It was round 3 of GoodGym vs The Sutton Estate Community Centre last night as we continued to support Bolton Wanderers in the Community to look after this important local venue.

Despite just the one sign up (we are hopeful numbers will start to pick up as the weather starts to improve!) plenty of progress was made tidying up the site which is looking terrific!

We'll no doubt be back for round 4 / a rematch in the coming weeks

Our latest community mission took us to a communal garden in Bromley Cross that had become overgrown and was in need of some TLC.

Over the course of 90 minutes Laurence and Rowan set to work removing a fallen tree, cutting back brambles (which fought back hard!), clearing weeds and pruning some of the trees and bushes.

Almost immediately the garden was looking like it had done in its glory days!

A real highlight was being joined by Mariam, an 84-year-old resident who lives in the cottage opposite the garden. Mariam's husband had built the garden walls and taken great pride in the garden many years ago and it was a real pleasure helping bring it back to life. Mariam shared vivid stories of her life and the area’s history, speaking fondly of a time when her toilet was located in the garden, recalling how she would wear a miner’s helmet with a lamp if she needed to go out during the night. She also recounted her years working in the nearby mill and shared early memories of wartime in Bolton.

Mariam even joined in with the garden clearance and was delighted with the progress we'd made in such a short time.

Despite the freezing temperatures and full darkness, last night’s session was the brilliant example of what GoodGym is all about.

We were out supporting the Friends of Harwood & Longsight Park, helping to make the park safer for everyone by installing motorcycle prohibition signs on existing waymarker posts. Armed with screws, glue, and plenty of enthusiasm, we worked our way through the park, attaching the signs before moving on to the next location.

It was great to welcome Israt along for her very first GoodGym session, jumping straight in and getting stuck into the task. We were also joined by Jane Wilcock from the Friends of Longsight & Harwood Park, who was completing her second GoodGym session. Jane doubled up as our guide for the evening, sharing fascinating insights into the park’s history and wildlife as we moved between jobs.

The atmosphere was pretty special: owls hooting overhead, badgers rustling in the undergrowth, and the steady babble of Bradshaw Brook providing the soundtrack to our work. Even in the dark and cold, Longsight Park showed off its character and charm.

A big thanks to everyone who came along, and to the Friends of Harwood & Longsight Park for the warm welcome (even if the weather didn’t quite get the memo).

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.