St Mungo's- Hilldrop House
Residential care for homeless individuals
Residential care for homeless individuals.30 GoodGymers have supported St Mungo's- Hilldrop House with 8 tasks.
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Previous sessions
Working Hard or Garden-ly Working?
Monday 26th February
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Our Goodgym crew caught up for our 3rd trip to St Mungo's Hilldrop House on a blustery Spring time evening. Area Activator Simon ran with Adam and Kim (who celebrated her 50th good deed this evening- congratulations!) from the Emirates Stadium, and up Pankhurst Road towards the Hilldrop Estate.
Upon our arrival, we met with the residential homeless resource centre help team, and were offered a variety of tools (clippers, brooms, green waste bags and secateurs) to help with our garden maintenance tasks. Between us, we endeavoured to make the main entrance pathway to the centre as welcoming tidy as possible for future clients. We clipped away the messy brambles around the edges of the paths, and snipped through swathes of overgrown grass from the beds. A real transformation throughout the course of the evening. Well done everyone!
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Goodgym Islington News
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions- Emirates Stadium
Thursday 29th February, 6pm, Stratford Underground station (Westfield exit)
Every Thursday, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
This week, we will be trying out a new run location for the first time- Stratford Olympic Park. And we would be thrilled if you were to join us on Thursday 29th February:
ON Running and JENKI run club- Thursday morning matcha runs!
Thursday 29th February, 7am, ON Running Spitalfields, Brushfield Street
Area Activator Simon has set up a series of morning runs, hosted on Thursday mornings at the new ON Running store in Spitalfields market.
A social 5km before work, with the option to take out a pair of ON Running shoes for a test spin. Followed by hot drinks provided by the team at JENKI, Brushfield Street.
Next run is on Thursday 29th February:
Slow Ways and Goodgym Islington Social
Monday 4th March, 6.45pm onwards, Arsenal Community Hub
For our first group run of March, we will be reviewing a running route for the Slow Ways mapping network, starting in Highbury and Islington, and finishing in Wood Green. Great social running times!
And afterwards, we are planning on visiting Ezra's Cafe in Wood Green for refreshments, food and chat
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/post-group-run-social-ezra-s-kitchen
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Compton Terrace Gardens Open Volunteer Morning
Saturday 9th March, 10am - midday, Union Chapel, Islington
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.
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (March)
Saturday 16th March, 10am, Canonbury Square Gardens
Lending a hand with this beautiful neighbourhood maintained garden in Islington, a perfect post-parkrun task!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning-march
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Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 16th March, 11am - 1pm, 85-87 Wood Vale, Highgate Woods
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-march-2024
Hollo-Way To Go, Goodgym Islington!
Monday 15th January
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Well done to all of the 8 hardy Goodgym runners (including first timer Andrea- welcome!) who braved the bitterly cold conditions last night, as potential snow appears to be on the horizon for London!
That said, we have to give a thought to the intrepid runners taking on The Spine Race as we speak- a 268 mile traverse across the entirety of the Pennine Way! You can catch up on the action here: https://live.opentracking.co.uk/spinerace24/
Together, our crew engaged in a series of dynamic warm ups on the Emirates Slopes, before running approximately 2km across Holloway Road and onto Camden Road towards St Mungo's Hill drop House, a residence and community network for local homeless and unhoused people.
Unfortunately, the team at St Mungo's seemed to have forgotten about our scheduled visit, and so our original gardening plans were set aside for the time being. However, Area Activator Simon had come prepared with a series of litter pickers, strong gloves and eco refuse bags for this predicament. We split into three groups- group 1 clearing the front entrance of St Mungo's of cigarette butt's, discarded cans, bottles and general litter from the busy road next door. Group 2 travelled a bit further into the neighbourhood to help with returning a rubbish pickup spot back to a clean and tidy state. Group 3 jogged down Camden Road to fix up The Cat and Mouse Children's Library, around the former Holloway Road prison site.
Between us, we successfully collected 10 full bags of litter just along Camden Road in the course of 30 minutes Very impressive and super satisfying work- congratulations all!
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GoodGym Islington News
ON Running and JENKI run club- Thursday morning matcha runs!
Every Thursday, 7am, ON Running Spitalfields, Brushfield Street
Area Activator Simon has set up a series of morning runs, hosted every Thursday morning at the new ON Running store in Spitalfields market.
A social 5km before work, with the option to take out a pair of ON Running shoes for a test spin. Followed by complimentary matcha and hot drinks provided by the team at JENKI, Brushfield Street.
Next run is on Thursday 18th January
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions- Emirates Stadium
Thursday 18th January, 6pm, Arsenal Underground station
Every Thursday, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location. This week, we will be meeting up at Arsenal tube station, ready to run around the Emirates Stadium concourse. Open to runners and guides of all abilities! Follow the link to get involved:
Run Tour of Islington Parks #2- ON Running Group Run
Tuesday 16th January, 6pm, ON Running Spitalfields, Brushfield Street
Did you know that the borough of Islington contains 121 listed green spaces according to The Green Classroom?
To celebrate a great year with Goodgym Islington, Area Activator Simon will be planning a social run to visit as many of these as possible within 45 - 60 minutes! We are planning to continue this project over the month of January, to see if we can visit every Islington green space during Goodgym runs.
The Garden Classroom- Weekly Volunteer Mornings in Islington Parks!
Various parks and gardens on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings.
The Garden Classroom has started multiple weekly open garden mornings in Newington Green, Market Road and Hillside Park (near Caxton House). Set up by trained horticulture specialists and open to all!
Newington Green Next Wednesday- 10am - midday
Hillside Gardens, Caxton House Next Thursday- 10am - midday
Market Road Gardens Next Friday- 10am - midday
Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (January)
Saturday 20th January, 10am, Canonbury Square Gardens
Lending a hand with this beautiful neighbourhood maintained garden in Islington, a perfect post-parkrun task!
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Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 21st January, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our annual 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-2024
Post Group Run Social- Happy January!
Monday 29th January, 8.45pm, Memsaab Islington
Following our final group run of the January Challenge, and Frannie from Octopus Community Network's last Goodgym task, we are planning on visiting Memsaab Indian restaurant for delicious curry and refreshments!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/post-group-run-social-memsaab-islington-happy-january
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Met League Cross Country Hill Training- Primrose Hill
Friday 2nd February, 6.30pm, The Queens, Primrose Hill
Area Activator Simon has set up one final hill training session before our last cross country fixture at Trent Park (10th February). Open to all, timed Kenyan Hills intervals! https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-february
Hilldrop it like it's hot
Wednesday 3rd January
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Goodgym Islington were thrilled to return after a well deserved festive break, catching up with Alison, Emily, Caitlin and Maggie at St Mungo's Hilldrop House. Area Activator Simon lead a 2 mile run from the Arsenal Community Hub and back, connecting Camden Road and Caledonian Park on route.
St Mungo's Hilldrop House is a homelessness action charity and outreach just on the border of Islington and Camden. The team had recently dropped Goodgym Islington a line to see if we could help with revamping their front entrance garden space ready for future residents in the new year, and we were happy to oblige! One of our main objectives for the evening was to clear away lots of long, overgrown grass surrounding the centre, and to remove any litter that remained. We also set about raking up plenty of dropped leaves and foliage from the surrounding paths, and clipping away overhanging branches around the space. Very satisfying and transformational work- we gathered four full rubbish bags of litter, and at least two large building merchant bags of green waste within our 50 minutes of gardening help- well done everyone!
Goodgym Islington News
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Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions- Emirates Stadium
Thursday 4th January 6pm, Arsenal underground station
Every Thursday, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location. This week, we will return to Emirates Stadium (Arsenal underground station) for loops around the floodlit concourse.
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ON Running and JENKI run club- Thursday morning matcha runs!
Every Thursday, 7am, ON Running Spitalfields, Brushfield Street
Area Activator Simon has set up a series of morning runs, hosted every Thursday morning at the new ON Running store in Spitalfields market.
A social 5km before work, with the option to take out a pair of ON Running shoes for a test spin. Followed by complimentary matcha and hot drinks provided by the team at JENKI, Brushfield Street.
First run on Thursday 4th January:
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GG Race Team- Met League Hill Training Session! - January
Friday 5th January, 7pm, Pembroke Castle, Chalk Farm
Goodgym Cross Country is back! We will be returning to the Met League in 2023 and 2024! If you have never tried cross country, it is amazing muddy fun. A definite challenge, but accessible to all who want to give it a go, and are part of a UKA affiliated team (like the Goodgym Race Team). To coincide with the events, Area Activator Simon Fitzmaurice (who is a UK Athletics Coach in Running Fitness or CiRF for short) will be hosting a series of hill interval training sessions at Primrose Hill over the Autumn and Winter months. https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-january
This session has been scheduled to co-incide with the first Met League cross country fixture of 2023.
Met League Welwyn Garden City (race 4)
Saturday 13th January, 12 midday onwards
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Finsbury parkrun Catch-up & 9 years of Goodgym Islington!
Saturday 6th January, 8.45am, Finsbury Park
A catch up with the Goodgym crew after the festive break, in line with 9 years since Goodgym Islington began!
Free weekly 5km social run/walk with volunteering opportunities available, followed by breakfast as Blighty café on Blackstock Road!
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GoodGym London - January Social- Market Halls Canary Wharf
Friday 12th January, 6.30pm, Market Halls Canary Wharf
Our next all boroughs social will be held at the awesome Market Halls London venue next to the new Elizabeth Line station in Canary Wharf. Excellent food, plenty of refreshments and good times!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/goodgym-london-january-social
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Run Tour of Islington Parks #2- ON Running Group Run
Tuesday 16th January, 6pm, ON Running Spitalfields, Brushfield Street
Did you know that the borough of Islington contains 121 listed green spaces according to The Green Classroom?
To celebrate a great year with Goodgym Islington, Area Activator Simon will be planning a social run to visit as many of these as possible within 45 - 60 minutes! We are planning to continue this project over the month of January, to see if we can visit every Islington green space during Goodgym runs. https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/tour-of-islington-parks-2-on-running-group-run-1bbd1f19-0e98-49af-846d-b259f320ed9a
Hilldrop House was De-vine
Monday 10th July 2023
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
On Monday evening, Area Activator Simon joined first time group run attendees Isabella and Masoud (welcome!) at the Arsenal Community Hub by Emirates Stadium. We engaged in a warm up on the slopes to get the blood pumping, before setting off towardsHilldrop House on Camden Road (on the cusp of the Islington border). For the first time, we had more cyclists than runners in attendance (partially due to AA Simon recovering from a foot treatment earlier in the day), but Isabella did a smashing job as our lone runner on the night! Shortly after passing through Caledonian Park (and next to the community herb gardens that we helped to install), we met with Benedict, who was cycling in the same direction!
Upon our arrival, we picked up a collection of shears, green bags, heavy duty gloves and trowels, and set upon continuing our great work from last week. Our objective was to clear away as much of the overgrown grass from the entrance of St Mungo's Hilldrop House help centre as possible, while still leaving enough for residents and visitors to enjoy. Camden Road is very open area, that is susceptible for litter from neighbouring estates (sometimes blown over by the wind, other times intentionally littered), and the long grass typically collects this debris. It was great to be able to shift as much refuse as possible, while making the space look presentable! Ben also helped with snipping away overhanging bushes and tree branches on the pedestrian walkway surrounding the centre, as not to impede the pavement.
Over 45 minutes, our small crew did a smashing job- the front garden area was a transformation! Another trip is likely to be scheduled in August to finish off our summer time gardening project, so watch this space!
NEWS
Achilles International VI Guiding Group Runs- Green Park
Thursday 13th July, 6pm, Green Park Underground Station
Our weekly group running session with the awesome visually impaired runners at Achilles International returns to Green Park. Open for guide runners of all abilities, and new potential guides are very welcome! Dog watchers and bag drop helpers encouraged!
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Forest Path Building Morning - July
Sunday 16th July, 11am-1pm, Crouch End Open Space
Our monthly woodland regeneration session with the CREOS volunteering team. A fantastic morning for lifting, shifting, digging and beautifying between Muswell Hill and Highgate.
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-july-2023
GROUP RUN - Tufnell Park Community Plant Nursery & Social!
Monday 17th July, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub
We will be visiting the beautiful Tufnell Park Plant Nursery for our group run on a Monday evening. Loads of water for thirsty plants!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/group-run-tufnell-park-community-plant-nursery-social
And afterwards, we will be visiting the wonderful Wolkite Ethiopian Restaurant on Benwell Road for our July post run social (and also Area Activator Simon's birthday!).
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/post-group-run-social-july-wolkite-ethiopian
Goodgym x Achilles International- Bushy parkrun visit
Saturday 22nd July, 8.30am, Bushy Park, Hampton
Achilles International, the all abilities sports group, are planning on attending the original "free weekly timed 5km time trial", more commonly known as "Bushy parkrun" in Hampton.
We are looking to invite potential running guides (for various paces) and those interested in the world of guide running (especially anyone happy to volunteer and cheer on the course) to come and join us! https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/achilles-international-x-goodgym-bushy-parkrun
Penn Road Gardens Open Morning (July)
Sunday 30th July, 10am-12 midday, Penn Road Gardens
An invitation to help this lovely community garden space near Caledonian Road over Summer. Often complimented with mugs of tea and coffee!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-july
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GROUP RUN- Elizabeth House Food Hub Helpers- and 4 years of AA Simon
Monday 7th August, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub
On Monday evening, we will be helping with deliveries to families and isolated individuals around the Islington borough for Elizabeth House- a super busy hub near Gillespie Road. https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/group-run-elizabeth-house-food-hub-summer-holiday-helpers-2
And afterwards we will be celebrating Area Activator Simon's 4 year anniversary as the leader for Goodgym Islington, with a trip to Someday Canteen in Finsbury Park.
Life in the Mung-ergrowth
Monday 3rd July 2023
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
On Monday evening, 5 Goodgym running folks caught up at the Arsenal Community Hub ready for our trip to St Mungo's Hilldrop House. After a short warm up on the Emirates Stadium slopes (engaging the plantar and picking up our feet), we ran together along Camden Road and up our local hills.
Upon our arrival, we met with Victoria and Caitlin outside the distinctive blue building (former church, now converted as a homeless and sheltered living charity hub), ready to tackle a massively overgrown garden space. After being led inside to pick up gloves, reusable green bags, hoes, rakes and clippers, we all got stuck in! Luke and John pulled up loads of troublesome vines that were choking out the remaining plants around the main beds (and stretching around the pathways). Meanwhile, Katie and Kim did a smashing job of snipping away at some thorny and dangerous brambles and nettles surrounding the entrance. Throughout the evening, we spotted a plethora of wildlife within the weeds- endless snails, young grasshoppers, beetles and even a pretty caterpillar during our solid 50 minutes of hard graft.
Together, we did a smashing job of clearing the immediate foliage from the gardens surrounding Hilldrop House. Our plan is to return next week, to finish the job!
NEWS
Achilles International VI Guiding Group Runs- Emirates Stadium
Thursday 6th July, 6pm, Arsenal Underground Station
Our weekly group running session with the awesome visually impaired runners at Achilles International returns to Emirates Stadium. Open for guide runners of all abilities, and new potential guides are very welcome! Dog watchers and bag drop helpers encouraged!
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Forest Path Building Morning - July
Sunday 16th July, 11am-1pm, Crouch End Open Space
Our monthly woodland regeneration session with the CREOS volunteering team. A fantastic morning for lifting, shifting, digging and beautifying between Muswell Hill and Highgate.
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-july-2023
GROUP RUN - Tufnell Park Community Plant Nursery & Social!
Monday 17th July, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub
We will be visiting the beautiful Tufnell Park Plant Nursery for our group run on a Monday evening. Loads of water for thirsty plants!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/group-run-tufnell-park-community-plant-nursery-social
And afterwards, we will be visiting the wonderful Wolkite Ethiopian Restaurant on Benwell Road for our July post run social (and also Area Activator Simon's birthday!).
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/post-group-run-social-july-wolkite-ethiopian
Goodgym x Achilles International- Bushy parkrun visit
Saturday 22nd July, 8.30am, Bushy Park, Hampton
Achilles International, the all abilities sports group, are planning on attending the original "free weekly timed 5km time trial", more commonly known as "Bushy parkrun" in Hampton.
We are looking to invite potential running guides (for various paces) and those interested in the world of guide running (especially anyone happy to volunteer and cheer on the course) to come and join us! https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/achilles-international-x-goodgym-bushy-parkrun
Penn Road Gardens Open Morning (July)
Sunday 30th July, 10am-12 midday, Penn Road Gardens
An invitation to help this lovely community garden space near Caledonian Road over Summer. Often complimented with mugs of tea and coffee!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-july
3 is the magic number...
Monday 8th August 2022
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
On Monday evening, Area Activator Simon did a nice, easy walk (on tired ultra-running legs) over to the Arsenal Community Hub on Benwell Road. Upon his arrival, he caught up with Dharmesh, Katie, Alex, Victoria and Claire, ready for a steady run across the borough on a warm Summer's evening. We started out with a dynamic warm up (with a focus on getting the stabilising muscles - quads, glutes and hamstrings mobile) before running towards St Mungo's Community Centre on Hilldrop Crescent (while avoiding the roadworks caused by unexpected flooding earlier in the day. Victoria had already been a hero for her neighbours- blocking their home with sand bags to keep the tides away- what a superstar!).
After climbing the Pankhurst Road slope, past the Cat 🐈 and Mouse 🐁 children's library, we arrived at St Mungos. Alison, Sally, Nurjehan, Giulia and Patrick met us at the big blue former church doorway to the centre. The team at St Mungos were absolutely thrilled with the progress we had made on the gardening project for the entrance and pathways around the centre, so we agreed to return to add the finishing touches this time!
Our objective this time was to trim away as much over hanging foliage and greenery as possible, to allow for easy access into the centre. Tall Goodgym runners like Alex and Patrick were particularly helpful for this particular task! Sally, Nurjehan, Giulia and Clare also did a smashing job of clipping away loads of overgrown grass surrounding the main doorway. We were also tasked with removing some troublesome weeds and brambles from these green spaces too- gathering up as much as we safely could, and disposing of it appropriately. Patrick made friends with a cute little shield bug while pulling some weeds, who seemed quite happy to sit on his Goodgym top while he worked.
Any property on Camden Road is susceptible to being a wind trap for litter, gathered from the Camden and Islington boroughs, so we also committed to helping out with some litter picking around the building, particularly around the newly trimmed hedgerows. It has been really wonderful to see the outcome from 40 minutes of graft by good people- very satisfying work!
As we closed up the group run for the night, we celebrated Area Activator Simon's 3rd year as a leader for the group- starting before the pandemic, keeping a crew together while the world went upside down, and enjoying our resurgence as we return to some sort of normality. It was been a blast! It was wonderful to enjoy some refreshments at the Highbury Library bar, post run!
News
Elizabeth House Food Hub
As part of the Summer Holiday season, Goodgym Islington have been lending a hand with the amazing crew at Elizabeth House Food Hub, the local community supermarket of donated food and provisions in the Arsenal and Highbury boroughs. Additional demand over the holidays mean that shopping and essential item deliveries on foot would make a lifetime for local families.
We will be back on Tuesday 16th August:
and Tuesday 23rd August:
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