What an amazing amount of work our team of 5 put in today to make the International Older Person’s Day Party a huge success! From 10.00 the team were on hand to set up tables and chairs, lay the tables with cloths and start preparing the food. As the guests arrived we were then detailed to serve teas and coffees and make sure everyone felt welcome. Gill was asked to give a short talk about or social missions. Then it was on to serving the sandwiches and savouries, helping with the bar and serving the most important part - scones with lashing of clotted cream and lots of tasty cakes. While the entertainment took place we helped to keep people topped up and started on clearing plates. One or two of us may even had joined in the dancing. As the afternoon drew to a close we all pitched in to clear the plates and cups and clear up the tables and chairs. It was 5 hour shift but we all enjoyed being part of such a joyous occasion.

Well we were actually spreading a lot of sandwiches 🥪 ,which will hopefully help with the happiness tomorrow. 4 of us had volunteered to help in the preparations for tomorrow’s afternoon tea for senior members of the community. And once we got going we had quite a production line going. While Gill prepared the tuna onion and mayo filling, Lucie sliced the cucumbers Abdullah and Abdulrahman got just spreading butter onto the never ending supply of sliced bread. Then it was down to Lucie and Gill to start spreading the fillings into the sandwiches - egg mayo and cucumber for Lucie and the tuna for Gill. Then as they got half way through the mountain of bread it was on to coronation chicken, and egg and tomato. We must have made getting on for 400 sandwiches - which should be just enough for afternoon tea for the 100 or so guests tomorrow. And only Adulrahman could turn what could have been a boring task into a fun filled morning of competitive spreading!
We finished in record time and Vera and Ian the organisers were once again amazed and really appreciative of the help that GoodGym provided. Well done team - you really put in the time to spread a lot of GoodGym good cheer today.

Apologies to anyone who loves the folk song Scarborough Fair, and to Simon and Garfunkle

Are you going to Hockwell Job Fair ?
Goodgymers gave up their free time.
We gave our help to those who lived near there.
Registered and helped them to sign.

Ali and Abdo had arrived their first.
Goodgymers giving lots of time.
Without no fuss they got straight to work,
Tables organised in straight lines.

Gill and Musa arrived with Omar.
Goodgymers are rays of sunshine,
They helped set up - their work was 5 star.
Every thing was ready in time.

People came to Hockwell Job Fair.
And we signed them up in the line.
Then folded tables, stacking the chairs.
Hall was tidied in record time.

David and Omar arrived at the Hockwell Ring Community Centre to help set up this family-fun fair bringing the community together.

We put up gazebos, hung up bunting, set up tables and chairs, arranged the cafe, unloaded cars and did a quick litterpick outside.

With everything ready for the party to start, we set off on our bikes back into town on a fast ride as we raced an advancing rain shower!

Hosting at the Community Jobs Fairs has become a regular occurrence for GoodGym and it was good to have team of experienced job fairs hosts, joined by Emmanuel for his first one. The tasks involved welcoming clients and supporting them with the registration process. Emmanuel soon got the hang of the electronic registrations and along with Abdo, Omar and Gill, they were able to sit and support people filling in the online form. Ali kept us on our toes, making sure we had the correct form on the iPads and also keeping a record of the number of people coming in. It was a good opportunity to network with some of the employers as well as to make the visitors feel welcome and at ease. Gill also took the opportunity to liaise with groups such as You Turn Futures, who may wish to sign post some of the people they support to join GoodGym who would like to do some active volunteering. Once again Matt and Shannon were really appreciative of our support, and now know that, as old hands, they can rely on us to be the hosts with the most.

We have done such a wonderful task to help Easter celebrations for aome of the older folk with wonderful people. We hope you've had a wonderful Easter those who celebrated . Happy Easter 🐰 🐣 😀