It was a smaller but thoroughly committed team tonight who arrived at Newell Street to see Kamal at the Tower Hamlets Community Transport Hub, the new base for Ocean Youth Connexions.

Why were we here?

Ocean Youth Connexions (OYC) is a youth and community organisation established in September 2000 by local volunteers from the Ocean Estate.

OYC offers a wide range of activities, including youth club sessions, half-term and summer provision, cycling proficiency training and employment support.

Having relocated last year to the Tower Hamlets Community Transport base, Ocean Youth Connexions are playing a key role in tidying up the back yard of the space, ready for it to be transformed into a hive of activity, including hosting workshops and housing minibuses!

Community transport is an essential part of a thriving local area, making sure that everyone can get where they need to go, regardless of age, ability, or income.

It also allows community organisations and charities to offer more opportunities, making sure that cost and lack of transport don’t become barriers to taking part.

Our task tonight

Tonight we were preparing one of the containers for another big paint job, and continuing to clear the back of the yard for the new fence.

Despite being short of a few lights this evening, the GoodGymers managed well, climbing ladders, navigating wheelbarrow punctures and shifting a lot of soil.

With many trips around to the debris area, as always, this was quite the workout. Up and down ladders, emptying loads, plenty of crouching and squatting. Quite the Monday night upper body workout.

The beautiful sound of St Anne’s chiming 8 let us know time was nearly up.

With one final barrow-wheel and a run-in with a blocked sink, we proceeded to finish up for the evening.

Posing for our final pic with Kamal, we said our cheerios around said sink, rooting for Lucinda and Kamal as they gave the stubborn blockage one final push.

Heading out into another chilly Monday night, we concluded that was another fun night with Ocean Youth Connexions and we look forward to returning in a couple of weeks.