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)

How you doing Peter?

Very good. Nice and dry

Setting off from Barking Station, GoodGymmers took a gentle jog to Westbury Community Garden – gentle in the sense that Emdad needed us to slow down in places to they could capture some photos and videos of us. Eventualy crossing the rail tracks at the green bridge, we looped back to the garden - nestled under the Ripple Road flyover, next to the District Line.

I didn’t even know this footbridge exists… oh, this is the community garden, I must have driven past here a million times. (Peter, B&D GoodGymmer)

Part of the reason for setting up GoodGym B&D was to help locals discover more of their community, so it is always pleasing hearing comments like this.

Despite several hopeful pleas from the group, the rain did not “quickly pass". Not only that, as a newly created river serenely glided down Wedderburn Road, Harry emphatically confirmed “I’ve not seen this a much rain in Barking, and I’ve lived here for 6 years.”

Fortunately, the location of the table being built was under a tree with generous overhanging branches and a full leaf canopy, which diverted most of the rain away from GoodGymmers.

Despite the weather, there was a significant sense of satisfaction of completing a task that had been waiting months for completion. Generously gifted by local Abbey Ward Councillors, the heavy table-top needed all 6 pairs of hands to lift and glide it into position.

"I can't thank you enough, we couldn't have got this done without you" (Tim, project lead, Westbury Community Garden)

This is what GoodGym is all about – short bursts of volunteering power to get those practical and physical tasks complete that small community groups would otherwise struggle to get done. After only 30 minutes of sustained focus, problem solving and team work – all bolts on the table were secure.

The result? Local groups that use the garden - such as the Scouts, Salvation Army, faith groups, food growing clubs and more – as well as local residents now have a new focal point to gather round. There will also be somewhere to sit for the upcoming community BBQ.

More tasks are planned soon for this hidden gem – Tim has much to do – weeding the fruit tree beds, removing the dead trees, installing a shed, mulching and more. We can’t wait to come back, hopefully when the sun is shining!

See you soon, Steven

What happens when community spirit, elbow grease, and some local heroes meet in a garden?

You get a classic GoodGym B&D group session, and this week’s mission at Gale Street Community Garden in Becontree was nothing short of brilliant.

With summer approaching, the garden is being prepared to host wellbeing activities for local residents. It’s all part of a vision led by community collaboration with Breda and Nassaba, who’s spearheading a movement to make green spaces across Barking and Dagenham welcoming, safe, and vibrant hubs of activity.

But before yoga mats can be rolled out, the space needs serious groundwork.

That’s where GoodGym B&D’s very own dynamic duo, Peter and Emdad, stepped in.

Peter and Emdad brought energy, determination, and great teamwork to the task. With gloves on and smiles ready, they got stuck into clearing large tree trunks, dragging branches, and moving green waste to designated zones. The aim? To open up space and make it safe and usable for the exciting summer programme ahead.

“You two are the GoodGym Powerhouse!” Nassaba beamed, as the garden transformed before her eyes.

💚Heavy Lifting with Heart What made the session even more enjoyable was the spirit in which the work was done. While shifting logs and navigating prickly brambles, Peter and Emdad worked with a calm rhythm and total focus, all while cracking jokes, encouraging each other, and showing what GoodGym is all about: making a difference together.

There were lighter moments too. From spotting wild blackberries, apple and chickee fox to being accidentally caught in camera time-lapses, the session was full of cheerful teamwork and genuine joy.

🤩Not Just a Garden – A Vision As volunteers powered through the task, they had the chance to speak with Nassaba about her wider plans – including a future task involving the repositioning of a heavy water tank to improve garden access.

While Peter and Emdad assessed the job with their usual can-do attitude, it was agreed that this was a task for a future session, when more GoodGym muscle could be gathered.

This forward-thinking approach is exactly what makes these sessions so rewarding: each visit builds on the last, and each task brings us closer to creating lasting change in the community.

🙋‍♂️So… What Is a GoodGym Group Session? GoodGym group sessions are volunteering missions with movement. Simple, time-limited tasks for local charities and community organisations that help them get essential work done. Whether it’s shifting soil, painting fences, delivering flyers or weeding a wild space, every task is designed to be achievable, practical, and community-driven.

Some sessions start with a group run, walk, or cycle from a set meeting point, while others, like this one, are more localised, with volunteers making their way directly to the task site.

No specialist skills are needed – just a willingness to muck in, work as a team, and enjoy the process. Tools and safety equipment are always provided by the organisation,

Across the country, GoodGym volunteers are clocking up thousands of hours supporting grassroots initiatives – and the impact is real. From food banks to forests, schools to community gardens, many of these spaces simply wouldn’t function without the help of dedicated GoodGym teams.

🏃That’s a wrap!

Back in Becontree, Peter and Emdad wrapped up the session with a well-earned sense of achievement. The area was cleared, the trunks relocated, and smiles all round. They proved once again that even with a small team, big things can happen.

With brilliant photos captured by Nassaba and Emdad, and stories to share, the Powerhouse have left their mark – and the garden is well on its way to being a thriving hub of health and happiness this summer.

Want to join the Powerhouse next time? Sign up, lace up, and show up – the garden needs you!

See you soon, Peter!