1 Month Streak
0 Month Streak
1 Month Streak
Mon 14th Apr at 6:15pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Area Activator Simon was joined by a top crew of Goodgym runners at the Arsenal Community Hub early on Monday evening. After a series of warm up drills on the slopes, we ran up the Aubert Park Hill, and straight down to the Elizabeth House Community Food Hub.
Upon our arrival we were greeted by Alice and Nathalie, the resident food hub volunteers, who were thrilled to see us. The team had already been working hard throughout the day, preparing deliveries and essential supplies for neighbourhood familes and isolated peoples. The space is set out like a supermarket, dedicated to donated food and produce, where visitors can drop in. Over the holidays, demand increases, so an additional Monday supermarket day is set up by the team, and our Goodgym crew will often come down to lend a hand!
Firstly, we arranged to drop off a series of prepared deliveries across the borough (Dharmesh, Bianca, Caitlin and Kim took on this role). In the meantime, the rest of us helped with re-organising the storage space under a table in the main kitchen- it was full of canned goods and non perishable foods, but needed a good sweep and some re-arranging. A good job, well done!
Next on the agenda, our team remained on hand to assist with packing supplies into bags for our visitors. As the food hub started to close up, we cleared away crates, tables, food supplies and chairs. Every area and every surface was cleaned, sanitised and swept up and we made sure that the community hall was ready for the children's play scheme the next day.
Great work everyone. Have a smashing Easter break! See you at Timbuktu Adventure Playground next Monday!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN APRIL
Community Mission- Timbuktu Adventure Playground 7.15pm, Timbuktu Adventure Playground, 31 Grenville Road Monday 21st April
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-timbuktu-adventure-playground
Group Run- Highbury Quadrant Estate 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 28th April
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-highbury-quadrant-green-space-garden-maintenance
Community Mission- Sunnyside Community Gardens 7.15pm, Sunnyside Community Gardens, Monday 5th May
Group Run- Sunnyside Community Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 12th May
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-sunnyside-community-gardens-composting
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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 17th April https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-a04b2b49-dfb1-46c1-93b8-b4be751fa9f7
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 24th April https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-807ac766-ce7f-4496-8589-c8023e7fa0cc
Green Park Thursday 1st May https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-green-park-summer-session-f62d4df4-cda9-44bc-a79f-d3cf33e87cd3
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Goodgym x Friday Night Lights: FNL Festival
Friday 18th April, 10am - late, Battersea Park
On Friday 18th April (Good Friday bank holiday) GoodGym will be supporting the Friday Night Lights Couch to 50k festival at Battersea Park. There will be lots of tasks to be done from setting up a gazebo, collecting donated shoes to be recycled, supporting festival games and even a bit of running if you'd like. It should be a really fun day!
By signing up you'll also get access to the Festival for the day, chill out with the music and entertainment, and access some of the runs happening.
Morning: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/goodgym-at-the-friday-night-lights-festival-morning-session
Evening: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/goodgym-at-the-friday-night-lights-festival-afternoon-session
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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 16th April
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-towpath-morning-social-track-session-mile-end-8
Wednesday 30th April
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-towpath-morning-social-track-session-mile-end-9
Wednesday 14th May
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-towpath-morning-social-track-session-mile-end-10
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Green Guardians Spring Sessions
The Garden Classroom, Newington Green
Wednesday 23rd April
Wednesday 30th April
Wednesday 7th May
Wednesday 14th May
Wednesday 21st May
Next session:
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Market Road Gardens
Tuesday 22nd April
Tuesday 29th April
Tuesday 6th May
Tuesday 13th May
Tuesday 20th May
Next Session:
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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (April)
Saturday 19th April, 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.
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Penn Road Gardens - April Volunteer Day
Sunday 27th April, 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 - The London 100 - Aid station supporters at Queen Mother's Sports Centre, Victoria
Saturday 10th May, 6am - 12 midnight (flexible), Queen Mother’s Sports Centre, Victoria
London 100 is Central London's ultramarathon. With 3 challenge distances (100km, 50km, and 25km), the event has distances for experienced ultramarathoners, and for those stepping up from marathons or half marathons.
From a superb indoor Central London race HQ, four 25km routes explore north, south, east and west of the capital.
As part of the event, the amazing Camino crew are seeking volunteers to help tired runners throughout the day.
As there will be be 4 different running distances in action, the team would hugely appreciate helpers who can arrive throughout the morning, afternoon or evening.
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/camino-ultra-london-100km-aid-station-support
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Hackney Half Aid Station and Marshal Volunteering
Sunday 18th May, 7am onwards, Marion Place, Pritchard's Road (TBC)
The team at Motiv Sport have asked if our Goodgym team would be interested assisting with the 2024 Hackney Half Marathon on one of the 6 water and aid stations.
All volunteers that help in 2025 are offered a free place in any of our running events in 2026 (Hackney Half, London 10K, Oxford Half).
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/hackney-half-aid-station-and-marshal-volunteering
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Mack on Track 02: marshals and pacers wanted!
Thursday 22nd May, 6.30pm, London Marathon Community Track, Stratford
Mack on Track is a super inclusive 5000m track running event, with a twist. The objective is to help as many runner as possible get (or come close to) their personal beats for 5km by providing trusted pacers to do so.
The team are looking for helps to assist with registration of participants, alerting runners about when each pace group starts and cheering on the athletes!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/mack-on-track-03-marshals-and-pacers-wanted
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London 10km with Saucony- Water Station Volunteers!
Sunday 13th July, 7.30am onwards, Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AH
An incredible event that offers runners to opportunity to race through traffic free streets in the Capital!
Motiv Sports (who also operate the Hackney Half and Oxford Half marathons) have requested Goodgym assistance to help at their 2nd aid station on the day.
Food and water provided, and a free entry for any 2026 event on the Motiv Sports roster will be offered to all volunteers!
Mon 14th Apr at 6:15pm
This wonderfully busy community food hub has asked our crew to help out with neighbourhood deliveries!
Read moreTue 18th Feb at 7:00pm
Wednesday 22nd January
Bianca Bolum completed 5 good deeds with GoodGym.
Bianca is a now a pretty committed GoodGym runner. They've just run to do good for the fifth time
Tue 21st Jan at 6:00pm
Haringey Report written by Euclides Montes
5 Goodgymmers catwalked their way to Traid on Wood Green High Road for an evening of interfacing and inboxing
Kudos galore
Big noise for Mark who joined us for his first ever task and was an absolute natural. Star!
And big love for Bianca who didn't let a bit of traffic get in the way of getting to the task this evening. Fashionably late indeed - love that attitude!!
You can both come again <3
Not too crabby
Just when you think that by now we can do a Traid task eve with our eyes closed, we are welcomed by the wonderful Traiders with news that tonight we are not taking clothes off their hangers but instead are packing everything together as it is - ready to be quickly unpacked at a different store the following morning.
We had to get used to a special folding style to make sure the hangers always ended up in the middle of the box to avoid any unwanted tears but once we got the hang of that, our Goodgymmers sailed through this task.
Halfway through, yours truly found a Lobster/Ant/Undetermined crustacean costume so in true Gramps' style, I had to don it for the occasion. It is surprising how little people bat their eyelids when you're running down the High Road dressed as an orange creature!
We're at woodside this eveningfor a spot of tree pit regeneration, and at Russell Park on Sundayfor a spot of birdwatching/ bird housebuilding session. Come!
Mon 6th Jan at 6:45pm
Islington Report 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
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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
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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
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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
Mon 6th Jan at 6:45pm
Helping Islington Council with collecting Xmas Trees following the festive period
Read moreTue 26th Nov 2024 at 7:00pm
Islington Report written by anne malcolm
Mr J has been bed bound for almost a year. GoodGym were asked to move some furniture to make space for a recliner chair and hoist so that Mr J can get out of bed again.
An antique chaise, an antique table and a modern upright cupboard were all to be moved from the main living room to a spare room at the other end of the hall. Two medium sized chest of drawers were also to be taken from the bedroom upstairs and placed outside for collection.
Bianca had got held up at work and would join asap. However, with a limited window before Mr J's carers arrived, it was important to get started immediately. Amazingly, I wasn't alone. Mr J's wife, Mrs M, helped steer and lift. For the record, Mrs M is a trooper and has earned her own GoodGym t-shirt!
We were doing admirably but I must admit, I was delighted to discover that the tall cupboard was on wheels!
Bianca was on hand to help move the chest of drawers outside ready for collection and the whole task was complete, with 6 minutes to spare, in time for the carers arriving.
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