A big warm welcome to Stefani on her first Goodgym session.

We were tasked with an old favourite of ours, giving the arena a big 'ol spruce up. This involves getting rid of cobwebs, dusting down barriers, and having a ride on the EV, much to Jacks delight!

Once we were finished up there, we had a quick love in with the horses, before cleaning out their grooming bags.

We rounded off a lovely evening by having a group photo with the deliciously cute pony, who was the mane attraction for sure!

Six GoodGymers helped Urban Green in Elswick Park on a surprising mild and sunny autumn morning. We arrived at the park and couldn't find Urban Green after Chris cycled cycled round the entire park and still couldn't find the van we were a bit stumped. Luckily Tomsaved the day by nipping home picking up some litter pickers, bin bags and a sweeping brush.

Chris had to head off shortly after with no we where to leave his bike. The rest of us littered picked for an hour in the park and along the road at the top, collecting 8 bags of litter between us with me and Jack emptying our bags into the bins and and continuing on.

Tom got really into sweeping leaves off the path at the top of the park and made a friend who helped him push the leaves out of the path and was shocked that he was helping out despite not living on that road.

Even thought the task didn't go according to plan we were pleased with out litter picking efforts and the difference we had made. Well done Ellie on her first good deed with GoodGym! Ellie also found the most random litter of the day a random plastic bag of lentils!

Sam and Tom had been singing praises of FAB bakery last week and this week and as it wasn't too far away most of us ended up pop there afterwards to stock up on sour dough bread (which they slice for you) and enjoy sweet treats.

Another evening of being suspiciously thin on the ground but a small and perfectly formed group gathered tonight, which included our fab run leader Richard for his first Strawberry Lane session. It was great having him back!

The task tonight had actually been changed twice behind the scenes (an area activator’s work is never done) but on hearing that our Urban Green Newcastle friends are struggling at times to keep on top of the litter and jobs in Leazes Park we took advantage of an otherwise free night to head there armed with litter pickers and lights, to lend a hand.

I’d been warned about the Northern Lights festival set up so we decided to walk the perimeter of the park and look for an open entrance. As it happened, there was so much litter to collect on the way there and around the paths to the Town Moor, that it didn't matter too much when we discovered we weren’t able to get in at all! There were so many cans and bottles, a few of which were accidentally opened on their way into the bags that by the end of the session my gloves were soaked with (I hope) beer! The hot topic tonight was parkrun and we shared many tales of volunteer memories and favourite courses. It was really nice tonight to do the whole session as a group!

Before long we had collected two very full bags of rubbish and clocked up lots of steps to start our weeks off right.

Damu is looking after the session next Monday and as always lots of jobs will be waiting at Stepney Bank Stables so come and get involved in that if you can.

Seven goodgymers helped Urban Green with bulb planting in St Lawrence Park on a crisp and damp autumn morning.

Urban Green supplied a massive bag of daffodil bulbs which when thrown over a shoulder the wearer looked a lot like an economical santa delivering the present of future flowers.

The actual task was pretty simple anyone taking a channel of a grass slope each and dig a hole for the bulb and then cover it back over. After a tea break half way though we moved on to another grass area in the park where we all took a a section and planned a strip of bulbs.

Unfortunately no before and after pictures as the daffodils will flower in the spring or possibly the one after if deep enough! Hopefully we will get to see the fruits, or flowers, of our labour then.

We are back helping Urban Green in Elswick Park the 16th of November if you want to come along and get involved!

It didn’t actually feel that long since we were last at WERS, the brilliant West End Refugee service, and when I looked at tonight’s sign ups it gave me a sense of Deja vu! The only new addition was Jack, and a great new addition he was. We met at One Strawberry Lane, our brilliant hub which I think will just get cosier as winter creeps in.

The standard quick catch up on the weekend’s sessions and news before it was time to set off. As it was almost even split of runners and walkers, I decided to flip the session tonight and do the fitness session first, making good use of St James’ Park steps! Heart rates raised and legs definitely feeling warmer, we then made it the short journey uphill to WERS where thankfully everything we needed was waiting for us. WERS is an amazing organisation in the west end, supporting refugees in our city with all kinds of support they need. We’d been asked back tonight to continue clearing and tidying up the back garden.

Tonight was one of those simple, satisfying tasks that truly made a difference. Under the epic floodlights- expertly perched in the trees thanks to Tom, we armed ourselves with rakes and brushes and set about clearing the garden which was almost knee-deep in leaves. Everyone put their backs into it while discussing the Halloween weekend gone by.

Before long the paths and gardens were cleared and the grass was once again visible. I think the task owner and service users will definitely see a difference tomorrow. This was one of those classic GoodGym sessions where team work makes a real impact.

With Half Term upon us we were a little thinner on the ground tonight, as this was also the week of the planned metro works, affecting a lot of routes in and out of Newcastle. We still got a newbie along for the session which we always love to see, give a warm welcome cheer to lovely Fiona on her first good deed.

There was a slight bit of drama at the start of the session with Stepney Bank Stables closing early and temporarily locking poor Jack inside- luckily Damu and Max witnessed this horsing around and managed to get him out before all the lights went off. Phew!

Tonight was the first Litter Pick Challenge of the autumn and after splitting into two teams we headed off to the quayside to complete our bingo boards armed with the floodlights and litter pickers. As you can see from the photos we were on the lookout for all kinds of random bits of rubbish tonight and in just 15 minutes Fiona’s team of runners were victorious. Incidentally, both teams got all of the items so I did reward everyone with a prize at the end. Overall, two bags of rubbish were collected in just 25 minutes from along the quayside on what was a calm and warm October night.

After three rounds of the leg-tappy game (technical term) to warm up, it was then time for a 3,2,1 fitness session, where everyone completed sets of walking lunges, star jumps, assisted press ups for time- expect everything to ache tomorrow!

There are two community missions listed on Sunday, and yes, it is possible to do both! We are then back at Strawberry Lane on Monday for some leaf raking to kick off November at WERS. See you soon.

Just me attended this comunity mission to help Whitley Bay junior parkrun, and what a lovely sunny morning at the coast it was! It was a the second week of a temporary course while the council installs a cycle lane near by but everything went smoothly.

I volunteer at junior parkrun fairly regularly and this week I was tail walker, which involved a nice coastal walk while making sure that no children where left behind.

I always enjoy volunteering at junior parkrun as it is lovely cheering on the kids and sets the day up nicely.

Four GoodGymers helped we Do Tennis in partnership with Urban Green Newcastle with path clearing on an autumnal Saturday morning.

The 10am start time meant we had all managed to fit a parkrun before hand but had mostly done different local ones with Scott doing Town Moor, Tanya and Debbie attending Leazes and me mostly walking Jesmond Dene due to a sore ankle.

The job was simple but very satisfying, raking leaves and removing soil and weeds from the path near the tennis courts where leaves are blown and then get stuck on fence. Once we had done the edge of the tennis courts we also did a nearby set of steps.

The difference we to the path and steps in only one hour was UnbeLEAFable!