Last night’s GoodGym session saw a small but effective team making a big difference in the heart of Bolton Town Centre.

Laurence, Rowan and TaskForce member Mumtaz spent 45 minutes carrying out a site tidy up around the front of the Infinity Centre at Bolton Lads & Girls Club. The session was confidently led by Mumtaz, who set the tone and kept things moving throughout.

The group focused on clearing litter and improving the overall appearance of the frontage. By the end of the session, three large bags of litter had been filled. Alongside the usual hundreds of wrappers, cans and bottles, the team also uncovered some more unusual finds, including a huge sign and a hub cap.

The result was a visibly cleaner, more welcoming space for the young people, staff and community members who use the Infinity Centre every day. A great example of a short, focused task delivering clear and tangible impact.

The cold, dark winter months are not the most appealing for being outdoors and active, but you just can't beat doing something that makes you feel good, supports the environment and still keeps you fit and healthy. ]

It was a solo mission this week as I headed out alone for a plogging session in Bolton Town Centre.

60 minutes and two big bags full of litter later, I felt so proud to have made a noticeable difference in one little corner of the town. Every single item of litter in that bin bag is one less piece of litter on the streets, and that feels just great!

It would be amazing to have some company next time so we can collect two, three or four times the amount of litter.

While it can be quite tricky to visualise, before the fact, the exact volume, weight or quantity of woodchip needed to cover a set area, one thing is certain: with eleven pairs of willing hands, it can be surprisingly quick to relocate it all, and rejuvenate a space.

The task at hand featured half a truckload of freshly chipped tree of unspecified type or genus, several members of the Friends of Harwood and Longsight Park and a couple of willing GoodGymers, huddled in the rain outside Harwood Library on a grim Monday lunchtime. The objective was to spruce up several of the bedding areas outside the library by spreading said chip evenly, giving it a visual uplift and helping to transform previously muddy and unsightly patches of ground.

Armed with a dazzling array of shovels, barrows, rakes, brushes and, in one case, rubber kitchen gloves, the team made light work and established an efficient system, quickly settling into a rhythm of work. As well as prompting several comments from passing members of the community ('Doesn't it look great? Much better!'), the premise of GoodGym itself was a hot topic of conversation - and the concept, and support, gratefully received by the Friends group.

A special thank you to the staff at Harwood Library, who opened the doors and offered a brew in the warm and dry surrounds, as well as chance to contribute to the tackling of a particularly-challenging 1000-piece jigsaw into the bargain. As a community warm space, the chance to step inside and receive not only respite from the weather but the warmth of some friendly conversation, it was a lovely reminder and illustration of the importance of local libraries and similar places; and all the more rewarding to help contribute to keeping the area looking it's best.

I (David) also loved attending my very first GoodGym session and will definitely be back for more!

Two of us braved Storm Goretti and returned for round two at the Sutton Estate Community Centre last night as we continued supporting Bolton Wanderers in the Community with a glow up of this well-used local hub.

Armed with equipment from the nearby Volunteer Vault, we set about clearing litter, pulling weeds, and tackling stubborn moss that had made itself far too comfortable around the building. It was one of those deeply satisfying tasks where small efforts quickly added up, and the exterior of the centre started to look noticeably brighter and more welcoming as we worked our way around.

Meanwhile, providing an unexpectedly joyful soundtrack to our efforts, a Morris Dancing class was in full swing inside the centre. As we scraped, swept, and weeded, the sound of bells and rhythmic stepping filtered out through the walls - proof that while we were tidying up the outside, the inside was very much alive with community spirit.

A short session, a big visual improvement, and a reminder of why these community spaces matter so much. We left knowing the centre now looks a little more loved from the outside.

Well done to Laurence for completing his first ever GoodGym Mission!

This week we visited Harwood & Longsight Park where we supported the brilliant Friends of Harwood & Longsight Park by installing a series of motorcycle prohibition signs to help keep the space safe and welcoming for everyone (apart from motorcyclists!)

Armed with screwdrivers, screws, glue and plenty of enthusiasm, we worked our way around the park, securely attaching signs to waymarker posts.

It was a perfect GoodGym combo: a practical task, a bit of teamwork, and a solid workout all rolled into one.

Well done to Jane for completing her first GoodGym Task.

A great evening of doing good and getting fit, with all the signs pointing to another brilliant session! ✅

Next week we are heading back to The Sutton Centre for round two of the Communitt Centre Glow-up - you can find out mor and sign up for that task here: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/round-2-glow-up-atthe-sutton-estate-community-centre