Goodgym Islington were delighted to be invited back to Elizabeth House Food Hub to lend a hand with the team's busy Summer Holiday food bank project.

As we approached the distinctive blue hall just off Blackstock Road, Arsenal, we were able to see the place was already buzzing with activity. This well established food bank project operates like a supermarket for donated food and supplies from local businesses. Residents arrive to pay a small donation to cover managing costs, and are able to take shopping and essential items back home.

David and Robin agreed to travel over to Highbury Hill to drop off a few bags of shopping to a family near by. In the mean time, the rest of our team helped with closing down the food bank. We cleaned and sanitised all the surfaces, and we moved tables back into a storage room. Any non perishable food were moved over to the kitchen, ready for next month. All leftover food was taken to composting bins to rot down for more gardening projects (check out Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens!).

We finished up the evening with sweeping up the floors, ready for play scheme tomorrow morning. Excellent work, efficiently completed in record time!

Thank you so much for joining us this week (It was my 750th Good Deed!). See you all at Arsenal Community Hub for our group run next Monday!

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GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS

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SESSIONS IN JULY / AUGUST

Group Run- Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 18th August

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-highbury-quadrant-green-space-garden-maintenance-71bbddc2-a560-4e69-aa68-66ebe431ac05

Bank Holiday Special Group Run- Parkland Walk Plogging with Camino Ultra and Trash Free Trails 6.15pm, The Woodman Pub, Highgate Monday 25th August

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/bank-holiday-plogging-parkland-walk-finsbury-park-with-trash-free-trails

Group Run- Isledon Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 1st September

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-isledon-gardens-nature-trail-e1e80f64-79ea-42ab-9d6f-7abc764b3d0d

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Post Group Run Social August- Someday Canteen, Finsbury Park

Monday 25th August, 8.15pm, Someday Canteen, Finsbury Park

Area Activator Simon began leading sessions for Goodgym Islington 6 years ago, taking the reins from Goodgym legend Paul Bown (still active in GG Sheffield). We invite you for good food, excellent refreshments and fun times!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/post-group-session-social-area-activator-simon-celebrates-5-years-27ad5928-1bf0-4295-b203-32538e5bed31

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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!

Paddington Rec Track Maida Vale Thursday 14th August

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-81c756cb-f880-4d4c-bc9d-273db6793f21

Hyde Park Lancaster Gate Thursday 21st August

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-81c756cb-f880-4d4c-bc9d-273db6793f21

Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 28th August

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-f1e7bda3-ccf3-4506-96bc-b1d6c90cdf61

Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 4th September

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-0564ad66-99ad-4f45-aa08-2e42959ff2ad

Paddington Rec Track Maida Vale Thursday 11th September

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-cb3577ca-7ca3-4561-8ad9-6b0fec2aefd1

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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session

Saturday 9th August, 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.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/compton-terrace-gardens-volunteer-open-morning-august

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Golden Olden Community Gardens - Monthly Volunteer Open Day

Saturday 16th August, 10am - 2pm, Opposite Whistler Street, Islington

Olden Community Garden is a charity that maintains this lovely green space, with the object to promote a community garden for the benefit of people living or working in the London Borough of Islington. Olden Garden gives local people opportunities for education and recreation, with the aim of increasing involvement in the community and reducing isolation.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/golden-olden-community-gardens-monthly-volunteer-open-day-1e8a6ac9-aaa3-4ae8-bf27-1ffd556a6a98

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Penn Road Gardens - July Volunteer Day

Sunday 31st August, 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-august-de813053-fd30-4336-abe6-9266377ac4da

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Camino Ultra Epping Forest 50km and 25km Eco Trail- Aid Station Superstars 2025!!!

Sunday 4th October, 9am onwards, Rangers Road, Chingford

DaznBone (aka Darren Strachan and David Bone) and the Camino Ultra team are putting together the logistics for their next 50km ultra race (running from Wanstead Flats, up the green corridor to Epping Forest and back), and have invited the Goodgym crew to get involved!

On the course, there will be 4 major aid stops, and we have been invited to take over the first refresh point and the penultimate aid station.

This will involve providing water and snacks to runners of all abilities during the key stages of their race, and to support them with smiling faces and enthusiasm!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/camino-ultra-epping-forest-50km-and-25km-eco-trail-aid-station-superstars-2025

The workshop with Achilles International was a powerful and eye-opening experience (literally!). We were blindfolded to simulate what it’s like to run without sight, which really helped us understand the level of trust and communication needed between a guide and a visually impaired runner.

We then took turns guiding and being guided during short runs, learning the ropes—quite literally! The team also walked us through different types of visual impairments and how to tailor our support depending on the individual's needs.

It was informative, inspiring, and left all of us with a deeper appreciation for accessible running and the strength of the Achilles community. Huge thanks to the organisers and participants!