Yesterday, we saw record GoodGym participation to help a new organisation: the MEP Multiculture English Project Garden Project. Since 2010, the project has taught gardening, horticulture, and English language skills to asylum seekers, providing a dedicated space to put this knowledge into action.

We welcomed back returning GoodGymers—Rob, Rachel, Rebecca, and Rosie — alongside tree brand-new members: Liz, Abdallah, Mohammed. They all took on the fitness challenge of running or cycling uphill for nearly 5km to reach Roedale Valley Allotments, located in a lush green valley near the top of Ditchling Road. Once there, Will welcomed the team with several tasks, including landscaping, weeding, turning compost, and wheelbarrowing mulch up and down the allotment slopes.

Another Workout for the Future!

Allotments are invaluable community assets that boost health and wellbeing, provide sustainable growing spaces, and create biodiverse green corridors. Beyond being a vital part of our city's heritage, they play a crucial role in our future. These sites act as critical urban wildlife havens, supporting plant, insect, and animal life by providing diverse microhabitats. In fact, these sanctuaries can support up to 50 times more pollinators than standard council-managed parks. Furthermore, the project's allotment sessions help participants learn new vocabulary, engage in physical activity, and adopt healthy lifestyles—massively benefiting their mental health, confidence, and self-esteem.

It was a thoroughly pleasant evening supporting a fantastic new initiative—definitely one to remember and return to!

Want to get involved? Check out what else is coming up HERE at GoodGym Brighton.

Here's Lucy report of our group session with the Friends of Vale Park. Welcome!

"It was only my second time at GoodGym Brighton and yet I already feel very much a part of this wonderful group.

This week we battled the high winds and ran or cycled from Brighton/Hove up to Vale Park in Portslade, which was a lovely way to shake off the cobwebs from the working day.

When we arrived, we were met with stunning rose bushes lining one side of the park filling the space with bright red, pink, orange and white colours. They needed de-weeding so local residents could continue to enjoy them – and that’s where we came in!

So we donned our gardening gloves, picked up our shears and joined the Friends of Vale Park to pull up the weeds in the flower beds. Everyone did a great job - the before and after shots are quite something!

I don’t get much of a chance to do gardening myself, but I absolutely loved it, and it was an excellent way to take part in the Great Big Green Week. Getting away from screens and out in the fresh air just does something to you! And it’s even better when you’re doing it with other people and you know the work you’re doing is having a positive impact.

We finished up with some delicious Pret pastries in the sun which Stefania kindly brought for us.

Safe to say, I really loved the session, and I can’t wait to be a regular at GoodGym Brighton."

This week GoodGym's Workout for the Future falls during The Big Green Week 2026 and showcases another inclusive and organised "green deed" benefiting the green spaces near us.

From GoodGym Environmental Statement:

GoodGym increases biodiversity in cities.

Yesterday, GoodGym Brighton supported the sustainability of the pollinator-friendly rose oasis at Vale Park, Portslade. 🌹🐝 To protect a thriving ecosystem of bees, butterflies, birds, and beneficial insects, GoodGym targeted approach to weeding is essential. Removing aggressive, invasive weeds stops them from dominating the landscape. By selectively clearing green spaces, GoodGym gives native plants the light, space, and nutrients they need to grow. This simple act restores the natural habitats and food sources our local wildlife depends on! 🌿✨

Tonight’s GoodGym Brighton crew rolled up their sleeves for one of our favourite long-standing partnerships — a deep clean at the brilliant Brighton & Hove Food Partnership Community Kitchen. We love supporting BHFP’s mission around food waste, food poverty, healthy eating and community connection, and this session was the perfect blend of elbow grease and good vibes.

What we got up to

• With Jo welcoming us in, we split into teams and got straight to work:
• Ovens: scrubbed, polished and restored to their shiny best
• Cupboards: emptied, tidied, reorganised and generally shown some love
• Windows, tables and chairs: wiped down until they gleamed
• General chaos → calm: the whole kitchen got a refresh thanks to everyone’s effort

There’s something strangely satisfying about transforming a busy community space back into tip-top condition — and as always, the chat, teamwork and laughter made the time fly. Those who finished their tasks had the opportunity to do some “stickering” – which was essentially branding takeaway bags with BHFP stickers. It proved a good way to wind down. After we had finished, a huge number of us went to the Lord Nelson for the pub quiz and our monthly social. We hope to see the two newcomers, Lucy and Derek, who joined us this evening again real soon!

A little bonus knowledge

Jo reminded us that GoodGymers can get a discount on Community Kitchen classes — a great excuse to sharpen your cooking skills or try something new. If you’re curious, just ask Jo for details next time. And if you want to stay in the loop with BHFP projects, events and those coveted LatePlates last-minute class discounts, you can sign up to their newsletter here: https://bhfood.org.uk/get-involved/sign-up/

A big well done

Huge thanks to everyone who came along and helped make the Community Kitchen sparkle. It’s always a pleasure supporting BHFP, and we left knowing the space is ready for the next round of community cooking, learning and connection.

Until next time — great work team!