After weeks of hushed whispers, knowing glances and enough rumourfuel to power a sleigh, tonight the truth finally landed: Woking GoodGym had once again received the words we’d all been waiting for: “Could you help pack the Xmas bags at the foodbank warehouse in Knaphill?”

Could we?

Oh yes, yes we could, and no one thought we couldn’t!

Like elves hearing the first jingle of Santa’s bells, we were ready to fill 90 sacks with Christmas time treats.

Each bag received a carefully curated mix of food, treats and love, ready to be delivered across the local community. Every time someone shouted, “We need more cereal!” it sounded like a joyful Christmas emergency.

This task is always a highlight for Woking GoodGym: an evening where teamwork, generosity and seasonal silliness blend perfectly. Knowing that every bag will brighten someone’s Christmas is the best reward.

It was lovely to see Louise from the Woking GoodGym alumni joining us with her son Henry, alongside a fellow alumni Bryan, the 2025 newbies are now well settled in, but of course, veterans, Anne, Adam, James, Katie and Wayne were missed from the production line. 90 bags packed within 45 mins, our most efficient effort yet AND no one lost a finger to the stacking containers, a Christmas miracle!

🎅 Well done GoodGym – another year, another mountain of Xmas bags, and another evening of excellent elf-level teamwork!

Thank you for the photos Nadia! 📸 Welcome to the crew, Zoe - you’ve earned your tutu 💃🏻

It was great to see the sun as four intrepid GoodGymers headed out for Session 5/5 at Knaphill Lower School, continuing our mission to help the PTA restore the garden and outdoor classroom to create a safe, active space for the pupils. Olalekan teamed up with Mark (PTA) to finish the second wigwam, providing another cosy space for imaginative play.

Meanwhile , Kirsty and Julie worked with Alex, a mum from the PTA, to transform a pile of cut branches from last week into a habitat hedge. They were supervised by the local robin who was intrigued to see the final structure, and all the buglife we had disturbed for his breakfast. Anne continued with her mission to restore the wooden climbing equipment from a green slimy mess back to its former glory. The festive Goodgym red tutu and colourful rubber gloves were a great outfit combo. Kudos to Anne for also running to the task.

Vicky, and Mark, members of the PTA, and their son, a former student, have worked so hard to fund, plan and create this new space for the school. The Woking team have done a great job with all the autumn / winter sessions. Watch out for further opportunities to continue to support them in the new year.

It may have been cold, raining and generally behaving like Woking in full autumn sulk mode, but five determined GoodGymers donned their waterproofs and headed out for Session 4/5 at Knaphill Lower School, continuing our mission to help the PTA restore the garden and outdoor classroom to its former, slightly less jungly glory.

Wayne teamed up with Mark (PTA) to engineer a rather impressive wigwam, because when conditions are inclement, why not build a small architectural marvel? Wayne engineering mind was in full flow, and before long the structure had a base, fixings, and all the promise of a very cosy den.

Meanwhile Olalekan, Stephanie, Kirsty, Julie launched into branch hacking mode, carving out what will soon become a magical zone for the children. With her horticultural wisdom, Julie quickly sized up the piles of pruned branches and suggested transforming them into a living hedge… or was it a dead hedge? (We’re still not fully sure, but either way it’s definitely a hedge.)

Olalekan, channelling an upgraded Edward Scissorhands, sliced through the overgrowth with alarming speed and style. Stephanie wore gloves so fabulous they prompted immediate gear envy, and after valiantly battling thick branches with secateurs, she was pleased when Julie allowed her to use the mighty lopper instead.

Rainy? Yes. Muddy? Cold? Yes. Very. Productive? Completely. Another brilliant GoodGym session, and only one more to go this side of Christmas in this mission to bring Knaphill’s outdoor play zone come classroom back to life

Woodhill Church

This bonfire night 5 Goodgym Members met at Woodhill Church To Help With An Outdoor Task 😊

A big Welcome to Ben who joined us for his first task, hopefully first of many 👍

Wayne & Olalekan get to the church a little early and were met by Jules who looks after all the projects around the church grounds.

First task was two get all the 40 compost bags from around the front of the church to the back of the church as they got delivered and dropped off at the wrong side. Wayne & Olalekan started to move them around after 2 rounds Olalekan asked if there was a wheel barrow available which we could load up and save us many trips back & forward. Jules did have one available which made life very easy. After 4 trips all 40 bags were brought to the bedding area. Julie, Stephanie & Ben had arrived at this point. At this point we followed instructions from our garden expert Julie. We placed the bags all along the perimeter and cut them open in readiness to spread the compost.

Above us in the night sky we can see and hear fireworks going off 🎇. Using forks and shovels we spread the compost all around the bedding. Withing 40 mins the job was completed.Jules was very grateful what would of taken her hours we done in no time 😊.

We put the tools away then Jules treated us all the some pasteries and bread which were very tasty ❤

This week again, four GoodGymers met at the Lower Infant School in Knaphill to carry on the work started in the trail garden.

Kirsty enrolled her husband Bryan to come and help, as we had realised, last week, that we needed more muscles for some of the tasks. Let's all welcome Bryan back to GoodGym Woking!

Olalekan was asked to dig some trenches following marked lines on the ground. These represent the different areas of the trail garden. Once he had done this hard work, instead of having a rest, Olalekan took hold of the rake and gathered more leaves. It looks like the never ending job! But we are in November and we are working in a wooded area....

Kirsty chose to do something different from last week and be more artistic: she joined the team who were painting the loooong fence. It is going to take quite a while and hopefully more parents will come and help in the following weeks.

Bryan was eager to use his DIY skills and started to assemble a water fountain. It is made of so many pieces that not everyone could do the job. I am sure Bryan cannot wait to resume his art work and will bring his power tools next time.

Anne was asked to support the stepladder while Mark and Vikki started to set up the beautiful teepee made of slats of wood. The children will certainly like it! Then, it was time to go back to cleaning the beams of the trail covered with green fungi.Quite a dirty job, but it is rewarding to see the end result. There are more beams to clean though...

All in all, we were all pleased with our Saturday morning mission. Olalekan and Anne ran back to town along the canal, making the most of the good weather!

Tomorrow, we might see you at junior parkrun; then on Wednesday we will help the Community Fridge in Knaphill.

In the meantime, happy running to you all.