Elizabeth House Food Hub
117 GoodGymers have supported Elizabeth House Food Hub with 65 tasks.
Top supporters
Upcoming sessions
Tuesday 3rd December 2024 12:45pm - 1:15pm
Tuesday 10th December 2024 12:45pm - 1:15pm
Tuesday 17th December 2024 12:45pm - 1:15pm
Tuesday 7th January 2025 12:45pm - 1:15pm
Previous sessions
When the veg you supply, is almost 1 metre high, that's a Mooli!
Monday 28th October
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Lift the Curfew is a campaign by This Girl Can. #LetsLiftTheCurfew highlights the concerns many women feel when getting active outdoors after dark by calling for a safer and more inclusive experience.
Area Activator Simon was thrilled to meet with a top crew of Goodgym runners and volunteers at the Arsenal Community Hub last night, and particularly grateful to be introduced to 4 first time Goodgymmers! (welcome!). Together, we performed a short warm up on the Emirates Stadium slopes, before running 1 mile together up Highbury Hill, and back down to Elizabeth House Community Food Hub on Hurlock Street.
Elizabeth House offer an incredible resource for residents in Islington, Highbury and Finsbury Park. Affordable food and produce donated from stores and growing projects across the city and available to local people and families. The hub operates as a walk-in supermarket, allowing visitors to pick out their choice of food and essentials. However, a lot of regulars are unable to physically attend the food hub during school holidays and breaks, so Goodgym are happy to assist with deliveries on foot!
We had a couple of deliveries, typically performed on a cargo bike, located about 1 km away from the hub. These were completed by two top groups who were up for a bit of orienteering to find the correct houses for these important parcels. The rest of our team helped with some speedy deliveries around the Twyford House estates before returning back to Elizabeth House.
For the remainder of the evening, our crew helped with closing down the food hub, ready for kid's club the next day. Any non-perishable food and items were brought back to the storage cupboards, and all surfaces were cleaned up. Our next task involved separating the fresh fruit and vegetables (including amazingly varied food like samphire, alfalfa shoots and mooli radishes!) into good quality stock or overly ripe produce. The softer stuff was then taken to a compost bin outside, ready to be used for more growing projects.
Tables and chairs were packed away, crates were returned to their original spots and all of the floors were spotless by the time we finished. Well done everyone- we hope to return for more assistance over the busy Christmas period too!
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GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
GROUP SESSIONS-
Monday 4th November- Turning Compost at Pollard Close- Community Mission 7.15pm, Near Biddestone Gardens, Holloway Road
Monday 11th November- Thornhill Square Gardens- Group Run 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub
Monday 18th November- Caxton House Community Centre- Community Mission 7.15pm, Caxton House
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-caxton-house-painting-and-sanding-indoors
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
Thursday 31st October- Stratford Olympic Park- Runthrough Chase The Moon- Halloween Special
7th November- Paddington Rec Track
14th November- Emirates Stadium
21st November- Paddington Rec Track
28th November- Stratford Olympic Park
Green Guardians Weekly Workdays
Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am - 12 midday, Wednesdays, Fridays and occasional Saturdays
Community garden volunteer drop in sessions organised by a collection of specialists and tutors across the borough. Always day time, with occasional weekend meetings throughout Autumn.
The next sessions are as follows:
Wednesday 6th November, 10am - 12 midday, Newington Green
Friday 8th November, 10am - 12 midday, Market Road Gardens
Thornhill Square Gardens- October Workday
Saturday 2nd November, 10am - midday, Thornhill Square Gardens
This is an open volunteer gardening morning set up by the Friends of Thornhill Square. As one of the largest public spaces in Islington without council maintenance assistance, extra pairs of hands for bulb planting, composting, litter picking and preparing flower beds would be hugely appreciated!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/thornhill-square-gardens-open-volunteer-morning-november
Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 9th November, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.
Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.
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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (November)
Saturday 16th November, 10am - midday, Canonbury Square Gardens
The Friends of Canonbury Square Gardens host an open community gardening session on the 3rd Saturday morning of every month.
Usual tasks would include bulb planting, trimming, laying compost, maintaining flower beds and litter picking.
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 17th November, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our monthly trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-november-2024
Met League Cross Country Series- Goodgym Race Team
Various locations, October 2024 - February 2025
Met League Cross Country is a set of five 7-8km races organised by London race clubs. They are held in parks and forests around London with the routes including a mixture of grass, gravel and a fair bit of mud (it is XC after all!)
Sign up to the Goodgym Race Team for £15, and enter ALL 5 RACES for the bargain price of £20!
Newbies encouraged and welcomed- the most fun you can have running over the Winter months!
Fixtures
9th November Horsenden Hill https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country
30th November Uxbridge https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-uxbridge
11th January Welwyn Garden City https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-stanborough-park
8th February Trent Park https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-trent-park
Another Good Turn and a Berry Nice Reward
Saturday 31st August
Written by anne malcolm
Two Goodgymmers were back on hand today, helping the community gardeners at Highbury Quadrant.
After giving a young apricot tree a good drink, the goodgymmers were introduced to the compost heaps where fresh cuttings from the garden were dug and turned into the the existing heap to help speed up the composting process. A local robin joined in a supervisory role.
Then, following a quick introduction to the tiger worms in the wormery, and the 'hot box' full of not-tiger-worms, the next task was to water the plants and raised beds.
There was still time left to harvest the ripe tomatoes and pinch back the basil plants in the greenhouse to encourage new growth.
As we worked, we were offered raspberries and black currants fresh from the garden, and we left with a wonderfully fragrant stash of rosemary, basil and tomatoes to enjoy at home.
Goodgym Islington gets Carried away
Monday 19th August
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
It was a joy to return to Elizabeth House Food Hub on Monday evening, for our final visit of the Summer Holidays. Area Activator Simon was joined by 3 runners (including first timer Sebastian- welcome!) at the Arsenal Community Hub. After a few warm up drills on the slopes, we made our way up the Highbury Hills for a 1 mile jaunt to the food bank. On our route, we bumped into Katie, and encouraged her to join our crew!
Upon our arrival, we had to opportunity to catch up about our weekend adventures (meet ups with relatives, camping outside the city, trips to watch Taylor Swift!). We met with the lovely Roshni (who was celebrating her final shift at Elizabeth House before moving to a new project- we will miss you!), who directed us to a collection of carrier bags full of essential supplies for local residents. Caitlin even brought 3 years of discarded carriers bags from her former landlord to the centre, ready for future deliveries. We are always looking for more if you have any in your cupboards!
The food hub operates like a supermarket of donated and overstocked food from a variety of sources, and many Arsenal residents visit to do regular shopping of vital items for the week. Some community members are less able to visit the food hub in person, so our Goodgym team assist be dropping the parcels off in person. Our groups of 3 made short work of these heavy carrier bags, and returned in ample time to help with the clear up and deep clean of the hub.
Together, we returned all of the long-life foods back to the pantry for later dates, and then closed down and moved folding tables away after cleaning them down. We also helped with clearing delivery crates out to a less crowded location, and swept the floors ready for kid's summer holiday activities on Tuesday!
Congratulations on a job well done, everyone! We even had the opportunity to take home some organic allotment grown vegetables and baguettes to celebrate a top job.
See you all at Caledonian Park next Monday!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-caledonian-park-bank-holiday-special
Delivery Runs and Donated Buns
Monday 5th August
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
On warm summer's Monday evening (a bit earlier than usual!), our Goodgym crew met outside the Arsenal Community Hub, ready to help put at a smashing community food bank task. Area Activator Simon led a short dynamic warm up on the Emirates Slopes (with 5 regular GG runners, and first timer Lara- welcome!), before running approximately 1.2 miles together. We tackled Highbury Hill, and enjoyed a decent descent down to Hurlock Street, ready with the team at this busy local food project.
The volunteers at Elizabeth House Food Hub operate a system that allows anyone in the neighbourhood to join a scheme, and visit a supermarket style space to collect donated and organically grown food. Goodgym Islington joined in by taking pre-prepared delivery bundles for residents who are unable to physically visit the food hub on their own (elderly neighbours, families, those with limited mobility for example). We separated into groups to drop off the parcels, after ringing each of the residents in advance.
Following the final orders from the food bank, we then helped the team with clearing up for the next days activities. Crates of canned goods and hardy vegetables where taken back to the kitchen area, and all surfaces were cleaned and disassembled. Any perishable food was offered to any volunteers on hand, so we had the chance to run home with plenty of bread rolls, leafy greens, peppers and cherry tomatoes grown locally!
Fantastic efforts everyone- we will return to Elizabeth House on Monday 19th August (6.15pm Arsenal Community Hub, 6.30pm Elizabeth House)
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
Thursday 8th August- Stratford Olympic Park
Thursday 15th August- Green Park
Thursday 22nd August- Paddington Rec Track
Thursday 29th August- Battersea Park
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The Garden Classroom- Weekly Volunteer Mornings in Islington Parks!
Wednesday mornings, 10am - midday, Newington Green
The Garden Classroom has started multiple weekly open garden mornings in Newington Green, Market Road and Hillside Park (near Caxton House). Set up by trained horticulture specialists and open to all!
Newington Green Next Wednesday- 10am - midday
POST GROUP SESSION SOCIAL- Area Activator Simon celebrates 5 years!
Monday 12th August, 8.45pm, Someday Canteen, Finsbury Park
Area Activator Simon (formerly Trainer Simon) began leading sessions for Goodgym Islington 5 years ago, taking the reins from Goodgym legend Paul Bown (still active in GG Sheffield).
We invite you for good food, excellent refreshments and fun times at Someday Canteen. A pleasant 20 min walk from The Arsenal Community Hub, after our scheduled task!
Highbury Quadrant Greening with Elizabeth House
Every Saturday, 10.30am - 12 midday, Highbury Quadrant Meadow
A fantastic task for post-parkrun runners at Highbury Fields or Finsbury Park!
Elizabeth House Community Centre, in partnership with Islington Council, Highbury Quadrant Tenants and Residents Association, Highbury Councillors and community organisations transformed three unloved and unusable green spaces on Highbury Quadrant estate.
These green spaces have been designed into three distinct spaces, improving bio-diversity and the local environment. There is now a beautiful meadow, an orchard and woodland areas.
Local residents have the opportunity to access these green spaces and take part in gardening and nature based activities, every Saturday mornings 10 am to 12 pm.
Saturday 3rd August
Saturday 10th August
Saturday 17th August
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 18th August, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our monthly trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned!
Penn Road Gardens Volunteer Open Day
Sunday 25th August, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.
Camino Ultra London Lee Valley Eco Trail- Aid Station Superstars
Saturday 5th October, 9am onwards, Ranger's Retreat, Chingford DaznBone (aka Darren Strachan and David Bone) and the Camino Ultra team are putting together the logistics for their next 50km ultra race (running from Wanstead Flats, up the green corridor to Epping Forest and back), and have invited the Goodgym crew to get involved!
On the course, there will be 4 major aid stops, and we have been invited to take over the first refresh point and the penultimate aid station.
This will involve providing water and snacks to runners of all abilities during the key stages of their race, and to support them with smiling faces and enthusiasm!
Goodgym Race Team Big 4- Love Luton RunFest 2024
Sunday 13th October, 8.45am onwards, Luton Town Centre
This 5k, 10k, and half marathon around the streets of Luton is a popular road race with GoodGym. Join us for this 4th and final official GoodGym race team race of 2024. Big Goodgym running crew meet up to be expected!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/love-luton-love-luton-runfest-2024
Water on tap
Saturday 3rd August
Written by Dan (He/ him)
We arrived and the sun came out as we divided and watered the community gardens, which included apple, pear trees and berry plants, giving them a well earned drink. 🍎 🍐 🫐 💦
How do I LOG a Goodgym mission? I'm STUMPED...
Monday 27th May
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Area Activator Simon met up with Caitlin, Emily and Mehmet for a special Bank Holiday edition group session, starting in Clissold Park on a lovely bright Monday evening. Instead of our usual group run to a task location, Simon set up a series of fitness games instead of our usual dynamic warm up at Emirates Stadium.
Game 1- Cups and Cones
Each of our runners are given an equal number of sports cones, and lay them out facing base upwards (like a cup) around their "base".
Within 3 minutes, each of our runners try to flip over as many of the opponents "cones" as possible, while they flip them back to "cup" position. The winner is the person with the most "cups" remaining.
Game 2- Wild Cards
Area Activator Simon brought a pack of cards for this game, and allocated the following suits to different core circuit exercises:
Diamonds- "Bird Dog" x 10 (5 on each side)
Spades- "Lunge Ups" x 10 (5 on each side)
Hearts- Seated March x 20 (10 on each leg)
Clubs- Hamstring Sweeps x 10 (5 for each side)
Royalty- Squat Jumps x 5
Our participants were given 5 minutes to complete as many exercises as they could, while running a recovery jog around a tree between each draw of a card.
Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens
After our workout session, we walked together to the lovely Highbury Quadrant Estate Meadows, meeting with Frannie, Elizabeth House's gardening expert (and briefly an adorable 11 month old Border Terrier pup called Betty!). Together, we were given the final batch of flyers for the upcoming London Open Gardens Festival, on 7th-8th June. A unique opportunity to visit private and community garden spaces all across the capital.
https://londongardenstrust.org/whatson/london-open-gardens-2024/
And our team delivered these across the immediate tower blocks surrounding Highbury Quadrant, up and down the mezzanine steps. Done and dusted in no time!
As an extra task for the evening, we made our way over to the community orchard, where a large pile of logs had been donated by a local tree surgeon. So we laid out a very smart looking edge around the wildflower gardens to establish a pathway through the orchard. Ready for visitors at London Open Gardens in two weeks time!
Well done everyone. I hope you had a smashing Bank Holiday!
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GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
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Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
Thursday 30th May- Stratford Olympic Park
Thursday 6th June- Green Park
Thursday 13th June- Paddington Rec Track
Thursday 20th June- Battersea Park
The Garden Classroom- Weekly Volunteer Mornings in Islington Parks!
Wednesday mornings, 10am - midday, Newington Green
The Garden Classroom has started multiple weekly open garden mornings in Newington Green, Market Road and Hillside Park (near Caxton House). Set up by trained horticulture specialists and open to all!
Newington Green Next Wednesday- 10am - midday
Camden Estate Community Food Gardens- Rostock Gardens
Sunday 2nd June, 10.30am - 12.30pm, Rostock Gardens
A special referral from Camden Estate Community Food Gardens!
The team are looking for some Goodgym help to dig over a small patch of ground to get it ready for planting.
Other tasks include:
Cleaning the greenhouse
Treating the wooden decking area with protective varnish
If possible, planting up a collection of veg plants!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/camden-estate-community-food-gardens-rostock-gardens
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Lighthouse Community Group- Uplifting a new living space for residents!- Morning Task
The Lighthouse Foundation sent a special referral to Goodgym Islington!
The team will be meeting at over Evershot Street, Stroud Green for an early morning, pre-work task!
This location is in need of some attention, ready for new residents to move in.
Expected tasks would include:
Clearing the space as best we can
Moving few heavy things around to new locations
Tending to the garden space at the back
Wednesday 5th June:
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/evershot-community-building-up-challenge-morning-task
Wednesday 12th June:
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Highbury Quadrant Greening with Elizabeth House
Every Saturday, 10.30am - 12 midday, Highbury Quadrant Meadow
A fantastic task for post-parkrun runners at Highbury Fields or Finsbury Park!
Elizabeth House Community Centre, in partnership with Islington Council, Highbury Quadrant Tenants and Residents Association, Highbury Councillors and community organisations transformed three unloved and unusable green spaces on Highbury Quadrant estate.
These green spaces have been designed into three distinct spaces, improving bio-diversity and the local environment. There is now a beautiful meadow, an orchard and woodland areas.
Local residents have the opportunity to access these green spaces and take part in gardening and nature based activities, every Saturday mornings 10 am to 12 pm.
Saturday 1st June-
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Compton Terrace Gardens Open Volunteer Morning
Saturday 8th June, 10am - midday, Union Chapel, Islington
A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.
Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people.
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (June)
Saturday 15th June, 10am, Canonbury Square Gardens
Lending a hand with this beautiful neighbourhood maintained garden in Islington, a perfect post-parkrun task!
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 16th June, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our monthly trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-june-2024
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Dulwich Runners- Midsummer Relays 2024
Wednesday 19th June, 6.45 - 8.45pm, Dulwich Park
Dulwich Runners have a proud history of organising summer races in Dulwich Park to support and publicise the Club in the South London community.
Goodgym are planning on entering at least one relay team to this awesome grass roots event!
Feel free to organise teams of 3 in advance, or we can try to form teams of individuals from sign ups to this page.
All abilities welcomed and encouraged!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/dulwich-runners-midsummer-relays-2024
Guide Runners and Supporters needed for Metro Blind Sport Athletics 2024
Sunday 29th June, 10am - 5pm, Mile End Athletics Track
We are proud of the Metro Games, the only remaining national athletics event specifically for visually impaired people. It’s a great opportunity to take part in athletics at a great facility, have fun, making new friends and catching up with some old friends!
All abilities, ages and sight levels are welcome!
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