6 GoodGymers gathered at the Town Hall Hotel this evening for our leafleting task.

Meeting Trees for Streets Project Director Simeon, we were well and truly briefed on tonight's task: posting letters in residential areas for the charity's tree-sponsorship scheme.

Why were we doing this?

Trees for Streets is a not-for-profit enterprise, set up by the charity Trees for Cities. Writes Trees for Streets, "According to Natural England, for every £1 spent on trees, the UK saves £7 in healthcare, energy and environmental costs. Trees help nature regain a footing across our built environments – creating natural connections.These trees also make us feel better. They are proven to improve our physical and mental well-being."

Our previous leafleting activity with Trees for Streets proved a resounding success (lots of GoodGymers to leaflet; residents signing up for the scheme the same night...), so we were keen to repeat.

Some brilliant planning.

After Simeon sat us down with fantastic maps, complete with highlighted streets and areas drawn up for our two different groups, we made our way out to the front of the hotel for the briefest of warm-ups and a little more info on what we were doing this evening.

Then, our small group, led by Southwark Area Activator, Sam, sped along Old Ford Road to the Crown Pub, where we divided into two groups. One group focused on the Roman Road area, while the other group led by Sam, proceeded to head towards the Tredegar Road area, on a slightly longer run.

50 minutes of leafleting passed in a flash. We commented on what a surprisingly physical task it is, by the time you've sped up and down streets and steps multiple times.

500 fantastic good deeds

Both teams met at the Grove Road junction to say our final farewells for the night, but not before congratulating our Anna again on her 500th good deed.

Anna has been GoodGyming for nine years, since October 2013, and has now clocked up 500 good deeds, including many, many Coach Runs.

Until next time

And so we headed our separate ways, glad to have got the week off to such a good start.

Until next time.

A small group of four jogged companionably through the streets of Bethnal Green this evening, to meet the rest of the team at our task at Oxford House.

It was a gorgeously warm evening; the streets were bustling as usual, and although busy, was nonetheless a delightful little warm-up for this evening's activity.

Slowly the team grew, until we formed two decent-sized squads: one team headed outside to clear weeds and litter from paving stones, while another headed indoors to clean glasses and glass ready for a big event.

Why were we doing this?

Oxford House's mission is to 'provide a community-led, inspiring, diverse, and sustainable multipurpose arts space.' With more and more events returning to the centre combined with fewer volunteers over the last couple of years, GoodGymers have been delighted to return to this task over the last couple of weeks, to help with painting, taping, furniture-moving and gardening.

The time flew by this evening, with many areas of moss, weeds and litter being swept up, while the inside glass-cleaning crew finished in no time, and were soon dispatched to a new glass-cleaning task.

Fun, fast and very productive, it seemed like no time at all that we were lining up on the ramp for a final group shot, promising to return soon.

The big shout-outs tonight go to the outdoor team, particularly Sian, Joel and Emma, who helped come up with tonight's pun and to our Ivy, who tonight reached her 100th good deed! (Ivy's a member of Task Force, and often leading tasks and attending socials, Parkruns, and generally out-and-about on the GoodGym circuit, contributing bundles).

A brilliant night all-round, everyone, and we look forward to returning soon.

Next week our big weekday task is taking place on Wednesday instead of Monday, and you can sign-up here.

Until then.

We were delighted to be meeting back at Bethnal Green's gorgeous Town Hall Hotel this week, a splendid, welcoming base to meet for this evening's Group Run.

After a quick warm-up, we headed out into Bethnal Green's busy, bustling streets, taking in Middleton Green, scene of many a fitness session over the last couple of years.

On arrival at Oxford House, we were joined by other members, who'd made their way on foot and cycle, ready to start this evening's task at 7-prompt.

It was an absolute joy to see Deborah again, who we haven't seen for a while, as we were briefed on this evening's tasks.

Why were we here?

We haven't visited Oxford House for nearly three years! And as there are a number of jobs that the venue are happy to have a hand with, we were delighted to return to this lively community venue.

Forming two teams, we gathered in the basement toilets and the gallery. Team Toilet wasted no time preparing the space for the big task of the night: painting the whole toilet area! They quickly got to work tackling one wall at a time, in a small, rather warm space.

Meanwhile the team who'd headed over to the theatre area were busy taping up areas not to be painted as the theatre is soon to get a new look. Skirting boards, door handles...all were carefully sealed with tape.

When the taping team had finished, they proceeded to empty the theatre of furniture, stacking piles of chairs and moving the heavy piano. As usual, they finished the task early.

As they stacked the last chair and tidied away the last bits of tape, the painting team were busy finishing up in the tidiest way possible. (With a little more painting remaining, it's a good job we're back next week).

Paint brushes were washed, rollers soaked, the floor scrubbed... Finally we were able to gather for one last pic.

Shout-outs tonight to Rahul for this evening's pun, and to George, for his first GoodGym event!

Next week, we return to see Deborah for Painting Part II, theatre clearance, and a few other active jobs.

Until then.