GoodGym Brent

BrentMission
Emily Oldfield

No fig deal, got it all done

Thursday 3rd July

Written by Emily Oldfield

I strolled over to meet Ms V on a beautiful sunny day and was ready to help out in the garden whilst also topping up my tan. Ms V has a lovely garden with all sorts of plants and trees, and she was very knowledgeable, giving me useful information about lots of them. I even wrote a few tips down for my own garden! First I trimmed back the fig tree so that it didn't block out the light so much for other plants. Turns out the figs aren't really edible because it's not hot enough in England to make the lovely sweet ones we eat. Then I hacked away at some brambles, which is definitely my comfort zone seeing as this is a classic GH task. With direction from Ms V I pruned and trimmed various plants and bushes, and then finished off by doing a rough mowing of the lawn using the hand mower, which I'd never used before but actually I much preferred to a normal lawnmower! Luckily the garden waste bin had been cleared that morning so I was able to fill it up again with all the trimmings. Ms V was very grateful for the help and I must say it was a job well done!

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BrentCommunity mission
Chris LawesTabitha Skinner

Sweating for Success

Monday 30th June

Written by Tabitha Skinner

Last night, despite a scorching 31°C at 7 pm, GoodGym Brent volunteers showed incredible dedication at Oakington Manor Primary School's Forest School. Tabitha and Chris, expertly guided by Usma, embarked on a mission to enhance the outdoor learning space for the children. Our primary tasks involved the monumental effort of relocating several large tree trunks, painstakingly transforming them into a brand new, natural seating area perfect for outdoor lessons and storytelling.

In addition to this heavy lifting, we tackled two enormous tyres, strategically moving them beneath a tree to create an exciting new climbing feature for the kids. The team also diligently worked to cut back significant areas of overgrown vegetation, making the forest school more accessible and safer for everyone. Though Pete was sadly missed due to train woes, the fantastic efforts of Tabitha and Chris ensured a brilliant impact, truly making a difference to this vital community asset for local children. Tabitha even had a go on the rope swing and bravely tried her hand at slacklining – quite a scary experience, but great fun!

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BrentGroup run
Chris LawesSaminaTabitha SkinnerKaren ElliottPeteBeatriz

Chair wash and blow dry

Monday 23rd June

Written by Tabitha Skinner

we expertly cleaned the chairs and it was such a warm day that the hot air dried them off in no time

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BrentCommunity mission
Chris LawesTabitha SkinnerPeteLee WorthBeatrizDanielleMeg

TRAID Escapade

Monday 16th June

Written by Tabitha Skinner

At the end of the Hottest Sale of the year , Goodgym Brent arrived at Traid in Kilburn. We packed up the unsold clothes in record time , the very definition of fast fashion. There was no time for hanging around as we packed up hangers . We gave a very warm welcome to Danielle for her first ever goodgym session .

Beatriz was very hot , and only had one fully functional arm, but still tidied more than her fair share of clothes and hangers.

Many hands made light work so we wrapped up within the hour and had a cool drink in a beer garden nearby.

Great work ! We will be back in three months to do it all again !

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BrentCommunity mission
Tania

Slices of Joy: Volunteering at Kilburn’s Happiest Day

Saturday 14th June

Written by Tania

On a sunny afternoon, I had the pleasure of volunteering at Into the Park '25, Kilburn’s vibrant community festival. I joined the team around 2 PM and stayed until 4 PM, just in time to dive into the excitement and help make the day even more special.

To my delight, I was assigned one of the sweetest spots—running the baked goods and drinks stall! Armed with a fully stocked display of cakes, buns, pastries, and refreshing drinks, I quickly refreshed the setup, topped up the ice buckets, and got ready for action. I even had my own cash drawer and a card reader device—yes, I was feeling very professional.

The festival was absolutely buzzing. There was live music, local performances, family-friendly activities, and a beautiful atmosphere of community and joy. I met so many lovely people and, in just two hours, served around 50 happy customers!

Being part of this event reminded me how powerful community gatherings can be. I was proud to contribute to such a fun, inclusive, and meaningful day—especially knowing it supports mental well-being, creativity, and connection in Kilburn.

Huge thanks to the amazing team behind the festival for trusting me with the best job and making me feel so welcome. Can’t wait for the next one!

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BrentGroup run
Chris LawesSaminaTabitha SkinnerKaren ElliottLee WorthJosh StevensEmily

Wood you be-leaf it ?

Monday 9th June

Written by Tabitha Skinner

Last night, our team met in Willesden and ran to Clitterhouse Farm, ready to roll up our sleeves and get stuck into some serious garden work.

The biggest task of the evening was shifting a hefty pile of firewood—log after log, we worked as a team to move it all efficiently using bags and wheelbarrows to help.

Once the wood was sorted, we tackled the wild garden, removing thorns, weeds, and a particularly large patch of bindweed. It was satisfying work, and the space looked noticeably better by the end of the evening.

Rob handed out a number of other odd jobs including bending metal rods and tidying up rubbish .

Huge thanks to everyone who came along and made light work of a heavy job. Clitterhouse Farm is a special place, and it was great to contribute to keeping it thriving.

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