Tonight 1st Kingston Hill Scouts came to the rescue after our original task was cancelled and were prepared and ready with a list of jobs fit for a cleaning badge.

The runners started at the Quaker Centre where we were joined by Ana on her first group run. After a warm up we set off on a 2km run which helped keep us warm on a chilly evening.

Ken, Claire, Emma, Julie and Ana started off Beavering away polishing the floor. The polish was going down at super quick speed but needed to make sure it was uniform. Having moved scarves etc to the door mat we embarked the hallway too making sure we polished our way out to the back door.

Marcos meanwhile was doing some polishing of a different kind giving the windows a quick clean.

Jana gave the cloak room and shoe cubby holes a good clean ready for morning nursery whilst in the kitchen Emily, Rachel and Ellie cleaned the kitchen cupboards and and Dave had a good Explore(r) behind the fridge to clear out the debris.

Jo was Scouting around for another task and asked Claire to scrape the stickers off a cupboard.

After bit of Networking with Jo we promised will be back to visit in March to help with putting up a flat pack building.

Then it was time for the running pack to head on their 3km run back to base.

Lots of fiery fun at the scout hut this morning! Our main mission was to clear an area that had been the collection point for a load of garden waste, tree branches, old wood, logs, etc. We set to it with a few scouts and scout-parent volunteers to help us along the way. We lifted & shifted all the material to the bonfire patch at the end of the plot and then the scout leaders did what they do best... had a big old fire. Very satisfying to see so much change over the course of a couple of hours and the scouts provided some most welcome sausage and bacon sarnies for lunch when the work was done. Yum.

I learned the name of a new tool today - a mattock - which proved a godsend for today’s task!

1st Kingston Hill Scouts called us in again, this time to dig a 1ft deep trench to lay electricity cables from the main building out to a shed in the garden.

The task was quite a workout for the four GoodGymers as we got stuck in, lifting the mattocks high to break up the soil and then trowel it out, following the red line which had been sprayed on the ground for us to follow. It was hot, hard work, for over two hours, but we were well looked after by the scout leaders who served us squash and chocolate hobnobs!

Hope our efforts will soon enable the pack to install some outdoor lights and have somewhere more convenient to charge all their tools.

GoodGym were back at 1KH Scout group today to carry on the work we started a few weeks ago. The plan was to continue building some raised beds for the scouts to use for planting veg, fruit and flowers.

5 GoodGymers got stuck in to the task, donning gloves and gathering shovels, trowels and pick-axes. The process involved sinking some long concrete slabs into the ground to create the beds. This meant lots of measuring, digging, troweling, re-measuring, re-digging, lifting, etc. A proper workout of a task but so good to do some heavy work and see the results after our efforts.

We were kept hydrated by some helpful cub & scout volunteers and once the beds were built we all tucked in to a proper scouting lunch of bacon & sausage sandwiches and a huge slab of cake. All very well deserved of course!

Great to have you over from Richmond, Rosie, and a very fond farewell to Jorge on his final GoodGym before he moves over to Paris. Bon voyage Jorge, you will be missed!

What a scorcher! The second hottest day of the year was spent at 1st Kingston Hill Scout Group, helping them with some ground works and maintenance. GoodGym were assigned two of the many tasks that were being carried out on the day - to erect a shed and to build some raised beds.

We had 6 energetic volunteers for the tasks in hand. Will and Kate (no, not those ones!) helped Scout Leader Skip put together the shed whilst Petra, Rachel, Mel & Dave set to it with measuring out and digging trenches for the raised beds.

It always amazes me how much can be achieved in a couple of hours when you have enthusiastic and productive helpers. The shed flew up in a flash and we managed to build the majority of two raised beds... no mean feat with the harsh heat and heavy work. What a team!

Great to have you for your first mission, Kate & Will. Hope to see you again!

It was my first time joining a mission and I really enjoyed it for a few reasons, first to be outdoors, second for meeting new people and most importantly, to help with such a good cause as the Scouts is a wonderful initiative and the place did look great after the clean up! Thank you all for organising and helping on the day! I will definitely join again!