Special Energy Tonight's mission at Gale Street Organic Community Garden had a special energy, thanks to new GoodGymmers joining the team.

🥳 Special well done to Irina for walking all the way from Ilford to Becontree (and back) to join their first ever B&D mission. Also a huge congratulations to Jemima and Alison for completing their first ever GoodGym session!

5️⃣ tasks With sleeves rolled up and tools in hand, we took on not one but FIVE tasks to improve this precious green space for everyone who uses it.

💧+🌽 Jemima got stuck in with two tasks straight away - decanting water out of one of the rainwater tanks into five watering cans, then taking the watering cans to the four large vegetable patches to water the very thirsty courgettes, pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers.

🏋 @Irina pounced on "the pile" that needed lifting & moving (old kitchen cabinets, broken wheelbarrows, etc.) and was soon joined by Steven and Harry. The threesome made light work of relocating the pile to make way for the potting shed to be moved here.

🛠️ Emdad and Alison joined Nassaba (Elevate Together) in dismantling the small potting shed, removing the internal panelling and unscrewing the wallpanels before carefuly carrying the pieces taken to their new home on the other side of the garden. Once reassembled, it will serve as a secure and easily accessible spot for storing potting tools and gardening gear.

Incredible teamwork 🤜🤛 Our 6 strong team of GoodGymmers worked in perfect unison, seamlessly switching from task to task to offer extra support at critical points. Everyone got a chance to do different workouts at different task stations - lifting rainwater tanks, squatting to reach the low screws in the shed, pulling hard at "the pile" to free it form the overgrowth, and completing reps from the rainwater tanks to the vegetable patches.

Local lead Breda and Nassaba from Elevate Together were on hand to fully support our effort, helping coordinate tasks and cheering everyone on.

What's it all for? 🌱 Tonight's tasks aren't just about appearances. A safer, more organised garden space means neighbours can plant, pot, and prune with confidence. For many, the garden is a quiet retreat and a place to meet friends, enjoy fresh air, and connect with nature right in the heart of the community.

🙌 Spaces like Gale Street don’t just grow flowers and vegetables - they grow friendships, resilience, and wellbeing. Outdoor volunteering is proven to boost both physical health and mental clarity. And when GoodGymmers turn up, they not only bring muscle but a spirit of co-operation that inspires the whole neighbourhood.

Emdad (TaskForce) & Steven (Area Activator)

Our GoodGym Barking & Dagenham team had a mission to complete last night and we were reinforced with FOUR new members!

The large rainwater containers at the Organic Community Garden opposite Becontree Station in Dagenham had become inaccessible, leaving the garden’s water supply out of reach during a crucial summer growing period.

Without access to this precious rainwater, the garden’s fruit trees, vegetables, and herbs risked going thirsty.

Together, we got to work.

New member Emma launched straight in pruning he trees around the the containers to gain access, whilst the rest of us pondered how to get access to the back of the container as tress were growing either side seemingly blocking access.

New GoodGymmer Peter didn't hold back. Spotting another route, jumping up on to the container and clambering over the top, slipping effortlessly down the back. Working together with Ryan, the pair made light work lifting the empty 1000 litre container ready for bricks to be slid underneath.

Who needs to do dead lifts in the gym?!

At the same time, new members Sharmin and Nilu worked with Steven and Emdad to empty the smaller shed and sort it's contents.

Sadly, an attempt had been made to steal the shed some time ago and the roof had been completely destroyed. Apparently not uncommon, the attempt to take the shed was thwarted by Breda's cunning move of bolting the floor the ground! However the contents has suffered from the weather.

Seven GoodGymmers. 45 minutes. 2 tasks completed.

Thanks to our team effort, the taps of the rainwater containers are accessible again, and the plants can be watered with fresh rainwater collected from earlier summer showers. The shed is empty, ready to be dismantled and relocated.

Tonight's session was just one part of an ongoing transformation. Over the summer, the garden is being prepared to host wellness sessions like yoga and mindfulness, as well as planting workshops, children’s activities, and community cooking events.

GoodGymmers in Barking & Dagenham have committed to helping with tasks such as pruning fruit trees, renovating the garden, moving and restoring the shed, and painting key features around the space.

Guided by Breda and Nassaba from Elevate Together, we worked safely and effectively with a relaxed, productive, and energising vibe surrounded by community spirit and the sounds of nature.

Volunteering in green spaces like this has huge benefits - physically, it keeps us active and strong; mentally, it reduces stress, boosts mood, and fosters connection.

GoodGym combines fitness with community action, which is why it’s such a powerful force in neighbourhoods across the UK. It brings people together, creates purpose, and supports those who need it most, especially vital in the face of ongoing financial cutbacks to local services.

Big thanks to our Area Activator, Steven, for organising everything so smoothly.

If you’re new to GoodGym, we’d love for you to join us. Our sessions are open, inclusive, and friendly, and out community partners need more helping hands.

Let’s keep making a difference, one step, one mission!

See you soon, Emdad (TaskForce member)

A simple satisfying side-mission this afternoon to take advantage of finishing work early on a Friday.

Ryan and Steven teamed up to litter pick on Abbey Road, Barking, IG11. The street cleaners do a great job keeping the area nice and clean, however litter hets stick between parked cars and the curbs which we removed.

As a bonus task, we also cleared up the bin store of a neighbour which fhey were delighted with!

Have a one off side-mission you'd like help with? Get in touch!

“That’s my kind of task, very satisfying”

“43 minutes flat, we’re done”

It was our first side mission Task. Terry from the Independent Living Agency put the call out that one of their members Jackie needed help.

Access to their back garden had become impossible with hugely over grown brambles and nettles.

Step up Harry, Steven and new joiner Alison – in 43 minutes flat the weeds and brambles were gone.

The Independent Living Agency is charity that provides a range of services and support for disabled people in Baring & Dagenham.

It was the perfect GoodGym task – we could see the end of the alley way and Jackie’s garden gate before we started, and all the brambles in front of it. You could see the progress, inch by inch, getting closer – until we broke through!

“This must be what it feels like when the tunnelers broke through at the end of the euro-tunnel”. Harry

Half way through, Alison spotted some beautiful flowers and curious looking orange fruit, revealed behind the brambles. Turned out it was a type of passion fruit which Alison boldly took a bite of – delicious!

“Thank you so much for clearing the awful mess and brambles. I truly appreciate this being done and am so very grateful. Jackie

We hope to work with the Independent Living Agency again soon!