Today we are back here for our third visit to this Turning Tides accommodation. It was another warm evening, but sweat, minimal blood (you must take more care Paul!) and no tears saw us continue the transformation from unkempt and dishevelled to neat and tidy. There is still a way to go, but progress is definitely being made

There's no business like grow business

Cutting back and removing waste material seems to be a staple for us, but our GoodGym group is certainly growing. It was great to welcomeSarah to her first group session today. Her raking around the undergrowth and clearing of Ryanstrimmings followed by hedge trimming at the front showed how willing she is to throw herself fully and enthusiastically into the task. Hopefully this will be the first of many for Sarah.

Keeping up appearances

On arrival we were asked if we could tackle the hedge at the front of the property where the overhanging bush and trailing ivy encroached on the pavement. When it comes to cutting things back, you don’t have to ask Worthing GoodGym twice. Secateurs and lopers in hand Paul and Paul attacked to overgrowth with gusto.

The side hustle

Not to be outdone Sarah (old Sarah? Rain averse Sarah? Accessory Sarah - dear reader, if such exists, please edit in your head as you read to get the Sarah you recognise) and Mel attacked the bushes along the side of the parking area with the same enthusiasm. The piles of cuttings grew quicker than any plant could.

Sweeping up appearances

The rest of the team swept, gathered, and carried so we could leave the premises at least as tidy as when we arrived, but certainly much trimmer, both back and front.

Celebrate good times, come on……

Today we were in celebratory mood at Worthing GoodGym. No “Bah Humbug” here; we’re more “Bar? I’ll have a beer…..”.

Achieved a marathon

On Saturday, whilst most GoodGymers settle for a 5K parkrun, our very special RoxyPRoxy (if you know you know, if not you’ve just missed Worthing GoodGym pun of the year!) ran her 3rd marathon. Only ran for 3 hours 50 minutes though. Well done that one!

A marathon achievement

Our main celebration though is focussed onJulia : Worthing GoodGym area activator. Today it was Good Deed 400 for Julia. Amazing! That represents 400 plus hours of time given to support our local community. That’s the equivalent of 10 weeks full time work!

More, much more than that

As area activator for Worthing since it’s launch in March 2017, Julia has been responsible for enabling over 2800 hours of support in the community, building positive relationships with many local organisations. That’s the equivalent of more than 70 working weeks given to improve our local area and the lives of many who need support and care in order to thrive.

FITting in so much more

Julia’s knowledge and expertise has been put to good use over the years, putting GoodGymers through their paces. Burpees became a staple topic of discussion, regular monthly challenges kept us pushing ourselves. Now Julia is training to compete in a European HYROX event how long will it be before we are introduced to some new monthly fitness challenges?

From Julia

Many thanks to John for writing this report and generally organising all my treats tonight - without him GoodGym Worthing wouldn't be aw amazing as it is 👌😍

Litter Pick at Goring Gap: A Community Effort to Protect a Local Beauty Spot

On a warm August evening, a small but determined group of volunteers gathered at our local Goring Gap to tackle the ever-growing problem of litter.John, Belinda, Gillybean ,Ricky , Stéphane, andRoxy — along with Mali, her spirited 5-month-old Malinois — spent an hour collecting bags full of rubbish strewn across the grass verges of this popular green space.

Despite having carried out a litter pick here only a few weeks ago, the team was disheartened to find the area once again in need of attention. It's truly heartbreaking to witness how quickly this natural haven can be spoiled by careless behaviour.

Equipped with litter pickers, bin bags, and a strong sense of purpose, the group combed through the area, restoring some of its beauty and reminding all who visit how important it is to respect and protect our shared environment. A passer by pitched in to give a had too which was helpful and unexpected!

The teams efforts serve as a reminder that it takes just a few dedicated individuals to make a positive difference — but also highlight the urgent need for greater awareness and responsibility when enjoying public green spaces. Some well placed bins may help too !

Special mention to El who couldnt make the task but who was doing her own litter pick this evening.

See you all next week for my 400th task !

Helping Out at Heene Cemetery

Tonight, the GoodGym team gathered for a special mission at the beautifully atmospheric Heene Cemetery, a closed graveyard and conservation area designated as one of outstanding natural beauty. Our hosts for the evening were the ever-dedicated Sue, who helps maintain the cemetery grounds, and Dora a passionate fox guardian currently caring for Elf and his adorable family of cubs who reside among the gravestones.

Our tasks for the evening were clear (and nicely ambitious!):

Removing ivy from the ancient Sussex stone wall Clearing grass strimmings from the graves Tidying space around the flourishing apple trees. General Tidying and Pruning

The team quickly got stuck in with their usual energy and good spirits. John, Belinda, and Anne led the charge against the ivy, carefully pulling back years of creeping growth from the stonework. This was quite some feat and pretty epic. With what John pulled away from the wall , it clearly that all the strength training with me is paying off!

Meanwhile, Pauland Stéphane turned their attention to the orchard area, clearing under the apple trees to allow them more room to breathe.

On grave-duty, Ryan , Mel and Sarah tackled the freshly strimmed grass, lifting the cuttings off graves and pathways to leave the cemetery looking neat and respected.

Elsewhere, El and Gillybean showcased their multitasking prowess by pruning and tidying across multiple areas, all under the curious gaze of Elf the fox.

In true GoodGym style, there was a touch of mischief too, John had sneakily buried a fake skeleton hand under the grass strimmings for Sarah to discover giving her a good laugh once the trick was revealed. But the spooky vibes didn’t stop there — not long after, a real bird foot and leg mysteriously fell from the sky, landing right in front of me . Whether it was a strange coincidence or a little message from the cemetery’s resident spirits, we will never know. Personally I blame John 🤷

After a full hour of productive work, we wrapped up the evening with a lovely surprise: Sue kindly shared some of her birthday cake with us all — a nice end to a great (and slightly eerie!) evening.

Thank you to everyone who came out, and to Sue and Dora for their work and hospitality. We’ll be back in early October to help keep this special place looking its best.

Have a great week !

Julia xx

GoodGym Volunteers Brave the Heatwave to Support Care for Veterans Fair Clean-Up

In the midst of July’s intense heatwave, a dedicated team of GoodGym volunteers came together to provide much-needed support to the Care for Veterans residential home, helping to clear away a successful community summer fair.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the amazing team who turned up despite soaring temperatures. Barbara, along with her sister Jacqui and son Matt, brought great energy and team spirit. Special thanks also to Paul, who, after leading his cadets through the afternoon’s fair activities, generously stayed on to lend a hand with the clean-up.

Joining the effort were Roxy, Ricky, El, and Stephane—each one rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in with good humour and determination. And a big shoutout to Sue, who came straight from a sea swim and still had the strength to help pack down!

Between us, we dismantled the entire fair: tables, chairs, stalls, gazebos, bric-a-brac, drinks (both soft and otherwise!), and all the many extras that come with a well-loved community event. It was a big job in hot conditions, but one that the team tackled with fantastic teamwork and resilience.

Thanks to everyone’s hard work, the site was left spotless and all equipment safely packed away. It was a fantastic job all round for a truly wonderful cause.

Well done team—Care for Veterans and the whole community applaud you!