Our GoodGym Barking & Dagenham team had a mission to complete last night and we were reinforced with FOUR new members!

The large rainwater containers at the Organic Community Garden opposite Becontree Station in Dagenham had become inaccessible, leaving the garden’s water supply out of reach during a crucial summer growing period.

Without access to this precious rainwater, the garden’s fruit trees, vegetables, and herbs risked going thirsty.

Together, we got to work.

New member Emma launched straight in pruning he trees around the the containers to gain access, whilst the rest of us pondered how to get access to the back of the container as tress were growing either side seemingly blocking access.

New GoodGymmer Peter didn't hold back. Spotting another route, jumping up on to the container and clambering over the top, slipping effortlessly down the back. Working together with Ryan, the pair made light work lifting the empty 1000 litre container ready for bricks to be slid underneath.

Who needs to do dead lifts in the gym?!

At the same time, new members Sharmin and Nilu worked with Steven and Emdad to empty the smaller shed and sort it's contents.

Sadly, an attempt had been made to steal the shed some time ago and the roof had been completely destroyed. Apparently not uncommon, the attempt to take the shed was thwarted by Breda's cunning move of bolting the floor the ground! However the contents has suffered from the weather.

Seven GoodGymmers. 45 minutes. 2 tasks completed.

Thanks to our team effort, the taps of the rainwater containers are accessible again, and the plants can be watered with fresh rainwater collected from earlier summer showers. The shed is empty, ready to be dismantled and relocated.

Tonight's session was just one part of an ongoing transformation. Over the summer, the garden is being prepared to host wellness sessions like yoga and mindfulness, as well as planting workshops, children’s activities, and community cooking events.

GoodGymmers in Barking & Dagenham have committed to helping with tasks such as pruning fruit trees, renovating the garden, moving and restoring the shed, and painting key features around the space.

Guided by Breda and Nassaba from Elevate Together, we worked safely and effectively with a relaxed, productive, and energising vibe surrounded by community spirit and the sounds of nature.

Volunteering in green spaces like this has huge benefits - physically, it keeps us active and strong; mentally, it reduces stress, boosts mood, and fosters connection.

GoodGym combines fitness with community action, which is why it’s such a powerful force in neighbourhoods across the UK. It brings people together, creates purpose, and supports those who need it most, especially vital in the face of ongoing financial cutbacks to local services.

Big thanks to our Area Activator, Steven, for organising everything so smoothly.

If you’re new to GoodGym, we’d love for you to join us. Our sessions are open, inclusive, and friendly, and out community partners need more helping hands.

Let’s keep making a difference, one step, one mission!

See you soon, Emdad (TaskForce member)

A simple satisfying side-mission this afternoon to take advantage of finishing work early on a Friday.

Ryan and Steven teamed up to litter pick on Abbey Road, Barking, IG11. The street cleaners do a great job keeping the area nice and clean, however litter hets stick between parked cars and the curbs which we removed.

As a bonus task, we also cleared up the bin store of a neighbour which fhey were delighted with!

Have a one off side-mission you'd like help with? Get in touch!

“That’s my kind of task, very satisfying”

“43 minutes flat, we’re done”

It was our first side mission Task. Terry from the Independent Living Agency put the call out that one of their members Jackie needed help.

Access to their back garden had become impossible with hugely over grown brambles and nettles.

Step up Harry, Steven and new joiner Alison – in 43 minutes flat the weeds and brambles were gone.

The Independent Living Agency is charity that provides a range of services and support for disabled people in Baring & Dagenham.

It was the perfect GoodGym task – we could see the end of the alley way and Jackie’s garden gate before we started, and all the brambles in front of it. You could see the progress, inch by inch, getting closer – until we broke through!

“This must be what it feels like when the tunnelers broke through at the end of the euro-tunnel”. Harry

Half way through, Alison spotted some beautiful flowers and curious looking orange fruit, revealed behind the brambles. Turned out it was a type of passion fruit which Alison boldly took a bite of – delicious!

“Thank you so much for clearing the awful mess and brambles. I truly appreciate this being done and am so very grateful. Jackie

We hope to work with the Independent Living Agency again soon!

How you doing Peter?

Very good. Nice and dry

Setting off from Barking Station, GoodGymmers took a gentle jog to Westbury Community Garden – gentle in the sense that Emdad needed us to slow down in places to they could capture some photos and videos of us. Eventualy crossing the rail tracks at the green bridge, we looped back to the garden - nestled under the Ripple Road flyover, next to the District Line.

I didn’t even know this footbridge exists… oh, this is the community garden, I must have driven past here a million times. (Peter, B&D GoodGymmer)

Part of the reason for setting up GoodGym B&D was to help locals discover more of their community, so it is always pleasing hearing comments like this.

Despite several hopeful pleas from the group, the rain did not “quickly pass". Not only that, as a newly created river serenely glided down Wedderburn Road, Harry emphatically confirmed “I’ve not seen this a much rain in Barking, and I’ve lived here for 6 years.”

Fortunately, the location of the table being built was under a tree with generous overhanging branches and a full leaf canopy, which diverted most of the rain away from GoodGymmers.

Despite the weather, there was a significant sense of satisfaction of completing a task that had been waiting months for completion. Generously gifted by local Abbey Ward Councillors, the heavy table-top needed all 6 pairs of hands to lift and glide it into position.

"I can't thank you enough, we couldn't have got this done without you" (Tim, project lead, Westbury Community Garden)

This is what GoodGym is all about – short bursts of volunteering power to get those practical and physical tasks complete that small community groups would otherwise struggle to get done. After only 30 minutes of sustained focus, problem solving and team work – all bolts on the table were secure.

The result? Local groups that use the garden - such as the Scouts, Salvation Army, faith groups, food growing clubs and more – as well as local residents now have a new focal point to gather round. There will also be somewhere to sit for the upcoming community BBQ.

More tasks are planned soon for this hidden gem – Tim has much to do – weeding the fruit tree beds, removing the dead trees, installing a shed, mulching and more. We can’t wait to come back, hopefully when the sun is shining!

See you soon, Steven