After a bit of a slow start due to our usual access route to the Foodbank being unavailable, Alexander, Grace and Nazir got straight to work sweeping the whole of the FoodBank's large warehouse floor while Louise started mopping and vacuuming. Before long the whole floor was done, and the colour of the water tipped away suggested we had left the site significantly cleaner!

We welcomed not one, not two, but three new GoodGymers this evening. Well done to DeborahGraceand Naziron your first GoodGym task! And to Alexanderas ever for all your hard work.

We took our usual route down Balkerne Hill to the retail park and gathered two large bags full of litter. We managed around an hour before it got too dark - we need head torches at the ready from now on!

Thanks all and hopefully see you next time :)

5 GoodGymers met at the Mercury Theatre and headed down the hill to Middleborough (no S, despite autocorrect's best attempts) to meet Pam and some gardening tools.

The garden around the old drinking fountain had become overgrown, the paving area with many slip hazards and a fair bit of litter around the place.

We quickly set to work pulling weeds, trimming plants, removing moss from the paving, picking up litter and moving dead leaves (but not too many - a friendly passerby stopped to remind us that hedgehogs love the fallen leaves). It was amazing how quickly the area looked much smarter.

We then attempted a bit of night time photography before heading up the hill to return the tools to Pam's house.

Lovely evening with you all, I thought it was fun despite what Ray's facial expression may suggest....

Three GoodGymers returned to Walnut Tree House to help weed an outside area used by the elderly residents for socialising. We hope they enjoy their cup of tea there this afternoon!

3 GoodGymers set out on a damp evening to make sure the FoodBank stays clean and hygienic to care for those in need across Colchester.

It felt like a mammoth task to clean such a big floor space between the 3 of us but everyone set to work straight away sweeping the floor and mopped (almost) all of it. Alexander did a great job cleaning up the office area and Ray made sure we didn't leave until all was clean in the area where customer come in.

Look out for another opportunity to help out the foodbank on the first Tuesday of each month for the rest of this year - their funds are stretched so they really rely on volunteer support.