I was finishing up a family phone call outside the Liverpool Irish Centre when I saw someone trying to catch my eye. When I approached, it turns out it was new member Fred, who attended his very first session yesterday at Princes Park, and enjoyed it so much he came back to another session today! Although I hadn't met Fred yesterday, he'd recognised the distinctive red GG t-shirt - the t-shirts work! - and so we were able to head in together and introduce ourselves to the team.

Goodgym Liverpool have worked with the Liverpool Irish Centre before, a few years ago, before my GG time. Due to lockdown and personel moving on, it's been a while, so when we saw they were holding a Volunteer Open Day, we thought it the perfect time to head down and re-introduce ourselves.

Fred and I were swiftly given our first task: masking-taping and painting Gold the bordered edges on the walls. Fred carefully and effectively added the masking tape, and I started to paint. That first border was, frankly, underwhelming. The 'gold' was a somewhat murky brown, and so opaque it looked like it would need at least 8 coats to cover the green and white paint underneath. Fortunately for me, Fred quickly ascertained that the paint needed to be mixed, all the colour was at the bottom. We looked around and asked for a suitable stick, and after a false start involving a couple of straws, were handed a fork to use. Fred got stuck into the paint can with the fork, and in front of our eyes it turned into a beautiful rich gold colour. Lucky indeed ☘️

We continued on our with our masking-taping and (now much more effective) painting, and before we knew it had finished an entire wall. On to our next job! Touching up the jade green paint wherever it was needed around the room. I got the torch out and eagle-eyed any minor imperfections, and Fred expertly touched up everywhere needed. Around 2 hours after we'd arrived, we were offered drinks and the promised 'refreshments', which turned out to be a sizeable buffet of pizza, wedges, mozzarella sticks and mac & cheese bites. Whilst I grabbed a plate and settled down with the team, slipping into 'Goodgym Sales/Business Development' mode, Fred put me (and us all) to shame by continuing on, casually refusing the suggested break.

It was of course during this brief break when I was sat eating pizza (in sales mode!) that Sallyann and Liam arrived, straight from work. They got straight to it and joined Fred on paint duties. Shortly after I managed to tear myself away, and Fred and I continued our quality-check whilst Sallyann & Liam got to painting the stage area.

The official Volunteer Open Day finish time of 8pm soon arrived, and Fred and I decided to call it a night. However Sallyann & Liam were full of enthusiasm and offered to stay later, much to the delight of the task owner who still had a lot to do (they could still be there now for all I know...)

It was great to reacquaint ourselves with the Liverpool Irish Centre and we're already discussing when we can go back. The team have done a huge amount over the past few months to renovate the centre, and there's still more to do. We look forward to returning to the Emerald... centre.

7 Goodgymers ran through the streets, winding uphill to meet the rest of the gang who helped by bringing litter picking supplies at the Liverpool Irish Centre. With Ema walking (4km) and Sallyann cycling (10k), there was plenty of miles accumulated. The Centre does so many good things for the local community and it was great to help tidy around the grounds for their upcoming sold out panto. Well done Issy and Joanna on trying your first group run, hopefully it will be the first of many. The group reached the venue in no time and with a sharp wind about set to grabbing bags and litter pickers. Having a chance to chat while litter picking made the time pass quickly and 19 bags of rubbish was beyond all expectations. Having some brioscaí ( biscuits – pronounced breeski) after picking up bruscar (rubbish – pronounced brushcar), everyone was fuelled to continue our various ways. Well done all, Clodagh was happy out and the place looked well after your work

The Irish may say that the four leaf clover is lucky, but at tonight's Community Mission, 3 was the magic number!

We've supported Liverpool Irish Centre numerous times over the last 2.5 years and are keen to promote the great work they do. As a centre for Irish culture in Liverpool, they offer language, music and dance classes. But the centre isn't just for Irish people, it is for everyone. That was the message we tried to convey to the centre's neighbours this evening.

Our small but mighty team of Matthew, Jo and I hit the suburban streets of North Liverpool as the sun went down and a threat of rain hung in the air (but luckily never materialised). After 40 minutes and 200 leaflets delivered we called it a night.

Well done that team!

7 GoodGymmers visited Liverpool’s Irish Centre to help with their post lockdown renovations.

Despite the gardening tools being locked away and the key missing, each member of the team was given a task so we could stay socially distant and maximise our efforts with what we had.

Claire was pruning in the garden with some mighty shears (scissors), Christine painted behind the bar with Tim paining in the office area behind the bar. Char attacked a spiderweb laden vestibule area before paining and Sam rescued a bee (it counts as ‘work’). Lorna and Pauline cleaned out the courtyard area that was covered in Leaves and dirt!

The team then chipped in to move a big pile of peat and branches to the bins to be taken away. Good job team.

Liverpool's Irish Centre has undergone a revamp during lock down but there were still a few jobs to do and GoodGym was on hand to help finish the job.

Emma touched up the paint in the playground (and resisted the urge to go on the slide), Pauline gave the outdoor stage a fresh coat, Sam touched up the high bits in the hall and Chris put in a double shift by shifting a load of pallets and also painting behind the bar area.

A special shout of to the final member of our quintet, Becki, who is sadly leaving Liverpool and going back home to Wolverhampton. Good luck with everything Becki, you will be missed

If there was a soggy run badge, this week's team would be awarded it and then some. Only the brave (or the bonkers!) turned up this week for an outdoor task in the pouring rain.

We are desperate for Spring to begin here in Liverpool with even some of our most dedicated regulars in hibernation last night (no shame, I probably wouldn't have run if I didn't have to!!!) sick to the teeth of running through stormy weather. Happily a team of 7 runners did appear through the clouds to bring a little sunshine into my Monday evening. Three of the lads even had bare legs and one had bare arms; they are the toughest of the tough!!!

Our task was to promote the cultural activities at the Liverpool Irish Centre, posting flyers through letter boxes in nearby streets. This was made extra difficult with the bad weather and also the huge size of the leaflets given to us! So we started the night by folding the leaflets and wrapping them in bin liners. We then did a gentle warm-up still inside our Hope Street Hotel base.

Once we hit the road, the team made quick work of the 2.5km run. Soon they were busy leafleting up and down a long terraced street. And within 10 minutes, the 125+ leaflets had been delivered.

Shout out to Baptiste and Molly who are busy fighting student elections yet still joined us for a soggy fun. Good luck El Presidente - you've got our vote!

Given that it was still raining, I let the team off a fitness session and instead gave them some good form tips to think about on the run back to base. With our lovely upright postures and avoiding heel-striking, plus the downhill slope back, we made it to Hope Street in no time.

Seriously well done tonight team, you are absolute stars! Fingers crossed for nice weather next week but even so, it is a short run and an indoor task so get signing up here. And for extra Brownie points, please join the Community Mission on Saturday evening here.

Stay warm!