10 GoodGymers making a difference in Central London!

It was the umpteenth rain-soaked evening of the year, and almost every Londoner was frowning and huddling in their attempts to stay away from the weather.

And yet this group of ten special people had decided to step into the evening!

David (on their first GoodGym session — welcome!), Kash, and Alex started the evening with a conversation-filled jog through Bloomsbury and over to Tottenham Court Road...

...where they were met by the happy group of Caitlin, Louise, Lydia, Paul, Rohan, and Steve :)

Our task was a common one for us during the winter months 👉 we were off to help set up the night shelter at the American International Church, which provides food, community, and warmth as part of the C4WS homeless support programme.

Our wonderful host (and fellow GoodGymer), Brooke, guided our efforts assembling beds, fighting with duvet covers, and setting up a dining room :)

Thank you, everyone! Here's to next time!

8 GoodGymers made a wonderful difference in Central London

London is an especially bustle-y city and it is especially especially bustle-y during the rushing hours.

But it is also a city rich with quiet — gentle — calm spaces, such as the American International Church on Tottenham Court Road.

Although... that's true only when the Stranger Things Musical cast aren't using the AIC to practice their screams and yells and best impressions of the Demogorgon...

...which were our welcoming sounds yesterday evening!!

Not that this affected our especially brilliant crew – Brooke (our lovely host!), Emilie, Imogen, Jackie, John, Lilan (on their first good deed – welcome!!), and Steve – who got down to good-deeding business in a flash!

❤️ Emilie, Jackie, and John focused on the lower garden 👉 they pulled weeds, laid fresh gravel, rearranged a greenhouse, and collected all strewn litter!

❤️ Imogen, Lilan, and Steve headed to the upper garden 👉 they planted fresh seed pots, laid fresh compost, and gave new life to flower-filled planters!

❤️ And Brooke coordinated and organised the whole thing — thank you!

Here's to next time, folks!

7 wonderful GoodGym folk made light work of a balcony clear-out!

Tottenham Court Road hummed its usual bustle as our group – of Helen, Jackie, Lydia, Siobhan, and Steve – climbed through the American International Church's magnificent doors.

We were there to meet the AIC's brilliant community engagement aficionado – and fellow GoodGymer – Brooke, who had a perfectly-shaped task for GoodGym!

The balcony is suspended above the church hall and it's filled with the usual – pews, books, community notices – as well as the less usual – an eclectic assortment of chairs, random poles, fun-looking toys, and more!

We were there to move the excess items down the three flights to the basement, across the church's underbelly, and out to the side entrance ready for collection and recycling!

Cue this team kicking into the most efficient (and happy) human chain I've ever witnessed – they picked, carried, passed, and repeated – onlookers marveled, removal companies trembled, and the loot was moved and tidily organised in 45 swift minutes!

Thank you so much, everyone! Here's to next time!