The mid April weather being what it is, our latest group run began with a mix of a rain deluge and sunshine at the Suitcases, which rewarded us with some beautiful rainbows before we even started. A nervous Liam stepped up to lead the run for the first time, leading Aatefa, Sallyann, Heetu, Steph, and Laura on a short but sweet run through the Georgian streets toward the Cathedral. It was a great way to warm up before the main event.

By the time we reached the gardens, the sun had come out fully as we were joined by the rest of the group. We were delighted to celebrate two big milestones: Aatefa completing her 10th task and Miriam reaching her 50th! To mark this milestone Bekah brought a box of chocolates for Miriam, which she kindly shared with the group. We’re all looking forward to seeing Miriam in her new black GG T-shirt soon!

After a helpful briefing from the Friends of St. James Gardens, we got straight to work in high spirits. Heetu and Sophie did a great job clearing litter to keep the space tidy, while Aatefa, Sallyann, Jess, Pri, and Ellie planted new flowers near the Parliament Street end. It’s always rewarding to add something lasting to the gardens and the new flowers will be a lovely addition for the gardens.

The rest of the team headed to the old towpaths at the back of the gardens, working together to clear branches and foliage from the walls. Some of the branches put up a fight but the team weren't accepting defeat and managed to clear a large section of the walls. This essential maintenance helps preserve the site's history, and the team made light work of it with plenty of chat and energy.

The time really flew by and before we knew it we were back at the Huskisson memorial in the centre of the gardens to wrap up the task under the shadow of the Cathedral. A special thanks from Liam to the rest of the group for making the task go so smoothly. It was really appreciated!

A huge thank you to everyone for your hard work and for making the session so enjoyable—we look forward to seeing you at the next one!

The clouds parted gently, as if persuaded rather than forced, and the sun found its way through once again. It was one of those rare, balanced days where light and air seem in perfect agreement. Nature was quietly doing what it has always done best: restoring order without asking for attention.

Across different lands and cultures, people marked this moment in their own ways. Easter, ancient and enduring, symbolises rebirth, the passage from darkness into light, the quiet return of life after stillness. Carried through generations, it echoes a familiar rhythm: hope, renewal, and the belief that no darkness is permanent. The egg, simple and unassuming, holds this meaning effortlessly, a fragile shell containing the promise of something new. Yet, while many celebrate renewal, the world continues to wrestle with itself. In too many places, the drums of war still beat, loud and relentless. It’s a strange contradiction: joy and suffering existing side by side, exactly as they always have. It was a bank holiday Monday, a day most people reserve for rest, comfort, and small pleasures. But when a green duty calls, rest becomes negotiable. The warriors of light, stubborn as ever, show up anyway. Not because it’s easy, but because it matters.

This time, the call came from Care4Calais. A warehouse filled with donated clothes waited to be sorted, organised, and prepared for those who need them most. Each item carried a quiet history, a life once lived, a story once known. Now, these clothes are meant for people who have left everything behind, stepping into uncertainty and crossing borders not out of choice, but necessity. They are hoping for safety, for dignity, for a moment to breathe. It’s impossible not to notice the stark contrast. In one part of the world, resources are squandered on conflict and division. In another, people rely on the kindness of strangers for the most basic needs. And still, despite everything, kindness refuses to disappear. People give what they can, passing on what they no longer need, not out of obligation, but from a shared understanding that we are, whether we admit it or not, inextricably connected. There’s something deeply humbling in that thought that the person now searching through these clothes may once have made them in a harsh, unseen workshop, or worn them in a life not so different from ours. The distance between giver and receiver is far smaller than we like to believe.

And so, GoodGym Liverpool answered the call once again.

I arrived at the Suitcases and found Heetu already there, ready as always. We checked the time, waited briefly, and then decided that standing still simply didn’t suit us. With about twenty minutes to spare, we turned waiting into movement. A few uphill and downhill runs between our meeting point and the task woke us up properly. Nearby, two women were sitting, and one of them spontaneously joined us for some stretching, a small, beautiful moment that showed how easily energy spreads when people see it in motion.

Soon after, Bekah arrived, followed by Tsitsi and Eleanor, and a bit later, Sallyann and Amina. The group slowly came together, conversations sparked, and the usual mix of familiarity and new connections formed in a matter of minutes. After a short wait, we headed towards the warehouse as a team.

We arrived to find the space already buzzing with motion with the fabulous Care4Calais volunteers. Simon, a man of quiet simplicity and humility, welcomed us. He briefed us with a calm, steady presence that set the perfect tone for everything that followed. Inside, the warehouse was alive with activity, volunteers, boxes, and piles of clothes filling every available corner.

With limited space, we adapted quickly. Six tables were set up along the entrance hallway, creating just enough room to work. The task was simple in theory: sort the clothes by gender, type, and category. In practice, it became a surprisingly lively exercise in interpretation. Discussions about whether something belonged to men or women, boys or girls, sparked laughter, and debate. Even in a room full of practical people, clothing categories can still cause mild philosophical crises. Still, the work moved forward with focus and rhythm. Hands stayed busy, conversations flowed, and time passed faster than expected. There is a distinct kind of energy that builds in these moments when everyone is aligned with the same purpose. No distractions, no egos—just pure, collective effort.

Before long, the chaotic piles became organised rows, and the chaos turned into structure. Everything was sorted, packed, and ready to be sent to where it was needed most.

We finished the way we usually do: a little physically tired but grounded in that quiet satisfaction that doesn’t need to be announced. It's the kind that comes from knowing your time has been used well. Because in the end, this is what it comes down to. It is the belief that even in a world that often feels divided, there are still people willing to show up for each other. It is the comfort of knowing that if any one of us falls into difficulty, somewhere, someone will reach out a hand and say, “You’re not alone. We’re in this together.”

At GoodGym, we try, in our own small way, to give meaning to our actions. We choose empathy over indifference, striving to add something good, however small, into a complicated world. Happy Spring. Happy Easter. May your days carry light, and may your lives remain green, growing, and full of quiet hope.

It was a fantastic evening for our volunteers as we made the most of the lighter nights. Heetu and Liam kicked things off with a steady run from Lark Lane at 6:00 PM, meeting Sallyann and Aatefa at the Suitcases for a warm up, before heading to the Catholic Cathedral. The group was in high spirits as we tackled some extra inclines on the steps to help Heetu stay on track for her March elevation target on Strava of 2,000 metres.

Once we reached Everton Park, we were joined by Naser and our task leader, John, to get stuck into the evening's work. We split into two teams to cover more ground: Heetu and Aatefa turned into litter-picking machines to tidy litter from the park, while Naser, Liam, and Sallyann focused on clearing saplings from a grassy knoll to ensure park users can enjoy the views once the sun finally comes out!

The saplings put up a bit of a fight, but the team’s hard work paid off. By the end of the session, the bank was significantly cleared and the branches neatly piled up. Heetu even managed to stay focused enough to nearly get lost in her litter-picking mission!

The run back offered a lovely view of the city centre skyline all lit up against the dusk. We looped back around the cathedral to return to our starting point, finishing the evening on a high note. Best of all, thanks to those extra inclines, Heetu successfully reached her 2,000 metre vertical target with a day to spare!

As Sallyann noted, the smaller group didn't mean less chat. On the contrary, we were all able to catch up together and enjoy each other's company. Have a lovely Easter break everyone and see you all at the next task!

It was March 23rd, 2026 — four days into spring. Just as the sun began to set across the Mersey, six GoodGymers assembled at the "Suitcases" on Hope Street. Dressed in their running gear and ready for action, the group prepared to jog to the Urbanscape community garden on Mulgrave Street to tackle the task of the week.

Run leader Sophie McClellan assembled the runners into a small circle for introductions. The team consisted of Liam, Heetu, Sophia, Sevan, and Dike, with a plan to do a more formal introduction once they reached the venue. After Sophie led the group through a quick warm-up and stretching session, the lively crew set off toward Mulgrave Street. They ran at a comfortable "chatting pace," paired off in twos: Liam with Sophie, Dike with Heetu, and Sevan with Sophia. The smooth journey had a lovely surprise when the team ran into Leo, another GoodGymer on his way to the task. The group slowed down for a quick exchange of greetings before Leo joined the ranks, and they all headed for the garden together.

By the time they arrived, dusk had fallen. Headlights flickered on, and Leo provided extra lamps to keep the workspace bright and the spirits high. While awaiting the arrival of the final members, some chatted while others explored the garden. Heetu expressed a playful concern that the task might end too quickly — she joked that ten GoodGymers could easily devour the work of planting ten plants in under 30 minutes, so they might have to plant them extra slowly!

Once the team was complete, they were joined by the task owner, Khan Odita, along with Bekah, Naser, and Claire. It was a night of milestones: it was Sophia’s very first task, while Sevan — visiting all the way from Ealing — was incredibly marking his 1,281st GoodGym task. Khan shared a brief history of the community garden before dividing the team. Some helped Khan gather the plants, others retrieved tools from the shed, and Sophie got a head start on some litter picking.

Before the tools hit the dirt, the group received a brief demonstration. The instructions were clear: dig a hole slightly deeper and wider than the plant's root ball, place the plant, and backfill with the original soil. As the work began, the garden transformed into a busy construction site. Khan moved between the planters, placing the plants in their designated spots while goodgymers did the digging and planting. Heetu was assigned to weeding the planters, a perfect fit, as she had earlier claimed that her favorite garden activity was "to destroy!"

One of the night's biggest challenges involved moving a massive planter from the fence to the pavement. Khan called for a team of four to handle the weight. It was an arduous lift, but thanks to some clever ingenuity and the combined strength of Naser, Leo, Sevan, and Dike, the planter was successfully transferred to its new position.

Elsewhere, the work was just as intense. For anyone who had underestimated the job, the reality of digging foot-deep holes through rocky, hard soil proved it was no easy feat. Bekah, acting as an astute project manager, coordinated the site to ensure every plant found its home and no tool was left idle.

As the session drew to a close, the team moved into the "tidy-up" phase. Sevan began the watering, Liam swept the paved areas, and others gathered plastic containers for recycling. Just as Khan was giving his vote of thanks, Naser positioned his phone for a group picture, nudged Dike to write the report and surprised everyone by producing a collection of bulbs he had brought along. The team immediately found spots for them, adding one last touch of magic to the garden.

Bekah announced the upcoming GoodGym birthday party and Sunday task, the team dispersed with dirty hands and fulfilled hearts. They left hoping to return by the end of April to see their hard work basking in the full bloom of the spring season.

Spring has finally sprung! Which means only one thing here at GoodGym Liverpool.... we are back at Everton Park! And finally a task which could only have been done in the dark.

The 9 of us met John from Friends of Everton Park at the view point where we were briefed on the task. Our misson? To find every street lamp that wasn't working and make a note of the (often elusive) number. When describing the task John had to take us to no less than three different street lamps before finding one that had a clear number, so we knew this would not be a task for the faint-hearted.

We split into 3 groups and off we went into the night to discover a surprisingly large number of broken street lamps. Thanks to our hard work, the council will now know exactly which lamps will need fixing- well done everybody!

To end the night John treated us to a few historical facts about the park and a rather spectacular view over the city. All in all, a Monday well spent and the perfect night to officially welcome Clara to task force. So glad to have you on board!