Before we arrived, three local members of the Kennistoun House and Willingham Close TRA were already busy working on their community garden - a green oasis tucked behind the back streets of Kentish Town

GoodGymers joined in dribs and drabs, until we'd tripled the number of people on-site! Welcome especially to Sophie, from the other side of the Borough, on her first ever good deed!

Caitlin joined us all the way from China, via a star turn on the BBC, while Alison's Dad's just been on telly in Canada! We were also joined by Imogen, sometimes known as Isobel, but only by stand-in task force members with a loose grasp of name recognition

Our task involved ripping out grass where it wasn't wanted - in the flower beds - removing weeds, and tidying the edge of the grass so it formed a nice border with the beds

After an hour's work,described as "transformative" by task owner Hilda, it only remained for us to tidy our tools and tickle a golden tummy!

In mid-August heat 10 wonderful GoodGymers caught a lovely evening in Kentish Town!

Cressfield Close is an unassuming cul-de-sac — houses and quiet — and yet hiding special community spaces!

There's the city farm — with goats and guinea pigs and sheep and more — and there's also the sheltered housing, which was our home for the evening :)

This lovely group — Alex, Alison, Claire (on their first Camden good deed – great to meet you!), Danny, Jackie, Jessica (on their first good deed — welcome!), John, Lydia, and Steve — were welcomed by residents Marie and Michael, and we got quickly to our evening work.

The communal garden is a bountiful space (fruits, vegetables, and flowers aplenty) and we were tasked with targeting the thistles and weeds that have sprung over the summer.

Armed with trowels and forks, this group donned gloves and made light work of everything — and all while connecting and sharing stories :)

Thank you, everyone! See you soon!!

Nine wonderful GoodGym folk make a difference in Camden Town!!

Tucked within Camden Town's bustle is an estate with a very special communal courtyard 👉 and this lovely group gifted 60 minutes to make this green space much healthier and nicer!

Emilie, Jackie, John, Steve, and I started out in Somers Town and we took a social conversation-filled run up and over to Camden 👉 where we met Christy (on their first good deed – a huge welcome!), Imogen, Michael, and Vic who had all made their own journeys by bike and foot :)

Welcomed by Dan, Vic, and other residents, this special team split into a bundle of good-deeding efficiency:

❤️ We targeted the raised decking 👉 pulling weeds, grabbing fallen leaves, and sweeping everything into a pristine shine!

❤️ We scraped the weed-filled gaps between the paving slabs 👉 leaving the courtyard a shining advert for block paving!

❤️ We shaped the larger bushes 👉 cutting back the dead wood, gifting freedom to the buds yet to come!

And over everything else, last night felt like a community coming together 👉 our lovely group and four local residents 👉 it was a special hour :)

Here's to next time!

7 wonderful GoodGym folk made light work of a balcony clear-out!

Tottenham Court Road hummed its usual bustle as our group – of Helen, Jackie, Lydia, Siobhan, and Steve – climbed through the American International Church's magnificent doors.

We were there to meet the AIC's brilliant community engagement aficionado – and fellow GoodGymer – Brooke, who had a perfectly-shaped task for GoodGym!

The balcony is suspended above the church hall and it's filled with the usual – pews, books, community notices – as well as the less usual – an eclectic assortment of chairs, random poles, fun-looking toys, and more!

We were there to move the excess items down the three flights to the basement, across the church's underbelly, and out to the side entrance ready for collection and recycling!

Cue this team kicking into the most efficient (and happy) human chain I've ever witnessed – they picked, carried, passed, and repeated – onlookers marveled, removal companies trembled, and the loot was moved and tidily organised in 45 swift minutes!

Thank you so much, everyone! Here's to next time!