved counting the number of bags for each shop, and returning them back into their respective correct cages, stacking Jenga style where required, ensuring labels were visible at all times. After an hour of pretty intense manual labour, and with blackened hands to show for our efforts, the final whistle was blown with all bags in their respective cages and the totals marked and taped above them. Yet again Chris awarded us the honour of "Best volunteers of the day", and after a quick tidy up, we ran back to Freaks and Geeks for some welcome, and well earned, refreshment.

Next week we're at the Emmanuel Church helping Sybil and her fellow volunteers to tidy up the garden, and there might just be some post match refreshments to enjoy too...

It was a welcome (and long overdue) return to the Crisis at Christmas Warehouse near Canning Town this evening for Hilary, Graham, Adam, Nick, and good to see Peter who'd crossed the border from Redbridge, and our first group task indoors for a few weeks - definitely no sunblock required.

Our host Chris, who heads up the Retail activities at the Crisis warehouse, met us at the entrance (having arrived only a few minutes earlier as he'd been on shop delivery duty in Wembley and Walthamstow during the afternoon) and clearly had a long list prepared of what he wanted us to get done in the hour.

First task was to unload his van of boxes and bags (the latter sorted into cages by shop location and content description). Once that was done, we split into smaller gangs to get on with breaking up boxes, shifting empty cardboard boxes ready for packing, and stacking boxes ready for distribution. We then split again into emptying various pallets of items to clear space to create storage/space in the warehouse, and doing a count of items in bags (guesstimates permitted) - at which point we were given a 3 minute hydration break, sponsored by some previously donated cans of drink, before being marshalled around to the bagging area ready for the final quarter.

Chris would usually need to do a stock take of the number of items/bags each month, but this had been done by some other volunteers last week, albeit they hadn't quite completed the task and/or their tarpaulin laying skills hadn't been completely successful. Working in the Elephant and Castle and Camberwell shop cages it was a case of removing numerous sacks of clothes as a chain gang to get full access to the stack of winter clothing bags in each, and doing a (rough) count of the number of bags in that cage, before then covering with a tarpaulin, as these items don't get distributed to the Crisis high street shops until autumn is on its way.

With that task complete and the totals marked and taped to the now firmly secured tarpaulins, we had a final debrief/story telling session (mind your feet, otherwise they'll be all yellow...) from Chris, and arranged a return visit with him for August.

"I can honestly say you've been the best volunteers I've had today"...

Been a while since we visited the Crisis warehouse at Canning Town and a few changes since our last visit....a complete new floor level

Alan and Valerie joined us for their first GoodGym mission.

Richard and Ryan welcomed us all and gave a brief introduction about the warehouse and the plan for it use in the future and the plan for today.

Boxes and bags of stock for the Crisis shops were being moved from the warehouse in Elephant and Castle to Canning Town.

As the vans arrived we began to help unload and move the boxes and bags upstairs,with Kim letting is know where they needed to go.

A quick tea break as we waited for the next van to arrive with bags of clothes,more unloading and moving.

The time went quick and it was time to say goodbye and head home but Alan and Louise stayed to help with the next van.

Newham's second Group Run of the year yesterday, welcoming some great new personalities, enjoying a boost in numbers - and our ability to do more as a result. Jensen made his debut, in spite of a groin injury, lovely to have you along mate, hope that leg clears up asap. Becky and Jess, who usually frequent TH, but made their way over the border, fab to meet you both. Ceiling, who's been before, but not for a while, blessed us with her presence. Finally, new Newham resident, George, and GG long-timer - welcome to the east-side pal. Hoping to see you all comeback every single week forever, and ever. No but seriously, catch you next week.

Squat warm up and high-knees got the HR up and the chat flowing. Then our RWQ, perhaps not the most inventive, but it's always good to hear the answers regardless - "what was the highlight of your weekend?" Running a 10k in Vicky Park, seeing your aunt and uncle after too long, eyeing up the controversial Marble Arch Mound, striding out a muddy 5k then getting a roast in, completing a hardcore GG mission in the hammering cold rain, a spot of meditative gardening, post-baptism party, doing absolutely nothing and lastly getting a rainy run in. A solid range of activity, culture and relaxation.

Circa three kilometres later and we had arrived at the Crisis warehouse. Few jobs on the cards, we got masked-up and threw on some high-vises. Then broke into three groups. Group one went about loading a large transit van with bags of clothes donations. Group two sorted and counted a selection of computer accessories. Group three went about rearranging the upstairs room. I can confidently say they all got the job done, superb to see how much more we can do with a few extra sets of hands, van filled to the brim, computer accessories all sorted and upstairs room completely reassembled. Bra-blimmin'-Vo.

Managed to sneak in a touch of strength exercise on the way back, enough to consider form on highly useful moves to better running, probably not enough to give a sizeable training effect - but we'll keep working on these key movements, we'll have more time in coming weeks to do some extra. Hopefully you can gain confidence and do them solo, that's the end goal.

Next week is round #2 at Crisis. Our last one for the foreseeable future, so sign up here - and let's get stuck in again.

Have hootin' good weekend, because we might ask about it at the next session...

Till then

B

A late leadership change due to Brahma being on good husband duties meant Kev taking the lead....well I nominated him once we arrived at the Crisis Warehouse

It was great to have Hugh Jeans join us big thanks to Amy and Olivia for letting us have for the evening.

Office furniture moving was the task for this evening.....the moving part was the easiest working out the best position for the desk and getting some units up the stairs was slightly trickier but we got there in the end after a couple of false starts

Helen was our expert with the wheeled trolly ensuring smooth movement of the items.

Simon and Dan did and awesome job with traversing the cupboards up the stairs.

Ruth Hils and Eugene did a brilliant job balancing the desk while Kevin screwed it back together.

With a final full team effort the last of the donated furniture was placed in the call centre ready for the Crisis at Christmas volunteers who will be working here over the next few weeks.

Mission complete we headed of into the now cold night promising Richard we would return in 2022 to dismantle it all again ready for the warehouse to be refurbished.

A short walk from Cody Dock is the new home for Crisis at Christmas warehouse.

After lunch at Cody Dock Kevin,Rosa Hilary and I head off to see Richard at Crisis.

We started with some sofa shifting ready for next weekend when the warehouse opens for public donations.

We then had the task of rebuilding the picnic tables for the Crisis volunteers who will be helping when the warehouse opens to the public in December (these are the same tables we put together in December and dismantled in January) not the easiest thing with multiple screw holes and extremely warped table tops.

Pete and Simon came and joined us which meant more tables completed.

We are back the the warehouse on Wednesday so sign up here

We then headed back to Cody Dock for a few carols, mulled wine and gazebo dismantling.