On a chilly February evening eight GoodGymmers gathered at one of our frequent mission venues - The Brighton Community Kitchen. Four of us jogged from our meeting place at the Old Steine, whilst others met us there - all of us ready for some cleaning and tidying action!

As usual our host Jo had prepped and assigned us with our tasks including deep cleaning the ovens, washing down the chairs, walls and skirting boards - and of course the popular task of organising the cupboards and cooking equipment!

With a nostalgic 00s pop soundtrack to keep us motivated, we smashed through our jobs and the kitchen was looking fresh and clean ready for a busy half-term week of cooking classes for kids.

WHAT's ON NEXT at GoodGym Brighton?
Plenty to amuse you to join us soon.

EVERYBODY is welcome!

Goodgym joined over 40 other voluteers last Sunday on a cold drizzly day to collect litter from the beach. The session was organised by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) 54kg of marine litter was collected, there were great vibes for all, and we were warmed by complimentary delicious @birdandblendtea tea. As well as this, prizes were handed out for the most litter collected and for the most unusual item collected. Nicola and her litter partner Amanda won some lovely prizes for half a coconut shell! These sessions are organised every month so watch out for others.

At our arrival at Cardinal Newman School yesterday, Brighton GoodGymers were welcomed by the lovely duty manager Pedro and a giant infographic tower showing 5 ways to wellbeing. The 5 ways to wellbeing are a set of actions that can help students to improve mental health and wellbeing:

• Connect: Reach out to others, such as by writing a letter, phone call, or starting a conversation
• Learn: Take on a new hobby, learn a skill, or read about something interesting
• Be active: Go for a walk, bike ride, or dance
• Take notice: Be aware of your surroundings and notice the beauty, the unusual, and the funny
• Give: Thank someone, offer your time, or help someone in need

Give me a Five, GoodGymers! We clicked all the boxes at our GoodGym group community mission yesterday evening!

• All together, (Connect 😊)
• We run 8km to the school (Be active), and
• We sparkle our new DIY skills, (Learn), while
• We enjoyed the magnificence of this big school environment (Take notice), and
• We helped them to clean the school and make it inviting for pupils and staff by dusting off the banister of the huge spiral staircase in great detail (really), and by re-whitening some walls with joyful painting action. (Give).

After any GoodGym session, I always feel better, don’t you?

The Cardinal Newman School offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including sports, STEM clubs, and trips. Last time here, it was for the Running Out of Time – Save the Planet relay. I am amazed by all what is going on here, thanks to the great and responsible enthusiasm of the school staff and the wiliness of the young people to feel and make a difference!

For this week dedicated to children's menthal health, GoodGym Brighton is proud to keep helping this school path in encouraging children and young people to embrace self-awareness and explore what it means for them. 'Know Yourself, Grow Yourself'

WHAT's ON NEXT at GoodGym Brighton?
Plenty to amuse you to join us soon.

EVERYBODY is welcome!

We returned to the Fitzherbert Community Hub to help our friends from the Real Junk Food Project with some essential cleaning and tidy up work of this popular venue for local communities.

It was a special evening for GoodGym Brighton as we were invited by ITV Meridiam to shine our best smile and speech in front of a camera – we were all stars yesterday evening!

What do you gain from your GoodGym volunteering session?, … and what does motivate you to stay fit more than doing traditional exercise?

Stefania:

"As an Area Activator of GoodGym Brighton Community, I am enthused by the charity mission of creating happier, healthier and better connected communities by getting Brighton & Hove moving. Personally, I have been active in sports for as long as I can remember. Sports have been always a source of inspiration in my life, taken me through the good and the challenging times, allowed me to meet people, develop friendships and transferable skills.

I am a strong believer of the significant role that both physical activities and volunteering can play in everybody’s confidence development, and I feel empowered to share my values and develop empathy, not only for local community causes but the wider sport for development agenda. In my role, I most enjoy empowering my passions in other enthusiastic GoodGym-ers for a circular good while keep being active sustainably.

Brighton GoodGym-ers keep surprising all our beneficiaries (and me) with our unconditional good heart, always prepared to do everything – and get our hands dirty! Keep moving together fuels our goodwill and fulfils us with incredible satisfaction. Burning calories (or stress 😉) while moving, just help – that’s for sure!"

Research has shown that participating in GoodGym has a positive effect on both GoodGymers and organisations that we support each week with our GoodGym group runs and community missions. GoodGym increases wellbeing and reduces mental distress, and older people who GoodGym supports are less lonely and happier.

Yesterday, we run a relatively short distance from our meeting point in Brighton, in Victoria Gardens, led by our star Rosie, who is not only a keen ambassador of GoodGym but also a GoodGym Fitness Run leader, like Pippa and Michael who are all contributing to make GoodGym thrive in Brighton Area with the help of a wonderful Task Force.

Thanks Real Junk Food Project for hosting us! We most enjoy coming to yours. Good luck with the BRAVO Awards! It’s already a success to be nominated for five awards, including sustainability - prioritising the planet and people as much as profit. Bravo! Voting in ON from 4th February!

WHAT's ON NEXT at GoodGym Brighton?
Plenty to amuse you to join us soon.

EVERYBODY is welcome!