Tuesday 26th November
Written by Anastasia Hancock (she/her)
With the weather being so awful the past few days, it was more important than ever that clothes, bedding and other resources are accessed by those who need them most.
Every month Groad (Get Rid of and Donate) drive into central London with a van stuffed full of good stuff to hand out to rough sleepers.
Last night a group of GoodGymers came to lend a hand so that as many people got their hands on some warm things as possible. Great job everybody!
Next week we need as much help as possible with a huge job at the oldest youth club in the world - hope to see you there!
Tuesday 19th November
Written by Anastasia Hancock (she/her)
It was time for take two of the new mission to transport food to rough sleepers in Westminster, and this time we had success!
Great to see Khai and Katie back again, and to welcome Susan to a new task in the borough.
When I arrived with a huge bag of donations from Waste Not Want Not, the team were already waiting for me with the donations from the bakery. Great to see that this week the good stuff was saved from the bin!
We redistributed the sandwiches, pastries and other baked goods between the four of us and headed to Under One Sky who were already busy supporting those in the area who need it most.
On a night when the temperatures had dropped significantly it was great to be able to hand over the important resources. Great work everybody!
Next week a group will be meeting to distribute clothes and bedding on the Strand and we'll be back collecting more food the following Tuesday!
Tuesday 12th November
Written by Anastasia Hancock (she/her)
Last night was proof that even the best laid plans sometimes don't quite work out...
When five of us arrived at the bakery to pick up the unsold food to transport to the Under One Sky crew, we were told there had been some miscommunication and the food was...unavailable. Upon closer inspection we saw it had all, very sadly been thrown away already.It was so upsetting to see. However - there were still some things to be positive about!
We got to welcome Katie to her very first session - sorry this one didn't work out Katie but hope to see you again!
We also got to welcome Lauren and Bethan back and Khai to his first Westminster task- lovely to meet you!
We also got to link up with Under One Sky to see the important work they're doing and talk about how we can make this work going forward.
So, even though it was a bit of a disappointing one there was a lot to be cheerful about! Watch this space - we will not be defeated by binned pastries!
Thursday 31st October
Written by Westminster runner
It went well except I just couldn't find one item on the shopping list but luckily it was not an important one and Ms D didn't mind at all
Tuesday 29th October
Written by Anastasia Hancock (she/her)
Last night we met under the iconic London Eye for a very special session. Not only was it amazing to welcome back Kike and Joe, but we also got to cheer Thomas who was along for his very first GoodGym experience!
We had an extra reason to feel positive. Last night we collaborated with Sport England to raise awareness about This Girl Can's Lift the Curfew initiative, which helps raise awareness about the risks women face running after dark. As a society we can make it safer. So, armed with one enormous flag, we had some photos taken courtesy of Chris (thank you) with the London skyline in the background. The only question is what will we do with the flag now? Double duvet cover? Sail? Tent? Let me know if you have any suggestions!
Our task for the day involved supporting GROAD, a charity dedicated to helping rough sleepers, refugees, and anybody living with financial insecurity in London. GROAD focuses on providing essential items, such as clothes and bedding, which can make a significant difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness.
Rail-y great work
During the session, we transported the donations to the railings to display them to their greatest advantage before sorted and distributed clothing and bedding to individuals in need. It was heartwarming to see the direct impact of our efforts; every item handed out was met with appreciation. It’s a reminder of how vital community support is for those facing tough circumstances.
Thank you all for your incredible effort last night! You made a huge difference. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the next session where we'll be handing out hot food.
Tuesday 22nd October
Written by Anastasia Hancock (she/her)
I found myself flyering solo last night delivering leaflets for FoodCycle, an amazing organisation which uses surplus food to offer free meals to those who need it. They are looking for more volunteers at their central hub, so sent us a bunch of leaflets to help spread the word. It's so much fun to be out in a group doing something positive, and the more people the better it is, so why not come join me every Tuesday evening in Wandsworth? Our next session is distributing clothes and bedding to rough sleepers so it promises to be a really rewarding one!
Thankfully along the way I last night I bumped into a little orange buddy who was furry-ous to be left out of the fun - if you don't want to miss out either, have a look at what's going on in Westminster!
Loading...