Today we were on duty at Luton Town Football Club where they were hosting a Job Fair. As old hands our main responsibility was to ask for feedback of the attendees as they left the Eric Morecambe suite. it was great to be helping alongside some if the staff from LTFC. The suite was soon buzzing with people talking with potential employers and we got the ipads and QR codes ready for the feedback surveys. It was interesting to hear people's positive comments and while Neill and Omar kept busy on the door Gill took on the task of providing the employer reps with hot and cold drinks. The day got busier as there was a huge queue of people waiting to attend - by the end of the fair we had seen around 600 people in total. Omar asked who Eric Morecambe is that the room (and stand) was named after which had Gill explaining about the 1970s comedy show and then had her singing Bring Me Sunshine and doing "that dance"! I think Omar and some of the attendees thought she'd lost the plot!!! By the end of the event Matt was really appreciative of our help and commented on the great customer service. Thanks team... job well done.

Two GoodGymmers made their merry way to support the monthly friends of DD & Winsdon Hill Litterpick. A surprisingly sunny and mild morning, we enjoyed being out in the fresh and and getting stuck in tackling the large amount of rubbish. Bagging up the smaller pieces and freeing the larger bits from the overgrowth. This is a heavily littered area, and the team are keen to clear it up so that the local community of people and wildlife can full enjoy it. Today we focussed mainly on the path to the left of the hill and headed up to where there were several ‘dens’ hidden by bushes and thorns which were covered in rubbish. We’ll be back again next month to keep up the good fight!

We had a fabulous team out this morning to help with the monthly Dallow Downs Litter Pick. When they list the task as a litter pick they don't always warn us about the scale of the task, but there is very little that can discourage the GoodGymers in Luton. We started off with litter pickers and hooped bags, but then Sophie - the task owner mentioned that, hidden in the trees was a mountain of items that looked liked they had been tipped from one or more of the houses backing onto this once green space. Always up for a challenge and a work out, several of the team relinquished their bags and were led by Gill up into the trees. Omar retrieved two tyres, and not long after Gill found two tyres still attached to their wheels. These were soon carried down the hill to the entrance of the pathway. They might have been feeling time, but soon Fawaz and Abdulrahman were walking down with a double matress. Two more matresses were unearthed, and additional execricse was gained from some competitive matreess racing fromAbdulrahman and Fawaz on Team A and Ezrik, Atsiba , Teklay and Mohammed. While the team of two did finish first, the VAR decided there may have been some cheating, as they gave themselves a head start. And Abdulrahman and Fawaz then had a further race while carrying kitchen cupboards up high. Nuriya and Zainab did a fabulous job of continuing with the litter picking in the park while all these shenanigans were going on. It was just a shame that Zain ended up slipping down the hillside in the mud at the end of the task, with no matresses there to break her fall. Congratulations to Mohammed as this was his first GoodGym Community Task. We think he enjoyed it, and hope we haven't put him off getting involved in future tasks.

Another successful party for the older residents, this time of the Bushmead Area of Luton. They were expecting over 80 guests, and the GoodGym Team arrived bright and early to help with the cooking. Later in the morning the sub-team set off to the community centre to set up the hall and once all was ready the food was transported across ready to be dished up. Then it was all hands on deck to serve the guest who were waiting with relish for their dinners.

After the dinner there was music and dancing and it didn't take long before Gill, Abdulrahman and Fawaz joined Vera and some of the guests on the dance floor. And we were all impressed with Adbulrahman's newly learned dance moves.

After some Carol singing and an introduction to the Chief Executive of the Council, it was back to the kitchen to start the arduous task of washing up and cleaning down. It was a long day but everyone left with smiles on their faces, and Christmas wishes ringing in their ears.

Another prepared more than 140 meals, 140 desserts, and drinks today for a Christmas lunch. The atmosphere was full of love, joy, and happiness as we spent this special time with the elderly residents at Futures House 🎄❤️.

It was a beautiful day, and we enjoyed it very much. Abdulrahman

The team assembled early to decorate the hall, lay the tables and help cook Christmas Dinner. When the guests arrived they were then even busier making sure people had drinks and serving the food for the three course meal. As the entertainment started they made sure the tables were cleared and and the washing up was done. And finally, as the last guest left, they packed up the hall, took down the decorations and took all the rubbish out to the dust bins. it was a long day day and our hard work was really appreciated by the guests and organisers. Well done team.

Eight Goodgymers helped the Wigmore community begin their Christmas celebrations. They wrapped presents, hosted with food and drinks to tables helped with the washing up, clearing up and joined in with the fun and dancing.