Penny Salman Shines at Barnet’s InspirationALL Awards! 🌟💪🌍

Yesterday at Barnet Town Hall, the borough came together to celebrate the incredible women and girls making a real impact in their communities. Among them was GoodGym Barnet’s very own Penny Salman, who was Highly Commended in the Inspiring Young Woman category! 🎉👏

Penny is a force of nature when it comes to sustainability, community action, and keeping fit while making a difference. As an active member of GoodGym Barnet, she combines exercise with community service—whether that’s clearing green spaces, helping local projects, or encouraging others to get involved.

But that’s not all! Penny is also the founder of Threads for a Penny, her Instagram platform (7.5k followers and growing!) where she promotes sustainable fashion and eco-friendly living. She’s a dedicated advocate for active travel and sits on two Barnet Council action groups, working to make the borough a better place for everyone. 🚴‍♀️🌱

On the day, three GoodGym Barnet members even cycled a 3-mile round trip to the awards—because what better way to show up for a sustainability champion?! They celebrated Penny’s well-deserved recognition with tea, cake, and great company, including the Mayor of Barnet and other local heroes. ☕🍰

A Call to Action! 🚀 In a world that often feels globally disconnected, the real change starts right on your doorstep. Penny is proof that by getting involved locally, whether through GoodGym, volunteering, or sustainability projects, you can make a tangible difference. We need more young people to step up, get active, and be part of shaping a healthier, greener, and more connected Barnet.

Want to know more? Check out all the winners and nominees from this incredible event 👉 Barnet InspirationALL 2024/25

https://www.engage.barnet.gov.uk/inspirationall-2024-25

And don’t forget to follow Penny’s journey on Instagram at @ThreadsForAPenny for all things sustainable fashion and community action! 💚♻️

#InspirationALL #BarnetAwards #GoodGym #SustainableLiving #ThreadsForAPenny #ActiveCommunity #GetInvolved

GoodGym Barnet Report: Helping at the Night Shelter in Mill Hill

Last night, Penny and Franky joined forces with other volunteers at the Barnet Night Shelter in Mill Hill, rolling up their sleeves to prepare food and support those in need.

With 8 volunteers and 12 guests, the evening was a fantastic opportunity to connect, give back, and make a tangible difference in the community. Penny summed it up perfectly:

“We prepared the hall, served the food, cleaned up, and washed the dishes. It was great fun and lovely to connect with others!”

The shelter provides warm meals, a safe space, and a friendly atmosphere for those facing homelessness, and there will be more opportunities to get involved!

If you’d like to be part of this rewarding experience, keep an eye on upcoming sessions—we’d love to see more GoodGymers getting involved!

A few GoodGym Barnet members decided to clean up their local Streets as part of the Goodgym January challenge. well done for all your efforts and thanks for pulling together to help hit our January targets. awesome effort!

GoodGym Barnet: Supporting Citizens Advice Barnet Through Fitness, Fun, and Community Spirit

This week, GoodGym Barnet came together for a festive group run with a purpose – supporting the Citizens Advice Bureau Barnet by delivering fundraising leaflets in East Finchley. Citizens Advice provides crucial support to underprivileged and vulnerable people, protecting their rights and ensuring they can access essential services. Many don’t realise that this vital organisation relies on grants, just like any other charity, to continue its work.

We were delighted to have two representatives from Citizens Advice join us at the start of our run outside our new meeting point,( thank you Louise The White Lion Pub. They explained why fundraising is so important and how our leaflet drop could make a real difference in reaching local residents. This was a repeat of our efforts last year, which resulted in a positive fundraising response—and we were more than happy to give it another go.

As we warmed up outside the pub, there was a great buzz as we shared our Christmas plans—everything from wild pond swims to binge-watching festive TV favourites. With everyone ready, we split into teams and set off into the cool December air, delivering over 300 leaflets through the streets of East Finchley.

While some of us ran in “Indian file” formation (always a great way to keep the energy up!), Dave and Ben led the walking team, ensuring every doorstep was reached. Leaflet drops always come with a few quirks—admiring local homes, cautiously listening for barking dogs, and navigating slippery garden paths. Safety first, as always!

The group smashed it, working swiftly and efficiently as two teams covered both sides of each street. Before long, we were back at The White Lion, where the walkers had already grabbed a well-earned drink. The pub was alive with atmosphere, and it was brilliant to unwind together over food and drinks. We were joined by some special guests, including Donald from Finchley Pastures and Alison and Warwick from Stephens House and Gardens—key community figures who, like us, care deeply about bringing people together.

This run was a fantastic way to round off a year of supporting great causes through fitness and teamwork. In 2024 alone, GoodGym Barnet has delivered foodbank donations, supported local charities, and helped countless community groups while building friendships, staying active, and having a lot of fun along the way.

Looking ahead to 2025, we hope to do even more to support local people and grow our community connections—but we need YOU to get involved. Whether you join us once or twice a month, you’ll have fun, get fit, and make a real difference. Bring a friend, drag along a colleague, or, as we like to joke, “blindfold and kidnap them”—whatever it takes, just come and join us in 2025!

We promise you’ll leave with a smile, a sense of accomplishment, and maybe a pint at the end. Here’s to another year of running, walking, cycling, and helping our community thrive.

goodGym member Penny SALMAN assisted in the arts and crafts Christmas market encouraging the reuse of materials for purposes of sustainability. It was a well attended event and Penny helped people create festive wreaths and hair scrunchies to use.