A fantastic turn out for our group run to Martin Primary School - 9 Goodgymmers and some new faces!

Joining us for the first time was Ahmad, who - amazingly! - has already done his Taskforce training. Also great to welcome Rosie and Gabrielle (Gabonnet), both on their first group session with us in Barnet, but not their first sessions. And so, our mighty pack warmed up outside the Phoenix, then set off for Martin Primary School, some walking with Rachel leading on the way there and Theodore on the way back, and the rest of us running.

There, met by John the groundskeeper, we took up shovels, rakes and barrows to help mulch the paths from the gate into the forest school. In highly organised teams, we set to refreshing the paths for learners old and young to be able to access the kitchen, orchard and parachute-canopied living classroom in the middle of the forest patch. With so many of us, the work was done in record time, so we jogged back to the Phoenix for a warm down and stretch, with some extra squats thrown in while we waited for the walkers to catch us up.

All round, a solid session, and mulch fun was had by all!

GoodGym Barnet: Running Beyond Waste!

A slightly drizzly Tuesday evening didn’t dampen our spirits as GoodGym Barnet gathered for what turned out to be a novel group run experience—one that showcased our flexibility, community spirit, commitment to sustainability and a social drink!

Our original plan to visit Northway Gardens didn’t quite come together, but fate had other ideas! We received an urgent call to action to support local businesses in East Finchley by distributing leaflets for an important Business Beyond Waste webinar, hosted by Barnet Council. This session aims to help small and medium-sized businesses reduce waste, improve sustainability, and even boost profitability—a perfect match for GoodGym’s mission of doing good while getting active.

A Call to Action – Right Up Our Street!

With 200 leaflets printed and ready to go, our base for the evening was the iconic Phoenix Cinema, where we gathered, welcomed new members—including Gabriel, who’s already diving into missions requiring a DBS check—and shared some of our most memorable GoodGym experiences. These included painting the Phoenix Cinema graffiti mural and an epic tale from York GoodGym, where a group rescued a drowning man from a canal!

After a quick warm-up, we split into two teams and hit East Finchley High Street—one group tackling one side, the other covering the opposite. Armed with leaflets and our usual enthusiasm, we introduced the initiative to local business owners, many of whom were genuinely interested in the project and in GoodGym itself. Some were even intrigued by how GoodGym could help their own community initiatives—proof that what we do opens doors (sometimes literally, sometimes via letterboxes!).

We also discovered a key update from Barnet Council—they’re changing the way commercial waste collections operate. For businesses, this makes workshops like Business Beyond Waste even more crucial in navigating new sustainability regulations.

Rebels with a Cause… and a Pint

Once we’d covered the High Street, the teams reunited and made their way toward another local hub—near the Windsor Castle pub. Given the evening’s theme of supporting local businesses, it seemed only right to pause for a well-earned drink, discussing the evening’s work, future sustainability projects, and, as always, swapping GoodGym stories.

As the night wound down, we jogged back to the Phoenix for a proper cool-down and headed off in our separate directions—feeling energised, accomplished, and happy to have supported a positive, sustainable initiative that benefits both the environment and our local businesses.

Can GoodGym Help More Sustainability Initiatives?

This was a great example of how GoodGym can be a powerful partner for local organisations looking to create lasting impact—whether it’s helping businesses go greener, supporting community clean-ups, or promoting active transport.

Got ideas on how we can support sustainability in Barnet? Let us know! Because whether it’s running, cycling, or walking, GoodGym is always ready to go the extra mile for our community.

After closing for a month to create a new screen and refurbish the existing screen, the Phoenix Cinema has been on a post-renovation drive to get bums on seats. This evening's group run was about helping this wonderful charity and local cultural centre spread the word locally about what's on.

With a well-attended screening of The Brutalist starting, the foyer cleared and our five Goodgymmers began warming up. Prompted by Rachel, we shared our most-used apps on our phones, which ranged from the George and Subham using work and chat apps to language learning. Some of us hardly use phones, which is a nice thought!

Then off we set with a box of leaflets into the post-storm damp, wind buoying us on a 2km loop around local houses, leapfrogging from door to door, squinting in the dark to check for NO JUNK MAIL stickers, and waving excitedly to anyone out on their driveway - all of whom said, "Oh, the Phoenix? Yes please!" at our offered leaflets. And we were done in record time, which meant we could decant to a nearby pub for a well-earned rest, chat and a cheeky half.

There was talk of a future social at the Phoenix to see a film - for which, hopefully, we'll get our kindly 10% discount. Watch this space about watching that space, maybe? More next week when we're visiting Northway Community Gardens to help keep the garden clean, tidy and healthy for everyone to enjoy.

Picture this: a mild winter’s evening in January, the kind where the air is crisp enough to make your cheeks pink but not so biting that your fingers refuse to function. It’s the sort of evening that whispers, “Stay indoors, put the kettle on, and ignore doing good with Goodgym! But, dear reader, this is exactly the sort of evening when six brave (or perhaps just mildly delusional) GoodGym volunteers laced up their trainers and set off from the Phoenix Cinema on our regular Tuesday run.

Let me pause to wax lyrical about the Phoenix Cinema. A recently refurbished little gem in the Barnet crown, it’s a piece of history where you can enjoy the cinematic delights of arthouse films and, let’s face it, a surprisingly new plush seat. If you haven’t been, consider this a polite nudge to visit. Use it or lose it—much like your fitness and, dare I say, sanity.

But I digress. Back to the task at hand. Our mission: to run 2 km to Shepherd Hill Gardens and assist the indefatigable Pat and Joan, two of Barnet’s many unsung heroes, in their noble quest to maintain the local green space. If you’ve ever wandered through a beautifully tended garden or park and thought, “Isn’t this lovely?” I assure you, it didn’t get that way by magic. Behind every pristine flowerbed and neatly stacked pile of sticks is someone like Pat or Joan—elderly volunteers who, with little fanfare, keep the green lungs of our city breathing.

We arrived earlier than expected, perhaps overzealous after a holiday season of indulgence, and were greeted with warm smiles and an armful of rakes. Our task was simple yet oddly satisfying: collect leaves, organize wood, and add to the composting area. It was humbling to see how grateful Pat and Joan were for our modest contribution. Just thirty minutes of our time, and their gratitude practically glowed. It reminded me how vital it is not only to support these heroes physically—lifting, raking, and hauling—but also morally. A little encouragement and camaraderie go a long way.

And then came the hot chocolate. Oh, the hot chocolate! Served with biscuits that defied all logic of biscuitry—crispy, crumbly, buttery perfection. I don’t know if it was the slightly drizzly air, the post-exertion euphoria, or just the fact that everything tastes better when you’ve earned it, but that hot chocolate was nothing short of divine. George, our vegan compatriot, tragically missed out on the biscuits and milky goodness, but he later made amends with a plant-based version back at the Phoenix.

For my part, I’d overdressed in a polyester fiasco of layers, so while George sipped his vegan cocoa, I found myself cooling down with ice cream. Because why not? Life’s little contradictions are what keep it interesting.

With the tools tidied and farewells exchanged, we headed back, our chatter a little louder, our spirits a little lighter. The takeaway from the evening, beyond the calories burned and the biscuits consumed, was this: we should all be a little more aware of the invisible army of people like Pat and Joan who give their time to make our communities greener, cleaner, and altogether more pleasant.

So, next time you’re strolling through a park or passing by a well-kept garden, spare a thought for the quiet heroes behind the scenes. Better yet, lend them a hand—it’s amazing what half an hour and a bit of moral support can do. And don’t forget to reward yourself with a hot chocolate. Or an ice cream. Or both. You’ve earned it. well done to our team give them a shout!

Beattie Theodore Lucinda George and our news recruit

Subham

We had a Goodgym Yoga special at a local Barnet House. In the ground of Avenue House Park. The house very generously gave us one of their big upstairs rooms to do yoga for the benefit of GoodGym and local people who support Stephens House and Gardens . The session was also broadcast on Zoom for those that could not attend the session. We all went for a coffee in the café after.