Monday 27th January
Report written by Sevan
For the second part of tonight's duet with UFO Steelpan, Kash, Steph and Sevan arrived in North Acton well before the white van with the pans. While they were waiting, they met the leader of the Republic of Park Royal, Johnnie.
Johnnie and the charity he's involved with, The Foundry Collective, work to make Park Royal a more human space by running upcycling workshops, building furniture for public spaces and running a community hub. They also manage the community space that UFO Steelpan were moving into, so the GoodGymers got early access and cleared the area where the band would store their equipment.
There was still a bit more waiting before the van arrived. When it did, the first thing to be freed were trolleys, followed by the pans. This started a speedy operation by the GoodGym trio and band members to shuttle the steelpans to their new home, past a few surprised commuters. The instruments were then stacked against the wall before Kash, Steph and Sevan ran back to Bodyline Studio, which is where we'll be meeting for tomorrow evening's group run.
UFO Steelband is an Ealing-based charity that spreads joy through steelpan music, welcoming people of all ages and abilities, including visually and hearing-impaired players. Known for vibrant performances at events like Notting Hill Carnival and impactful projects like “Community at Carnival” supporting Grenfell-affected children, UFO fosters creativity, teamwork, and transformation.
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