The GoodGym Generation

This week is Global Intergenerational Week, an awareness raising and campaigning week of activities to encourage us all to experience the importance (and benefits) of boosting our networks with people and communities outside of our own age bracket.

Generations Working Together says "Loneliness has the same impact on mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and is one of our key issues as a society. Intergenerational connection can be a great way to fight loneliness and isolation."

We are no stranger to intergenerational awareness. Working across generations is the foundations of how GoodGym works. Founded on the very idea of supporting and empowering older people, we are proud to fly the flag for friendships that span the ages.

It's what we do. It's what we love.

Whether its a GoodGymer visiting their coach once a week for a cuppa and a catch up or a mission to do some gardening, change a lightbulb or pick up their prescription, GoodGym work with thousands of older people each year. The beauty of what we do lies within the purpose for everyone involved. The older people we call 'coaches' keep our GoodGymers running, walking and cycling, helping motivate them and track their fitness progress too. It works both ways...

I get my exercise, she gets her shopping!

Fiona, a GoodGymer, visits her coach Larry and this was what she had to say.

"I am so pleased I made the decision to join Goodgym and be paired with a coach. I love it. Larry is just awesome and over the last two and half years he has really become a good friend and I'm so grateful to have him in my life. My visits to him on a Thursday evening are one of my favourite times of the week, no matter how I'm feeling before I go I always leave with a smile on my face so it's well worth the effort of running over there. We chat about anything and everything and he can always make me laugh. The phrase 'Happy as Larry' has a whole new meaning to me now and he has been my inspiration throughout the COVID period. Everyone should have a Larry in their life!"

There are good deeds aplenty here and we wouldn't be who we are without 'running' errands (pun intended). Whether it be doing a grocery shop, building some flatpack furniture, walking the dog or mowing the lawn.

Paul from Barnet GoodGym describes a typical task for Mrs S.

"Mission was to do a small shop for Mrs M in North Finchley. She has been disabled by a bad accident and is making a good recovery but needs help with her shopping. British Red Cross has referred her to Goodgym Barnet and we are glad to help. It took me under an hour to cycle, collect the shopping, deliver the shopping to her flat and return home. That was 25 minutes of cycling about 7 km. I was averaging about 16 km/h probably faster than any car could possibly have done that journey at that time of day. Let alone the faff and or cost of parking! Simples! I get my exercise, she gets her shopping!"

Did we also mentioned that the 1st of May is also Time for a Cuppa Day? Like we needed any more excuses for a brew! The UK is renowned for it's tea and combining a catch up with a cuppa is a common occurance with our GoodGymers and coaches alike.

So whether your eighteen or eighty, you have a home at GoodGym. We not only celebrate working with people of all ages, we live and breathe it. Life would be so much less colourful if it wasn't for everyone involved here.

Awareness days, weeks and months aren't just about tooting our own horn. It's a chance for us all to ask ourselves more questions like:

How can we do more? How can we be even better?

And we can't wait to show you what we have planned next...

The GoodGym Central Team

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