Last night we proved that it's twice as nice in Wandsworth as we divided up the team to tackle not one but two tasks!

We had been schedule to head to the Scout hall in Battersea to help tidy up the outside area, but we were also asked last minute to come and help sort out donations at a local community hub. What to do - say, yes, of course!

So while Steph and Jordan stepped in to lead the scouting expedition, a second group made our way down to Doddington hub. We arrived to find a room stacked with donations. These had been given to the organisation following a major fire in Battersea, but because many of the residents affected have been moved to hotels, not all the donations were able to be used.

The plan is that the hub will be opened today so that people in the community that need a little extra help can find what they need. But before that can happen, there was a lot of sorting to do! While Annabel and Ali got stuck into the enormous pile of games, deciding what was educational (quiz games), what was fun (Jenga) and what was destined for the bin (the creepy dolls head..see photo). Johnny and Felix tested their sartorial skills by going through a mountain of clothes, and even played a game of 'name the object' (we still haven't figured out what it was that Felix found!) By the end of the session the room was looking much more organised and ready for visitors today. Elizabeth, who runs the hub, called GoodGym 'a miracle team'!

While we had the benefit of an indoor task on a rainy day, the intrepid Scout group were with Peter at the hall, and had a big weeding and clearing job to take on. The drizzle didn't hold them back, and captured by photographer Jordan, the overgrown space was dealt with beautifully. Peter had this to say this morning -

'Thanks again for Goodgym's support. We managed to clear the garage area , and round by back door. Steph did a grand job of sweeping the car park. We also discovered a hole in the ground!'

Great job everybody - and you even managed to divert a potential sinkhole disaster!

A few dates for your diary - next Monday we will be off to Larkhall Park to help out there followed by a Halloween themed social -either drop me an email or join the whatsapp group to find out the finer details of the post-run social but the idea is that we were will be going to a local pub with some Halloweed themed fun. All welcome!

We also have a mission coming up that needs plenty of help - we're back at Paradise for a Sunday morning session shoveling manure. It promises to be a great work out in the fresh air at a beautiful community space!

One of the best things about GoodGyming is the opportunity it gives us to discover new places, organisations and hidden gems that are doing good stuff all over our borough. Last night was no exception as we headed over to Larkhall Park for our first visit to this lovely little London park.We were treated with a welcome from a group of volunteers who manage the space, a task which quickly made a difference, and even sightings of bats and foxes. What more could we ask for?

We started the night on a high, welcoming Felix to his very first session - lovely to have you join us Felix!

We did our warm up and, in recognition of our task at a local park, our question for the evening was on theme. The first national park opened in 1872, but where is it? We had lots of great guesses but it was Jason and Adrian who nailed it in one - it was Yellowstone Park in the US. Good pub quiz practice!

We took a nice gentle run to Larkhall (little did we know we should have appreciated the downhill nature of the journey there as we only realised on the return leg!) to find The Friends of Larkhall Park waiting for us with loads of tools and instructions for us.

We divided up into teams, each taking on responsibility for one area. Gloves on we got cracking with the weeding, clearing, litter picking and general tidying up. Passers by stopped to admire the work we were doing, and its great to see how quickly people notice when our public areas are cared for. Hopefully it means there will be less litter dropped, creating a safer, more sustainable local space!

Job done, we returned the tools and moved over to the grass for a balance for runners session. we tested our skills (very impressive!) with an eyes shut challenge, before doing several drills that work on our coordination. Great job everybody.

Next week we're off to the GoodGym garden - so sign up here for another Monday of getting fun and active.

We also have a great community mission happening this Saturday helping clear out and clean up a nature reserve.

One task, double the impact! Tonight 12 GoodGymers carried bin bags of leaves from Christchurch Gardens to Doddington Roof Gardens, proving that one person's trash really is another person's treasure. GoodGym Wandsworth collected the leaves into bags at a previous task, to help keep the church garden, clean, safe and accessible. But rather than see those bags head to landfill, the quick thinking team arranged to carry them a mile down Battersea Park Road and hand deliver them to Chief Gardener Melissa at Doddington Roof Gardens. In their new home, the leaves will be tossed on the compost heap and turned into nutritious mulch to fuel another year of gorgeous garden growth.

We also welcomed Rosie to her first ever GoodGym session and the lovely late summer sun tempted Carol, Andy and Jamie back too! It was great to meet them and to share not one, but two of the local community spaces we have worked with in the past year.

After the task the team took on a 5 minute fitness relay, with two teams going head-to-head in sprints, jumping jacks, plank holds, squats and high knees, to get the heart rate up, test our strength and even have a bit of fun in the meantime. Then it was onto the pub quiz for our monthly social (delayed by one week). Not everyone could stick around this month, but the 6 Salt & Shakers who stayed came a respectable 3rd - no cash prizes for the garden this time, but a good time was had and we all left with a hankering for old-school crisps with names that alliterate (Hula-Hoops, French Fries, Monster Munch...)