Yesterday we were back at the wonderful Notre Dame Refugee Centre, who provide essential support and services to refugees and asylum seekers, offering food, clothing, and a safe place to turn to in tough times.

A good turn-out for the session meant we had plenty of helping hands to dive into the donations pile. Welcome to Laura, who came along for her very first session – we’re delighted to have you join us, and we hope you enjoyed the organised chaos!

The task in question was sorting through clothing donations. Some of them were great – well-loved items, in good condition, and totally wearable. Others took a little more working out. Where they some kind of futuristic garment or even a piece of clothing at all? A tangle of straps, an oversized shirt with arm holes and no clear purpose, a hybrid blanket/poncho - these all left us scratching our heads.

The real challenge, though, was the kids' clothes. Who knew determining the age for children's clothing would be such a conundrum? “Is this for a 3-year-old? Or a 6-year-old? Could it fit an advanced 2-year-old?” We may not have unlocked all the mysteries of child growth patterns, but we did our best to match sizes with a degree of precision (and guesswork).

After just under an hour, we had achieved good level of organisation: all boxes were cleared off the floor, donations were sorted into their rightful places, and there was a nice, neat space made for the next round of donations.

With the donations sorted and the space cleared, it was good to know that some families will receive items that they really need. Not to mention, we now have expert-level skills in identifying children’s clothing sizes (kind of).

Last night’s task marked our second week of transforming the Wandsworth Bereavement Services space, where we’ve been painting the walls to help create a more welcoming environment for those seeking support. With one week of solid progress behind us (and most of the tape neatly in place), we dove straight into the task. A huge welcome to Raquel and Anais, who joined us for their first session—hope you enjoyed the colourful experience!

As soon as we arrived, we split into teams, ready to tackle the task of turning the drab, beige walls into a calming masterpiece of blues. Over the course of the next 45 minutes, we worked our painting magic, transforming the rooms from dreary to dreamy. It was like a little paint-powered orchestra—everyone had their part to play, and together we created a soothing atmosphere for the service users.

The great news? TWO rooms were finished and, to our collective delight, all the paint stayed neatly within the lines! Success! Well, almost… Enter: The Mini Disaster™.

There was a slight hiccup when a tin of paint, perched precariously at the top of a stepladder, took a tragic tumble. In a moment of pure gravity-defying chaos, it exploded in a spectacular splash zone that could rival a Jackson Pollock masterpiece. But in true GoodGym style, panic wasn’t an option. We sprang into action, everyone shouting out solutions and working together to restore order to the chaotic scene.

From vinegar to scrubbing pads, suggestions poured in, but it was Annabel’s genius idea to call in the Rug Doctor that truly saved the day. Within 20 minutes, we had a rug-cleaning machine on-site, and the industrial-scale cleaning operation was in full swing. The rug doctor was a true hero, and we managed to clear up most of the the mess with the speed and precision of a well-oiled machine.

Apologies for the chaos towards the end, everyone! I promise next time we’ll return to our usual, smooth-running selves. And yes, we’ll be back to dry, paint-free floors next week—so rest assured, your beautiful running kits will remain safely free from splashes.

Great work, team! Until next week, when we’ll be back at it—this time helping a local charity with a lovely floor-lifting task. We also have a great community mission this weekend at a local nature reserve.

Stay colourful, GoodGym! 💙🎨