A wonderful 13 GoodGymers caught some social connection AND made a real difference in Camden!

While most Londoners hurried for the dry and the inside some Londoners (many dressed in red t shirts) were catching a different kind of Wednesday evening...

...and it started in Somers Town where Elisa (on their first good deed — welcome!), Jacob, Ivo, and Steve struck up a run and a conversation through evening bustle towards the American International Church...

...where they were met by not a few but many many many friendly faces 👉 including Ana, Ellen, and Fanny (all on their first good deeds — welcome!), and Alison, Caitlin, Ilana, Lydia, and Sarah!

We were on Tottenham Court Road to get everything ready for the AIC's weekly winter shelter 👉 cue shifting boxes, moving camp beds, finding duvets and sheets and covers, building tables, finding matching knives and forks, arranging toiletries, and more!

Thank you so much, everyone! Last night felt really joyful!

See you soon!

12 GoodGymers dodged the rain and helped a Central London winter shelter!

Our friendly group visit the American International Church every winter to help out at their wonderfully important winter shelter.

Coordinated by C4WS, homeless people can get access to at least a month of shelter and support. Warm, safe, and supportive spaces.

And last night was our first trip back this season.

This brilliant group — of Caitlin, Chandrima (on their first good deed — welcome!!), Danny, Emily, Helen, Imogen, Jacqui, John, Loz, Sarah, and Steve — made a healthy difference in the swiftest time.

Beds upon beds were dressed and made, a dining room was brought to life, and gifted toiletries were set out ready for using.

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

7 GoodGymers dodged the rain – captured the leaves – and sewed the seeds!!

Six pm on Wednesday was a very wet six pm. It pelted and plummeted and we considered – for a fleeting moment – whether to cancel our evening!

But we very happily proceeded and three of us – Gemma (on their first good deed – welcome!!), John, and I – took a conversation-filled run through (a drying...) Camden Town, where (en route) Sarah called out and made our three into a merry four.

Arriving at Cecil Sharp House, we were met by Ana (also on their first good deed – welcome!!), Siobhan, Steve, and our host Susannah.

And we quickly got to it.

Ana, John, and Sarah demonstrated the quickest way to build a gazebo, before planting hundreds of seeds into fertile pots – I am looking forward to seeing what grows!

Meanwhile, Gemma, Siobhan, and Steve grabbed rakes, brooms, and gloves, and they turned a leaf-strewn garden into picture perfect site of lawn and path!

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

10 wonderful GoodGym folk made a green-fingered difference in Kentish Town!

Five of us – Alex, Danny, John, Matt, and Steve – started out from Somers Town yesterday evening.

Matt ran from Battersea Park – John sprinted from Euston Station – Danny ran down from Kentish Town – and Steve wove his usual route up from Bloomsbury!

Together we followed a steady route towards Willingham Terrace (situated in a very hot Kentish Town) and met five others – Alison, Caitlin, Helen, Lydia, and Sarah – each of whom made their own journeys (on foot and bike) to our good-deeding venue.

Hilda has lived on this estate for decades and she's transformed the green spaces – there's a bountiful allotment that was once a verge – and it's all thanks to Hilda's perseverance and creativity.

Yesterday was our second visit and we were focused once again on the communal square's hedgerow.

Weeds were pulled – grass edges were established – and four great big bags of cuttings were collected and disposed.

The difference was huge – and all under an overbearing July sun!

Thank you, everyone!! See you next time!!

The London Permaculture Festival is an annual celebration of natural ecosystems, and it's being hosted at Camden's Cecil Sharp House this Sunday!

Which was why our wonderful group – of Alex, Dani, John, Lydia, Nivia, Sarah, Siobhan, and Steve – assembled for an hour of nature-based volunteering!

Our task was to make sure Cecil Sharp's gardens were crisp and tidy, and ready for London's permaculture devotees!

We started amidst a flurry of brooms, rakes, and conversation – under a July sun we swept the paths and combed the lawn – and we filled bag upon bag in short order!

We then turned our attention – en masse – to the entrance gates.

John, Lydia, Sarah, and Siobhan tackled the main pathway – and they made quick thrift of weeds and leaves – leaving things looking perfectly wonderful!

Dani and Nivia focused their efforts on an area under a large tree – and they cleared the debris (and weeds and leaves!) – leaving an inviting shade spot!

And Alex and Steve helped our brilliant host (Susannah) move a chunk of festival fare down to the basement storage!

We finished by piling up bag (upon bag upon bag) of green waste into the van, before meandering off into a gentle evening :)

Thank you, everyone!!