Islington Council
93 GoodGymers have supported Islington Council with 30 tasks.
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Sleeper Agents
Monday 1st September
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
After a day of changeable Autumn weather, Area Activator Simon was happy to catch up with a top crew of Goodgym Islington runners after the Bank Holiday Weekend. Together, we enjoyed a pleasant run down Sobell Road, and over to a hidden community plot by Isledon Gardens (maintained by local volunteers Mary and Richard).
Local legend Eslam also cycled over to see us, bringing along a cargo bike full of tools. Spades, forks and even the odd pick-axe!
Our plans for the evening were three fold:
We helped with digging a trench along an already established wood chip path (both sides, approx 8 inches deep). The objective is to plant new supports along the route to maintain its integrity (especially during wet winter months)
After the digging task, we were directed to an alleyway across the road from the gardens. We paired up to safely transport 16 railway sleepers into the gardens. These had been left in place since for many years, but we did a smashing job of preparing them for future projects
Finally, we used our last 10 minutes or so to gather up green waste from around the gardens, and to add it to th compost bins. Using shovels and jutes coffee sacks helped to make short work of our last task!
The volunteer gardening team were thrilled with the amount of progress we had made in just under an hour, especially between a team of 8 keen Goodgymmers!. Well done everyone!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN SEPTEMBER
Community Mission- Light of the World Church Gardening and Painting 7.15pm, Lighthouse Community Centre, Evershot Street, Monday 8th September
Group Run - Caledonian Park- Autumn Path Building 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 15th September
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-caledonian-park-autumn-path-building
Community Mission - Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens 7.15pm, Highbury Quadrant Estate Wildflower Gardens, Monday 22nd September
Group Run - Thornhill Square Gardens, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 29th September
Community Mission - Sunnyside Community Gardens, 7.15pm, Sunnyside Community Gardens, Monday 6th October
Group Run - Hornsey Rise Kickabout Playground, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 13th October
Community Mission - Light of the World Church Gardening and Painting, 7.15pm, Evershot Road, Monday 20th October
Group Run - Timbuktu Adventure Playground 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 29th October
—-----------------------------------
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 4th September
Paddington Rec Track Maida Vale Thursday 11th September
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 18th September
Paddington Rec Track Maida Vale Thursday 25th September
Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 2th October
Paddington Rec Track Maida Vale Thursday 9th October
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The Post Big Half After Party
Saturday 7th September, 11.30am onwards, The Mitre, Southwark
Come to the after-party for a social with your fellow GoodGymers and celebrate your achievements!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/post-big-half-after-party-eed83bcd-77c9-425e-8264-84af1a37ce12
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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 13th September, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.
Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.
—-----------------------------
World Clean Up Day - Finsbury Park Plogging with Sustainable Nutrition Academy
Saturday 20th September, 10.30am - 12 midday, The Museum of Homelessness, Finsbury Park
Eslam from the Sustainable Nutrition Academy is leading a litter picking session around Finsbury Park
Together, the plan is to gather litter and rubbish from the perimeter of the park, particularly around fences and hedgerows.
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Golden Olden Community Gardens - Monthly Volunteer Open Day
Saturday 20th September, 10am - 2pm, Opposite Whistler Street, Islington
Olden Community Garden is a charity that maintains this lovely green space, with the object to promote a community garden for the benefit of people living or working in the London Borough of Islington. Olden Garden gives local people opportunities for education and recreation, with the aim of increasing involvement in the community and reducing isolation.
—---------------------------
Penn Road Gardens - July Volunteer Day
Sunday 28th September, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.
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Camino Ultra Epping Forest 50km and 25km Eco Trail- Aid Station Superstars 2025!!!
Sunday 4th October, 9am onwards, Rangers Road, Chingford
DaznBone (aka Darren Strachan and David Bone) and the Camino Ultra team are putting together the logistics for their next 50km ultra race (running from Wanstead Flats, up the green corridor to Epping Forest and back), and have invited the Goodgym crew to get involved!
On the course, there will be 4 major aid stops, and we have been invited to take over the first refresh point and the penultimate aid station.
This will involve providing water and snacks to runners of all abilities during the key stages of their race, and to support them with smiling faces and enthusiasm!
Last Night We Litter-ally Cleaned The Whole of Finsbury Park
Monday 28th July
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Area Activator Simon was thrilled to have 9 Goodgym Runners and Walkers (including first timer Deirdre - welcome!) join Goodgym Islington for our first plogging session of 2025!
What is "plogging"?
Plogging is a fitness trend that combines jogging with picking up litter, originating in Sweden. The word is a portmanteau of the Swedish words "plocka upp" (pick up) and "jogga" (jog). It's a way to stay active while also contributing to a cleaner environment.
Together, our crew ran up the Gillespie Park Nature Trail after a warm up on the Emirates Stadium slopes. On route, we stopped to enjoy fresh blackberries, and to coax a huge cat to say Hello to us! We approached Finsbury Park, and spotted more red t-shirts in the distance, waiting for our running team at the newly renovated Finsbury Park Skatepark Plaza.
Area Activator Simon pulled out foldable litter pickers, black bags and sturdy gloves from his big running bag of wonders, and explained the proceedings for tonight's task. In three groups of three, we set about walking around the perimeter of Finsbury Park, picking up as much litter as possible. These particular sections of the park are often hard to access by the grounds team, and debris from picnics and parties often gets blown over here by the wind. Our objective was to fill nine bags of rubbish within about 40 minutes.
Team 1 scoured the main pathways towards the Finsbury parkrun start line, Team 2 headed towards the children's playground and duck pond, while Team 3 got stuck in by the fences next to the skatepark. The areas that are less frequented by the public are always the spots that become over run with litter - Team 3 had the biggest task on their hands, and we all pitched in before the end of the evening!
Great work everyone. We received some lovely comments from visitors in the park, appreciating our efforts. A smashing way to spend a summer's evening!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN JULY / AUGUST
Group Run- Market Road Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 4th August
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-market-road-gardens-with-elizabeth-house
Community Mission - TBC 7.15pm, Monday 11th August
Group Run- Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 18th August
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN JULY / AUGUST
Group Run- Finsbury Park Plogging, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 28th July https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-finsbury-park-plogging-run
Group Run- Market Road Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 4th August
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-market-road-gardens-with-elizabeth-house
Community Mission - TBC 7.15pm, Monday 11th August
Group Run- Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 18th August
—------------------------------------
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 31st July
Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 7th August
Paddington Rec Track Maida Vale Thursday 14th August
Hyde Park Lancaster Gate Thursday 21st August
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 28th August
Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 4th September
Paddington Rec Track Maida Vale Thursday 11th September
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Learn to Guide Run Workshop with Achilles International
Saturday 2nd August, 11am - 1pm, London Aquatics Centre, Stratford Olympic Park
Would you like to try guide running for visually impaired athletes?
Or would you like to refresh your skills for safe guiding practices?
Would you like to learn more about where guide running can take you, and about the VI running community?
Achilles International UK chapter leader Chris Blackabee and a team of experienced guide runners would love to invite you to a special introduction session.
Perfect for first timers and experienced guides looking for extra development opportunities!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/learn-to-guide-run-workshop-with-achilles-international
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Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!
Tuesday 28th July, 12.45 - 1.15pm, Elizabeth House
On Tuesday afternoons, during term time, the team at Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested for an extra pair of hands to help with cleaning and tidying up their donation centre.
Expect some satisfying sweeping and surface cleaning to assist this busy team!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/elizabeth-house-food-hub-lunchtime-sweep-up-task-1c8894c6-e23c-4176-830e-462a583308b8
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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 9th August, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.
Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/compton-terrace-gardens-volunteer-open-morning-august
—----------------------
Golden Olden Community Gardens - Monthly Volunteer Open Day
Saturday 16th August, 10am - 2pm, Opposite Whistler Street, Islington
Olden Community Garden is a charity that maintains this lovely green space, with the object to promote a community garden for the benefit of people living or working in the London Borough of Islington. Olden Garden gives local people opportunities for education and recreation, with the aim of increasing involvement in the community and reducing isolation.
—---------------------------
Penn Road Gardens - July Volunteer Day
Sunday 31st August, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.
—------------------------------------
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 31st July
Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 7th August
Paddington Rec Track Maida Vale Thursday 14th August
Hyde Park Lancaster Gate Thursday 21st August
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 28th August
Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 4th September
Paddington Rec Track Maida Vale Thursday 11th September
—--------------------------------------
Learn to Guide Run Workshop with Achilles International
Saturday 2nd August, 11am - 1pm, London Aquatics Centre, Stratford Olympic Park
Would you like to try guide running for visually impaired athletes? Or would you like to refresh your skills for safe guiding practices? Would you like to learn more about where guide running can take you, and about the VI running community? Achilles International UK chapter leader Chris Blackabee and a team of experienced guide runners would love to invite you to a special introduction session. Perfect for first timers and experienced guides looking for extra development opportunities! https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/learn-to-guide-run-workshop-with-achilles-international
—--------------------------------------
Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!
Tuesday 29th July, 12.45 - 1.15pm, Elizabeth House
On Tuesday afternoons, during term time, the team at Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested for an extra pair of hands to help with cleaning and tidying up their donation centre.
Expect some satisfying sweeping and surface cleaning to assist this busy team!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/elizabeth-house-food-hub-lunchtime-sweep-up-task-1c8894c6-e23c-4176-830e-462a583308b8
—----------------------------
Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 9th August, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.
Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/compton-terrace-gardens-volunteer-open-morning-august
—----------------------
Golden Olden Community Gardens - Monthly Volunteer Open Day
Saturday 16th August, 10am - 2pm, Opposite Whistler Street, Islington
Olden Community Garden is a charity that maintains this lovely green space, with the object to promote a community garden for the benefit of people living or working in the London Borough of Islington. Olden Garden gives local people opportunities for education and recreation, with the aim of increasing involvement in the community and reducing isolation.
—---------------------------
Penn Road Gardens - July Volunteer Day
Sunday 31st August, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.
Getting It Isle-DONE!
Monday 21st July
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Area Activator Simon was thrilled to return to Goodgym Islington last night after a two week adventure in Las Vegas, Nevada, California and Utah. 10 keen Goodgymmers (including first timer Sofia- welcome!) joined us at the Arsenal Community Hub for a pleasant group run up Sobell Road, or at our new task location Isledon Gardens.
Goodgym Islington regulars Alison and Alice were the first to arrive at the hidden community garden next to the Sam Morris Nursery, and helped the rest of us to locate the exact meeting place! Local gardeners Mary and Michael were thrilled to see so many volunteers on hand, and directed us to 2 main tasks for the evening.
Task 1 involved unloading coffee sacks of pre-packed wood chip onto a new pathway towards the back of the garden. Large plant pots needed to be safely moved to gain access to the full route, but we made short work of it. We then raked the surfaces to flatten the chips, and the rest of our crew started a production line to fill up as many bags of wood chip as possible for future projects.
Task 2 revolved around us unloading a bin full of new compost, and distributing it into a new planter. No easy job, as the compost was hard packed, and had settled into the compost bin over time. Mehmet, Alice and Pete worked together to dislodge the compost before shovelling the fertiliser into the bed. After lots of scoops, we were able to lift the compost bin into the planter, and we knocked the rest of the compost loose. Great job, well done folks!
As we finished up our task for the evening, Alison announced that she had completed her 400th Goodgym deed with us. An incredible undertaking- congratulations! We remember hearing about Alison's Goodgym activities in Bath back in the day, and we really appreciate her efforts with Goodgym Islington. Well done!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN JULY
Group Run- Isledon Gardens Nature Trail 6.45pm, Isledon Gardens, Parkside Crescent, Monday 21st July
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-isledon-gardens-nature-trail
Community Mission- Highbury Quadrant Estate 7.15pm, Highbury Quadrant Estate, Monday 28th July
Group Run- Market Road Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 4th August
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-market-road-gardens-with-elizabeth-house
—------------------------------------
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
Hyde Park Thursday 24th July
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 31st July
—--------------------------------------
Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!
Tuesday 22nd July, 12.45 - 1.15pm, Elizabeth House
On Tuesday afternoons, during term time, the team at Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested for an extra pair of hands to help with cleaning and tidying up their donation centre.
Expect some satisfying sweeping and surface cleaning to assist this busy team!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/elizabeth-house-food-hub-lunchtime-sweep-up-task-aeb5c257-bc38-4e8b-b4d3-173284fbead7
—---------------------------------------
Green Guardians Spring Sessions
The Garden Classroom, Newington Green
Saturday 26th July
—---------------------------
Penn Road Gardens - July Volunteer Day
Sunday 27th July, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road. https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-july-4ada7b9d-627b-4d7d-84a6-2cb96e09ab0a
—----------------------------
Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 9th August, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.
Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/compton-terrace-gardens-volunteer-open-morning-august
—----------------------
Golden Olden Community Gardens - Monthly Volunteer Open Day
Saturday 16th August, 10am - 2pm, Opposite Whistler Street, Islington
Olden Community Garden is a charity that maintains this lovely green space, with the object to promote a community garden for the benefit of people living or working in the London Borough of Islington. Olden Garden gives local people opportunities for education and recreation, with the aim of increasing involvement in the community and reducing isolation.
—--------------------------
Plog and Pizza with Goodgym Islington
Monday 20th January
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Plogging is a term invented by Erik Ahlström referring to the act of picking up trash and litter while jogging. It is a portmanteau of the Swedish term plocka upp, which means "to pick up," and jogging.
Area Activator Simon met with a smashing Goodgym Islington crew for a lovely relaxed "plogging" session around the Islington and Haringey borough. Anne and Paul ran with Simon from the Arsenal Community Hub, and Dan and Matt caught up with us at the Islington Ecology Centre near Gillespie Road (looking for potential tasks with these guys in the future!).
Our objective was to collect as much litter as possible along the Gillespie Nature Reserve Walk, before dropping the waste off in Finsbury Park. We aimed to pick up awkward dropped packaging and wrappers along the hedgerows- typically hard for council workers to pick up and potentially harmful for local wildlife.
By the end of the nature reserve walk (headtorches were will utilised!), we had almost filled a black bin bag each before heading to Finsbury Park. Together, we finished off the evening by collecting more rubbish in wind block bushes in the park, and stopping just before the Parkland Walk. Top job everyone!
To celebrate another successful session in January, we enjoyed some refreshments and pizzas at the excellent Someday Canteen in Finsbury Park.
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN JANUARY / FEBRUARY
Community Mission- Thornhill Square Gardens 7.15pm, Thornhill Square Gardens Monday 27th January
Group Run- Hornsey Rise Kickabout Playground 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 3rd February
Community Mission- Rose Bowl Youth Club 7.15pm, Rose Bowl Youth Club Monday 10th February
Community Mission- Caxton House Community Centre 7.15pm, Caxton House Monday 24th February
—------------------------------------
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
Emirates Stadium Thursday 23rd January https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-4ed31405-80ce-454b-9765-45aed49cde03
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 30th January https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-db3e1e87-d1e9-4d55-8f34-fd86e1b9101a
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 6th February https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-7cdb905f-ec50-40f7-9932-ca8debf0354c
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 13th February https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-3f25f419-3aa6-4d75-b192-a9c3d2d4ec2f
JENKI Matcha with ON Running Spitalfields Group (February)
Saturday 8th February, 8.45am, ON Running Spitalfields
Every 1st Saturday morning of the month, ON Running Spitalfields and JENKI Matcha Café on Brushfield Street will be hosting a 5km social paced group run through East London and by St Katherine's Dock. Meeting at ON Running Spitalfields store at 8.45am (Bag drop, community shoe try ones, run register, chat and catch up!) Matcha and hot drinks on offer at special run club discount!
—--------------------------------------
Track and Towpath Social Running Sessions
Every Wednesday (fortnightly), 7.30am, Mile End Athletics Track
If you are looking for accessible training sessions that can be included in your schedule, then come and join Area Activator Simon for his fortnightly runs.
Track training is always more fun with others, and these are designed to be sociable and open to all!
Structured training sessions, followed by refreshments at The Yurt Café, Limehouse!
Wednesday 22nd January
Wednesday 5th February
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-towpath-morning-social-track-session-mile-end-3
—-------------------------------------
Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!
Tuesday 21st January, 12.45 - 1.15pm, Elizabeth House
On Tuesday afternoons, during term time, the team at Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested for an extra pair of hands to help with cleaning and tidying up their donation centre.
Expect some satisfying sweeping and surface cleaning to assist this busy team!
Thursday 21st January
Thursday 28th January
Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 8th February, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.
Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day - EXTRA SESSION!
Sunday 26th January, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
An additional trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned! Lots of lifting and shifting- a classic Goodgym task!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-new-path-making-project
—--------------------------------------
Penn Road Gardens - January Volunteer Day
Sunday 26th January, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.
Green Guardians Spring Sessions
The Garden Classroom, Newington Green
Wednesday 22nd January
Wednesday 29th January
Wednesday 5th February
Wednesday 12th February
Saturday 22nd February
Wednesday 26th February
Next session:
—---------------
Market Road Gardens
Tuesday 4th February
Tuesday 11th February
Tuesday 25th February
Next Session:
—--------------------------------------
Saint John's Garden: Building a Dead Hedge and Garden Maintenance
Saturday 22nd February, 11am - midday, St John's Garden
Friends of St John's Garden community group would LOVE Goodgym's help to build and maintain their dead hedges and as an optional lighter task help sweep the garden paths.
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Met League Cross Country Series- Goodgym Race Team
Various locations, October 2024 - February 2025
Met League Cross Country is a set of five 7-8km races organised by London race clubs. They are held in parks and forests around London with the routes including a mixture of grass, gravel and a fair bit of mud (it is XC after all!)
Sign up to the Goodgym Race Team for £15, and enter ALL 5 RACES for the bargain price of £20!
Newbies encouraged and welcomed- the most fun you can have running over the Winter months!
Fixtures
8th February Trent Park https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-trent-park
Going Tree Total in January
Monday 6th January
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
We were thrilled to have 9 keen Goodgymmers joining the GG Islington crew for our first group run session of 2025. Area Activator Simon joined runners Louise, Caitlin, Emily and Bianca for a lovely 1.5 mile run (on quiet streets due to the cold weather) down to Barnard Park.
Upon our arrival, we caught up with the rest of our team at the Barnard Park Adventure Playground (a fun former Goodgym Islington task circa 2022!), and split into 3 groups to scout out discarded Xmas trees within the immediate borough. The official Islington drop off point had been recently cleared, so our plan was to try and fill it again within30 minutes!
Between our three crews, we successfully picked up 20+ trees - super impressive work all round! 6 of our runners then joined us on the route back to the Arsenal Community Hub (passing Paradise Park and the Hornsey Model Bakery) to top off an excellent evening out.
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN JANUARY
Group Session- Christmas Tree Pick-ups, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 6th January
Community Mission- Caxton House Painting and Sanding (Indoors!) 7.15pm, Caxton House Community Centre, Monday 13th January
Group Run- TBC 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 20th January
Link TBC
Community Mission- Thornhill Square Gardens 7.15pm, Thornhill Square Gardens Monday 27th January
—-------------------------------------
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 9th January https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-831bc57f-3d39-4d8e-bfa0-5a7f13b206eb
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 16th January https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-2b0290a9-fb52-480c-a6c0-b45ba8c2c4a4
Emirates Stadium Thursday 23rd January https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-4ed31405-80ce-454b-9765-45aed49cde03
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 30th January https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-db3e1e87-d1e9-4d55-8f34-fd86e1b9101a
JENKI Matcha with ON Running Spitalfields Group (January)
Saturday 11th January, 8.45am, ON Running Spitalfields
Every 1st Saturday morning of the month, ON Running Spitalfields and JENKI Matcha Café on Brushfield Street will be hosting a 5km social paced group run through East London and by St Katherine's Dock.
Meeting at ON Running Spitalfields store at 8.45am (Bag drop, community shoe try ones, run register, chat and catch up!)
Matcha and hot drinks on offer at special run club discount!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/on-running-spitalfields-x-jenki-morning-matcha-miles
—--------------------------------------
Track and Towpath Social Running Sessions
Every Wednesday (fortnightly), 7.30am, Mile End Athletics Track
If you are looking for accessible training sessions that can be included in your schedule, then come and join Area Activator Simon for his fortnightly runs.
Track training is always more fun with others, and these are designed to be sociable and open to all!
Structured training sessions, followed by refreshments at The Yurt Café, Limehouse!
Wednesday 8th January
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-towpath-morning-social-track-session-mile-end
Wednesday 22nd January
—-------------------------------------
Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!
Tuesday 7th and 14th January, 12.45 - 1.15pm, Elizabeth House
On Tuesday afternoons, during term time, the team at Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested for an extra pair of hands to help with cleaning and tidying up their donation centre.
Expect some satisfying sweeping and surface cleaning to assist this busy team!
Thursday 7th January
Thursday 14th January
Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 11th January, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.
Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.
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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (January)
Saturday 18th January, 10am - midday, Canonbury Square Gardens
The Friends of Canonbury Square Gardens host an open community gardening session on the 3rd Saturday morning of every month.
Usual tasks would include bulb planting, trimming, laying compost, maintaining flower beds and litter picking.
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 19th January, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our monthly trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned! https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-january
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Penn Road Gardens - November Volunteer Day
Sunday 26th January, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road. https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-january-c1c2ace2-9aba-45d4-9609-8a038f2aa101
Met League Cross Country Series- Goodgym Race Team
Various locations, October 2024 - February 2025
Met League Cross Country is a set of five 7-8km races organised by London race clubs. They are held in parks and forests around London with the routes including a mixture of grass, gravel and a fair bit of mud (it is XC after all!)
Sign up to the Goodgym Race Team for £15, and enter ALL 5 RACES for the bargain price of £20!
Newbies encouraged and welcomed- the most fun you can have running over the Winter months!
Fixtures
11th January Welwyn Garden City https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-stanborough-park
8th February Trent Park https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-trent-park
Goodgym Islington take to the streets!
Monday 30th December 2024
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
On a spare Monday evening in the "Crimbo Limbo" between Christmas and New Year (thanks for the suggested name, Caitlin!), 4 Goodgym Islington regulars made the most out of an evening off. Area Activator Simon spent the afternoon creating a "Street- O" map for a street orienteering challenge for anyone to try.
Our crew (Kim, Paul and Louise) were given 45 minutes to run from the Arsenal Community Hub, and around the Islington borough, attempting to visit as many listed spots as possible within the time limit. To prove that they had successfully visited the areas, they were given a location specific question to answer, before moving on to the next area.
For example:
What is the price of a portion of "Cheese and Chips" at the Gunners Bar?
To add an extra element of jeopardy to the proceedings, there was a time penalty of 1 point per 10 seconds delay after 45 minutes total time. Every question scored 10 points each, with greater more point scoring opportunities available for those who took the risk to run further away from the Arsenal Community Hub. Time management was the name of the game!
Very impressive results (and fun looking Strava maps) from everyone involved. Great opportunity to tally up the results at the Cock Tavern in Highbury and Islington too!
If anyone would like to try this Street Orienteering course, you are welcome to download the map and clues here:
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