Great to be back helping the residents of Nightingale Estate and well done everyone for braving the cold to join us!

We split in two groups this morning, one group helping to dig up, clear and cut back a communal garden patch which had been neglected. In no time the area was clear and ready for planting 🙌

The second group headed to the Estate's parklet to clear leaves and seperate it from the litter. When I caught up with them they were dragging an industrial size bag full leaves! Smashing it 🔥

Welcome Jess who was on her second good deed of her first goodgym day 👏

And great to meet Goodgymers from different boroughs joining us for this Funday Sunday Task.

After a three-week Christmas break, it was great to be reunited with the team this evening.

In a last-minute change of plan, we were Limehouse-bound this evening, heading to the Tower Hamlets Community Transport building, to see Kamal from Ocean Youth Connexions.

The charity relocated to the Transport hub back in the summer, when they needed a new premises for admin and training.

The site is great – large, bright and well located - with a committed team at both organisations.

In order for the hub to be utilised to its fullest potential, the building and grounds need continual upkeep including cleaning, clearing, and decorating.

On arrival, equipment was meticulously laid out and a list of tasks prepared.

As GoodGymers arrived one by one, teams were formed and tasks allocated.

Several teams headed outside (no mean feat in last night’s temperatures) to prune trees, bag and bin branches; clear litter and leaves from the bus area.

Meanwhile another team of three were tasked with scraping and sanding the upstairs railings, in preparation for painting at another task later in the month.

A few pics and bundles of activity later, we heard the 8pm chime of the St Anne’s clock, prompting us to start the clean-up effort.

Sweeping up the last leaf and paint fleck and returning mops, brushes and rakes to their homes, we gathered in the depot for our group picture.

What a night!

Some big shout-outs tonight:

• To Kamal, our task owner, who saved the day on our first Monday night task of the year.

• To Michael, who joined us for his first GoodGym – brilliant effort, Michael! We hope to see you again soon.

• And to our Lobo, who reached his 100th good deed this evening! Congratulations, Lobo! Well done for the huge amount you contribute across the borough. You're a big part of GoodGym Tower Hamlets.

Next week, we return to the Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park for our first visit of 2025!

Until then.

Despite the biting cold before the snow hit yesterday, 20 hardy GoodGymers and friends braved the elements for a Bonus Saturday Litter Pick in and around Mile End Park. Armed with litter pickers, bags, hoops, and a whole lot of enthusiasm, we were determined to make a visible impact.

After gathering at the Art Pavilion, we split into smaller groups to cover more ground. One team worked their way over Mile End Bridge, while others tackled the towpath. This helped us to sweep through a large section of the park, ensuring we reached some of the more littered areas!

We were lucky to have John from Friends of Mile End Park join us, bringing along Fendi, his enthusiastic little dog! John provided all the necessary kit and shared insights about the park’s ongoing upkeep. He explained that Friends of Mile End Park run a monthly litter pick, with the next one happening next week - but any extra help in between is always welcomed, as it’s a well-used park in constant need of care.

Over the course of the afternoon, we collected an impressive 34 bags of rubbish, including some rather bizarre finds - a large plastic grasshopper and a broken pack of top trumps among them! It was a fantastic team effort, with people joining in as we went along.

With frozen fingers and a well-earned sense of satisfaction, we wrapped up the session and a good group of us headed to The Star of Bethnal Green, where we thawed out with a well-deserved celebratory drink!

A huge thank you to everyone who took part - whether you’re a seasoned GoodGymer or a first-time volunteer, your efforts made a real difference and it was a great way to spend my birthday. See you next time!! 🎂🥳

Emma