You know you’ve done a quintessentially impactful GoodGym good deed when you return home with paint on your trainers. Four heroes devoted two hours and some awesome brushing/rollering skills to adding a cheerful blue colour to a load of previously dull fence panels bordering the playground at Elfrida Primary School in Bellingham. The wood will need a second coat but already the fenced area – where Key Stage 2 children spend their playtime and eat lunch outdoors in fine weather – is looking more classy (pun intended!) and well kept.

Marta got to try out a cool battery-powered paint stirring gadget, Julian was champion of wiping down panels to prepare a clean surface for the paint, Linda aced cardboard foraging and ripping to provide protection for the ground from drips, and Ria pioneered a neat method of brushing in the gaps between uprights to give a uniform (ditto!) finish.

This task was postponed in July due to rain storms so extra credit to the team members for coming together during the summer holidays, some from as far as Hilly Fields in Lewisham. Top grades for both effort and achievement everyone!