On Monday evening, we met up and extended a huge, warm welcome to Abolfazal for his very first GoodGym session—and he dove straight into the action! We powered through a 2km run to collect a huge stack of concert leaflets for the fantastic Queens Park Singers. Splitting the load efficiently between the four of us, we hit the streets and managed to get the leaflets delivered to the community in a phenomenal 30 minutes, avoiding any rain! We then regrouped and ran happily back to Willesden for a well-deserved, refreshing drink.

Excellent work team! Next week, our mission continues as we pivot to support our local area by delivering leaflets for the Queens Park Community Council. Come join us and make a difference!

At Clitterhouse Farm, the approaching cold weather means the greenhouse has never been more important (or appreciated). But while it keeps all the incubating veggies inside nice and toasty, who’s looking out for it? The answer, of course, is GoodGym.

To make sure the sturdy wooden frame was ready for whatever the elements might chuck at it, Tabitha, Josh, Samina, Pete, and Chris headed over to give it a good oiling — specifically with linseed oil, which is perfect not only for protecting wood from rot and moisture, and enhancing its natural grain and colour (what a glow-up!), but also for bringing back nostalgic memories of preparing cricket bats as a child. (That might just have been Pete, though.)

Before we could start, we had to make sure that any existing residents wouldn’t be harmed, so several volunteers used feather dusters to sweep away cobwebs and safely deposit quite a few huge spiders into the nearby bushes.

Then it was just a question of grabbing our brushes and sponges and giving the greenhouse a nice, solid coat of oil - all set for the months ahead!

Samina and Pete jogged to Abbey community centre where we met Lee. Jason gave us the tools and showed us what to do. We cleaned table tops, chairs, fridges and mopped the floor. We walked back and had a drink Well done everyone.

With the rose being my long pink gardening gloves. These were an absolute life saver tackling the very overgrown brambles along the side of the front garden. I hacked and bagged solidly for 90 mins and managed to mostly clear it.

Beatriz, Emily Tabitha Pete and Lee worked hard to help pack up all the stock for Traid charity shop in Kilburn

I cycled over to meet Miss J and immediately saw the job at hand upon arrival - the front garden was overrun with weeds and brambles. In fact the side passage and the back garden were too, but the priority was to get clear access to the bins to make it safer for Miss J to take the rubbish out. So I got to work hacking away, getting as much of the roots as I could, which was pretty vigorous work! Thankfully I had some good tools to help me. In an hour and a half I'd cleared the path and filled many bags, but there's plenty more to be done. Miss J was very grateful but would love more help to get the rest done!