28 Goodgymers ran 3-5k to help Age UK Camden and The Listening Space!

Welcome along to newbie - Hiren whose first time it was last night!

In the news this week:

1. Come along to the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at the American International Church on Tuesday 30th April for all our hard work making beds for the homeless.
2. Team Track is back - Kat Kelly will be leading sessions at Regents Park Track at 6.30pm on Thursdays over Spring and Summer - go along!
3. Some of us are going to do Regents Park 10k on 2nd June - you should should join!

The Listening Space:

17 of us headed up to Kentish Town to help the wonderful Listening Space. This is a wonderful organisation that helps patients of the Caversham GPS Surgery integrate into the community through gardening, craft and other groups. A big part of this is using the back garden.

Our task continuing from two tasks was to wheelbarrow soil, mulch and mushroom compost from outside the centre through a small narrow corridor into the back garden which is then put in the right place.

Mmmmm cake

We split into teams having people shovelling, spreading and moving the good stuff to the needed areas. Over 30 minutes we finished off the mushroom compost and made a significant inroad in the other stuff.

Just after 8pm we were finished - nice! We ate cake, took a group photo and run home, which included a quick lap of the Crick!

Age UK Camden Report by Katie:

After a swift jog through bustling Kings Cross, we came to the secret garden that is looked after by Age UK, which seemed a lovely peaceful haven once we’d woven our way there amid the chaos of commuters!

There was just one task to be completed this evening: move two rather large piles of earth from the flower beds across the garden to form one new super pile! This was part of the preparation for new flowers beds, so a vital if not very varied challenge.

Working the graveyard shift

After some ‘ground-breaking’ (literally) research was conducted, we concluded that the best way to break up and move the hardened soil was a combo of spades, trowels, mallets and team work and so we got to it. We rotated tools and manoeuvred effectively with some added wheelbarrow sound effects to increase health and safety around reversing in tight spaces, and soon got most of it shifted. All the while having some lovely conversations, most of which, it has to be said revolved around food. It’s hungry work, moving the earth!

In an ‘earth-shattering’ finale, the whole team picked up the last of the soil in its own tarpaulin, revealing some interesting plant life that was pulled out of its plastic prison. Hurrah!

Job done, we had some good wholesome fun running around Granary Square to round off a lovely down to earth evening.

Next week we are off to help Antrim Allotments - sign up here!

PB out

27 GoodGymers ran 4-5km to help Age UK Camden and Cecil Sharp House!

Welcome along to Kate and David whose first time it was last night, lovely to have you along!

It was my 400th Good Deed last night and you kindly surprised me with lots of coming along to the run, party poppers and CAKE! Thank you very much, it's been a wonderful 5 years (nearly) with GoodGym and 3.5 years leading Camden - thanks for being you!

In the news this week:

1. If you are still thinking of coming to Sofia in May 2019 you can book accommodation, flights and race places by following the details here.
2. Well done to Abi who hit 100 Good Deeds at the weekend - amazing work in 11 months!
3. Sign up for CREOS Community Mission it's this SUNDAY and ends with a picnic!

Destruction Work for Age UK Camden:

We returned to Great Croft Resource Centre and Garden to continue on our task from February. This great space is managed by Age UK Camden, and is a "specialist centre" - caring for older people with complex care needs, particularly for those older people living with dementia. Also carter for Bangladeshi clients living with long term conditions and their carer. The Centre provides vital services to the most vulnerable, frail, isolated older adults, whose wellbeing is at "significant risk”, enabling pre-crisis intervention to avoid hospital admission.

13 of us ran 1km over to the Centre, once there we arrived and were met by four planters which we were tasked with destroying the old wood and emptying the soil into a big pile. We didn't have loads of tools but just enough spades, wheelbarrows, mallets, crowbars and more to shift the much needed soil that will feed the garden and break up the wood. Hanry and Martin particularly enjoyed getting involved the destruction part of the job - nice!

After 35 minutes we got so much done, finishing 80% of the work we were tasked to do, we'll hopefully be going back soon for a 3rd trip. We finished with a group picture and then ran to Bedford Square for a fitness session - including a fast lap, meet & retreat and conditioning + sprints.

Double Tasking, double fun!

Cecil Sharp House by Pritesh:

14 of us headed over to Cecil Sharp House, the home of English folk and dance. Sadly Susanah was unable to join us today but she had left instructions and tools for us.

The job was sweeping and weeding! We split the group in to sweepers, weeders and dust-panners and then spread out across the grounds to get to work. Ensuring that everyone stayed safe, especially the weeders with their 'vicious tools' I made sure that we covered all the areas and everyone was working hard!

After some great work by everyone and an extra job by the two Alex's to clear some turf we were good to pack up, say our goodbyes and head to Primrose Hill for some fitness.

After a quick vote a hill run (totally worth it for the view) was chose and we drove our arms and powered our legs up the hill. Getting our breath back we then headed back to base and arrived just as Paul's team did for a warm down.

Thanks for a lovely evening guys, lovely cake! Sign up here for next week when we'll be helping the Listening Space.

PB out