A perfect Christmas Eve task cannot get better than what five eager GoodGymers did at a secret location in Ealing this year! Wrapping presents, peeling veggies for a Christmas meal, and prepping non-alcoholic Grinch mojito - all of that for the next day’s Christmas Dinner for young care leavers, who would otherwise be alone this season.

Most of the GoodGymers were on the kitchen duty: Harvey and Maria got stuck into spud-bashing, exchanging insights about parkrun and festivals. Seema peeled so many carrots that she would remember them until Christmas 2026. Kash, after wiping hundreds of plates, was removing the outer leaves of Brussels sprouts and carving the sign of the cross at their base. Why? Apparently, it makes them cook faster!

Meanwhile, Sevan creatively packed presents for care leavers, then left with the organiser, Pam, for a quest to deliver delicious coffee for all the volunteers.

For many young care leavers, Christmas can be a reminder of what they don’t have. That’s why it felt so rewarding to help a small team of volunteers create a day that makes those vulnerable young people feel not alone and that they have a community around them. We hope this year’s Ealing Christmas Dinner event will be delightful!