This was our third Group Run to help Renew Swindon. Part of the UK Men’s Sheds Association, they focus on men’s mental health and wellbeing, by providing welcoming, safe and supportive environments to connect with others, be active, learn new skills and share knowledge & give to others through renewing, repairing and re-using materials which would otherwise go to landfill.

Our first trip back in March was to do some sanding at their old site in Cheney Manor, then in August we checked out their new digs for a split task of sanding there, and lifting and shifting at a local school.

The task this time around? A spot of light sanding and painting the woodwork we had previously sanded down!

Over the past few weeks, we’ve noticed that Dave is always alone in our pics, and so a side task was to make sure Dave had a photo taken with every GoodGym’er on the task!

This included a new member of GoodGym Swindon who also dresses in red, name begins with H, and loves a bit of tidying up. Check out the photos for who that might be!

After meeting at the Oasis, Run Leader Charles brought us outside for the usual scene setting, during which we congratulated Hannah for her recent PB at parkrun, and our absent friends Stuart and Jason for their mountain climbing escapades, and just in time for Lily to arrive too. Then we were off!

This week’s run was extended for us to zap Beat the Street boxes. If you haven’t heard, we’re disbanding the GoodGym Swindon group to help parkrun Swindon win money for charity and join their BTS world record attempts! It’s simple to switch on the BTS website - ask co-team captains Mike or Richard if you’re interested in more info.

When we arrived, Dawn and Kevin were there waiting for us, and shared the big plans for the former community hall – including more info on the shed itself, a public hire space, and even a developing women’s shed, starting in the New Year.

Then they split us into two groups – one set sanding down a church pew they had been donated (no prizes for guessing the two GG’ers keen to join that group); The Vicar and Sandy Sam, and another painting the woodwork. We soon got sanding and painting, and the different wood objects soon looked far less painted/far more painted, depending which group you were in!

We were soon finished, and waved goodbye to Dawn and Kevin, and headed back out for Beat the Streeting on the way back to the Oasis!

When we arrived back to the Oasis, we were greeted by a Sperring spectacular – it was Safety First's Simon's birthday! Even though they didn’t attend the Group Run, Simon, honorary GoodGym’ers Luke and Grace, and Alethia met us with cake for the post run coffee.

Happy Birthday Safety First Simon!

More GoodGym greatness:

• Next Tuesday we’re weeding around the Bakers Café in the Railway Village. A special Halloween task – some of us will be dressing up. Get involved here!

• This Sunday, we’re running the Avebury Trust 10K. This is Helen’s FIRST ever 10k run, and she’s been doing loads of fundraising for an upcoming charity trip. Come and join us for a run – or supporting – here!

• We’re also looking to grow missions in the town to help older people with one-off tasks, and coach runs to help combat loneliness and social isolation. Interested in more info? Check out the links, or speak to the Task Force.