Great to see a big turn out of GoodGymers tonight. 12 happy volunteers met on the roof of Nicolsons Centre, a part of Maidenhead most of us had never been before. Task owner Donna led us from the back entrance to what used to be a nightclub, Smokeys. No disco lights or bars anymore, just a stripped out large space housing all kinds of materials from fabric to paints, from stationery to sewing machines! 

Our task was to organise things as best as we could. We made good progress and grouped the material lying in two rooms of Smokeys into categories such as Paints, Arts & crafts, Stationery, Fabric, Leather, Sewing, Gardening, Jars and more. From here, they will slowly be taken down to the Green Skills library to be upcycled. 

We were so efficient that there was even time for some fun with a block of stone, a chisel and hammer! Another productive, social evening and a thankful task owner. 

On Guy Fawkes Night, Goodgym spun their own legend......

Once upon a time, there was a school whose drop-off and pick-up zone had become a battleground of hangry children and weary parents. The hedges loomed and the bushes bulged into the path, and every morning felt like a game of dodge-the-human.

But one parent had had enough. She rallied her merry band of GoodGymmers to tame the wild greenery and restore peace to the school run. The school gave a nod, and on a mild November Wednesday with fireworks booming all around, 13 heroes answered the call to loppers.

Among them, two new champions emerged: [Lucy] and [Julie], who dove straight in. In just thirty minutes, the path was cleared, the choppings packed away, and the gate area widened to welcome all with ease.

Of course, the obligatory photo op was had, and then, like folklore figures fading into the mist, the GoodGymmers slipped back into the night, knowing the school run was once again a smooth and noble quest.

(PS thank you Lucy for the report title!)

A dozen GoodGymmers, a few chairs to be mended, and some pumpkins that didn't need juggling but were juggled anyway. That's pretty much how this Wednesday's session went.

In between, we had enough time to catch up. Some tried their hand at the coffee machine, some others were brave enough to try the output.

Fixing the chairs is a fiddly task but again the GG spirit won out.

The best part, we saved the community center £1700 in just an hour by mending those chairs. Task owner Jack can sleep easier tonight, though I hope it's not on those chairs!

7 Goodgymmers were very chip-er at todays task of spreading wood chip in the forest area at St Marys pre school

Tony was a magnificent sight standing atop of a pile of wood chip with his fish and chips in hand- it provided much nourishment for the task at hand

An hour in and you wooden believe the difference we made in the area. The weeds and dirt were covered over with a fresh batch of wood chip, making for a mu(l)ch more usable space for the school

The end of the task loomed and we said goodbye to our task owner Michelle and made our way homes