Our brilliant Barnet Goodgymmers gathered for the first group run of the year, starting like they mean to go on! We gave newcomer, Subham, a warm welcome and in return he gave us the title for the report. We wished the Phoenix Cinema staff a happy new year and warmed up, and off we went with Rachel as our backmarker and Anthony the fourth corner of our well-wrapped quartet, litter picking around East Finchley's high street. Which was surprisingly... clean?!

Undeterred by the windswept pavements, we jogged our way south half a kilometre scouring the verge and pavements, rooting out litter. We crossed near the Engine Rooms and, with Rachel taking the lead, jogged our way back up to the tube station to plog at what we found. Then we jogged a solid km further up the High Road and got stuck into that weird patch of wasteland on the corner of Leopold Road - which will be familiar to anyone who plogged with us that time Gus found a tennis ball. In scant moments we'd filled our sacks with the endless supply of bottles, cans, plastic and other unidentifiable trash.

Then we strode back through the bracing night like the legends we were. All in, a solid 2.5km round trip with a bit of lugging and lifting thrown in. A final thanks to Penny for dropping off the picking sticks and to Daniel for dropping off the council sacks for us to use - a very well coordinated effort behind the scenes, and hope everyone else gets well soon!

GoodGym Barnet: Supporting Citizens Advice Barnet Through Fitness, Fun, and Community Spirit

This week, GoodGym Barnet came together for a festive group run with a purpose – supporting the Citizens Advice Bureau Barnet by delivering fundraising leaflets in East Finchley. Citizens Advice provides crucial support to underprivileged and vulnerable people, protecting their rights and ensuring they can access essential services. Many don’t realise that this vital organisation relies on grants, just like any other charity, to continue its work.

We were delighted to have two representatives from Citizens Advice join us at the start of our run outside our new meeting point,( thank you Louise The White Lion Pub. They explained why fundraising is so important and how our leaflet drop could make a real difference in reaching local residents. This was a repeat of our efforts last year, which resulted in a positive fundraising response—and we were more than happy to give it another go.

As we warmed up outside the pub, there was a great buzz as we shared our Christmas plans—everything from wild pond swims to binge-watching festive TV favourites. With everyone ready, we split into teams and set off into the cool December air, delivering over 300 leaflets through the streets of East Finchley.

While some of us ran in “Indian file” formation (always a great way to keep the energy up!), Dave and Ben led the walking team, ensuring every doorstep was reached. Leaflet drops always come with a few quirks—admiring local homes, cautiously listening for barking dogs, and navigating slippery garden paths. Safety first, as always!

The group smashed it, working swiftly and efficiently as two teams covered both sides of each street. Before long, we were back at The White Lion, where the walkers had already grabbed a well-earned drink. The pub was alive with atmosphere, and it was brilliant to unwind together over food and drinks. We were joined by some special guests, including Donald from Finchley Pastures and Alison and Warwick from Stephens House and Gardens—key community figures who, like us, care deeply about bringing people together.

This run was a fantastic way to round off a year of supporting great causes through fitness and teamwork. In 2024 alone, GoodGym Barnet has delivered foodbank donations, supported local charities, and helped countless community groups while building friendships, staying active, and having a lot of fun along the way.

Looking ahead to 2025, we hope to do even more to support local people and grow our community connections—but we need YOU to get involved. Whether you join us once or twice a month, you’ll have fun, get fit, and make a real difference. Bring a friend, drag along a colleague, or, as we like to joke, “blindfold and kidnap them”—whatever it takes, just come and join us in 2025!

We promise you’ll leave with a smile, a sense of accomplishment, and maybe a pint at the end. Here’s to another year of running, walking, cycling, and helping our community thrive.

We had a Goodgym Yoga special at a local Barnet House. In the ground of Avenue House Park. The house very generously gave us one of their big upstairs rooms to do yoga for the benefit of GoodGym and local people who support Stephens House and Gardens . The session was also broadcast on Zoom for those that could not attend the session. We all went for a coffee in the café after.

We had a great turn out last night to deliver goody bags full of holiday activities, chocolate and candy to residents at the Grange Estate. Seven well-wrapped Goodgymmers set off from our temporary base at the Old White Lion. With Lucinda as our backmarker, we took the scenic route through East Finchley tube to the alleys parallel to the High Road, meeting with Emma Hodge and her colleagues from Hope North London in the middle of the Grange Estate.

Along the 1.5km way, we learned about the strangest jobs - voluntary or paid! - any of us had ever done. Rachel threw soup at people for a protest film, while Ben played jazz on a pirate ship one summer. Beattie once taught a Mongolia man 'fluent' English in five minutes (at his request). But Rupesh probably had the weirdest job: he used to extract eyeballs for a living (yes, really).

Then it was all about bringing a little bit of hope and cheer to the residents of the many blocks across the estate. We split up into pairs and took up Santa sacks full of the goody bags, then spread out to the various blocks, buzzing our way in and running up and down loads of stairs to reach letterboxes.

Our team of holiday elves delivered around 250 goody bags in 45min, putting a very large dent in the pile. Emma assured us her team could finish up and thanked us for a job well done.