Absence rakes the heart grow fonder

13 Goodgymers helped their local community in Tower Hamlets
Anna Collier
Tom Gwillim
Lucinda
Ilana
Lobo
Kitty
Emma Jones
Rohan
Laura Williams
John Shirley
Ivo
Michael Lu
Alejandro
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Tower Hamlets

Monday 6th January

Credits
Laura Williams
Laura Williams

SESSION ORGANISER

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REPORT WRITER

PHOTOGRAPHER

John Shirley
John Shirley

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Report written by Laura Williams

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After a three-week Christmas break, it was great to be reunited with the team this evening.

In a last-minute change of plan, we were Limehouse-bound this evening, heading to the Tower Hamlets Community Transport building, to see Kamal from Ocean Youth Connexions.

The charity relocated to the Transport hub back in the summer, when they needed a new premises for admin and training.

The site is great – large, bright and well located - with a committed team at both organisations.

In order for the hub to be utilised to its fullest potential, the building and grounds need continual upkeep including cleaning, clearing, and decorating.

On arrival, equipment was meticulously laid out and a list of tasks prepared.

As GoodGymers arrived one by one, teams were formed and tasks allocated.

Several teams headed outside (no mean feat in last night’s temperatures) to prune trees, bag and bin branches; clear litter and leaves from the bus area.

Meanwhile another team of three were tasked with scraping and sanding the upstairs railings, in preparation for painting at another task later in the month.

A few pics and bundles of activity later, we heard the 8pm chime of the St Anne’s clock, prompting us to start the clean-up effort.

Sweeping up the last leaf and paint fleck and returning mops, brushes and rakes to their homes, we gathered in the depot for our group picture.

What a night!

Some big shout-outs tonight:

  • To Kamal, our task owner, who saved the day on our first Monday night task of the year.

  • To Michael, who joined us for his first GoodGym – brilliant effort, Michael! We hope to see you again soon.

  • And to our Lobo, who reached his 100th good deed this evening! Congratulations, Lobo! Well done for the huge amount you contribute across the borough. You're a big part of GoodGym Tower Hamlets.

Next week, we return to the Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park for our first visit of 2025!

Until then.


This task supported

Ocean Youth Connexions has been providing youth and community activities in Tower Hamlets since 2002. Activities range from youth club sessions, parent-and-children evenings, football training, Taekwando, homework clubs, cycling proficiency training and employment support workshops. The organisation also delivers various holiday programmes targeting families.

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Discuss this report
Ivo
Ivo (he/him)

Tue 7th Jan at 1:43pm

that was fun - perhaps my favourite paint scraping EVER!

Laura Williams

Tue 7th Jan at 5:08pm

Great to see you Ivo!

Join us on our next session

Tower Hamlets

The Felix Project Poplar: Saturday morning volunteering session
🗓Saturday 9:30am

Join these sociable Saturday sessions to get the weekend off to a fabulous start.

Jorge StevensonBeatrix Waddell
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