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.

What’s more exciting than writing your first report? Doing your first task at a new site!

We started by having the running group meet us at the entrance of Princes Park. We were joined by Jess (congratulations on completing the half marathon with a PB 9 minutes faster!), Aatefa, Liam, Tom (who has rejoined us after a hiatus to become a father — congrats!), Bekah, Clara, Tsitsi, and Laura (and me – Leo). The public lighting of the park, or rather the lack thereof, served as a good mood setter once we entered. The total darkness created a sense of wonder and thrill, but it also made our torches and floodlights essential. It felt a bit like a Scooby-Doo episode where you’re going on an adventure that requires everyone to partner up.

Once we found our way to the storage container, we were greeted by Lis and Katy, who guided us through the task of the day. They were delighted to have us and were very keen to distribute jobs, with even more plans in store in case we finished early.

The task was straightforward in theory, but hard work in practice. We had to clear up the entrance to the section where the parkrun starts. We were informed that it was covered in mud and could potentially be a hazard for runners. The trees were also noticeably outgrowing the fences, creating edges that weren’t dangerous but were certainly annoying and could knock your head if you were careless (see pictures for reference).

Not only was this a new site for us, but it’s also the same place where we do our fabulous, amazing, and completely unproblematic (nobody mention stickergate!) social run with parkrun, so this task was particularly close to the GoodGym Liverpool heart.

The task owners gave us the tools to succeed, and we quickly identified the shovelers, the sweepers, the trimmers, and the litter pickers. The shovelers shovelled (shocking, I know) the mud and general grit around the entrance. The sweepers used brushes to direct the mud, and any fallen branches, towards the shovelers. The trimmers took care of the overgrown branches by developing a new technique (yet to be named by Jess and Bekah) where one person would reach a high branch with the loppers and pull the whole thing down while the other did the chopping.

Poor Tom was given the opportunity to try unclogging the drain as a welcome-back gift. Alas, the darkness worked against us and we had to leave that job for another time. Regardless, this didn’t put a damper on our spirits as we continued making a significant contribution to improving the starting area of the track.

Eventually, the hour flew by and we had to gather all the tools and head back to the storage container for a quick group photo, announcements, and some surprise cake! (Thanks, Bekah.)

And because GoodGym Liverpool made the grave mistake of allowing me to write the report, here’s a genuine attempt at a poem:

New day, new people, new task

Grab your running shoes and your water flask

Trim those bushes, shovel that patch

Just don’t use the mud as a face mask

The dust has settled, all is done

In the end, we just hope you had some fun

Get some rest, you did your best

Know that to GoodGym Liverpool, you are number one