It was a dark and chilly evening but that never stops GoodGym Kingston from showing up and getting the job done. Tonight's task we were at Elm Road playground with the task of digging/scraping/sweeping the borders of all weeds and mulch that has accumulated over the years.

As we were readying ourselves for the task we were joined by a local Community Support Officer from the Met Police - she had heard about our work in the area and had come to connect and give a helping hand. No arrests were made but the weeds were guilty of loitering and needed to be removed from the area.

Accompanied by a few local residents, we all donned head-torches and gloves, grabbed our tools of choice and set to it. The hour flew by and we had soon filled several bin bags full of the offending weeds and thick mulch. Amazing to see the difference our efforts made. Mission accomplished.

Throughout today 9 goodgymers from Kingston and several others areas in this beautiful country of ours , took time out to buy and drop off items for the food bank.

We headed over to Full Cycle for our group session tonight, where a big list of jobs was waiting for us on the whiteboard.

Spllitting into pairs we tacklrd a variety of tasks: - Helping with recycling cardboard, old tyres, inner tubes, and scrap metal. - Reorganising bikes and sorting numerous bike parts, including stems, handlebars, and pedals.

As we reached the bottom of the list we left behind plenty of tidy space where chaos once reigned. Then finished up with taking a moment to celebrate an amazing achievement - Rachel completing 500 good deeds! What an inspiration - well done!

This is always a favourite task — and with plenty of sign-ups, it’s clear why! We needed all hands on deck to blitz the Hawker Centre’s soft play area and get it sparkling clean for the local families who use it so much.

We split into three teams to tackle different areas:

• Claire’s team took on the mighty ball pit — emptying it out and reaching every nook and cranny to make sure it was dust - and plaster-free.

• Julie’s group rolled up their sleeves to clean chairs, tables, high chairs and the outer spaces, including the multi-sensory room.

• Emma’s crew scaled the soft play structure, climbing through tunnels and down slides to sanitise all the high-touch areas with anti-bac spray.

This is a much-loved community space — many of us at the task tonight have fond memories of bringing our own children here — so it felt extra special to give something back. Families and little ones will now be able to enjoy a cleaner, safer, and brighter environment to play in.

Supporting This Girl Can

Tonight’s task also shone a light on Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign — an inspiring initiative that encourages women to be active in ways that work for them, no matter their age, background or ability.

This year, This Girl Can is going bigger and bolder, and we’re proud that GoodGym is part of the movement. Together, we’re raising awareness and taking real steps towards making outdoor exercise safer and more welcoming for women.

We showed our support by writing empowering messages on a large banner, to champion the cause!

And of course… we had the run!

In true GoodGym spirit, our evening wouldn’t be complete without some running! We clocked up around 3km there and back to the Quaker Centre, enjoying some great company along the way.

A fantastic task, a great cause, and brilliant teamwork — GoodGym Kingston at its best!