Eight GoodGymers braved the winter chill to lend a helping hand sprucing up the space at Ocean Youth on Saturday afternoon, with the wonderful Kamal leading us. As we arrived, we were able to admire our hard work from last weeks task in the daylight (a rare occurence this time of year)!

Dividing into three teams, we got to work:

1️⃣ The Branch Managers – Taking on the fearsome overgrown bushes and vines creeping in from the churchyard, Michael, Ilana and Kitty fearlessly hacked, snipped, and tamed the encroaching wilderness. There were moments when it seemed the greenery might fight back, but with teamwork and determination, they emerged victorious (cc the impressive before/after pics)!

2️⃣ The Weed Warriors – Weed got tonight, who weeds tomorrow?! Armed with sheer determination and a selection of weeding tools, Lucinda and Emma tackled the backyard of the centre hub, evicting stubborn weeds from every crack and crevice. There was much satisfaction in watching the weeds meet their untimely demise!

3️⃣ The Scrape Society – Positioned at the entrance, Lobo, Anna and (briefly, Oliver!) took to scraping the shelf, getting it primed for a fresh coat of paint. With the precision of artists (or perhaps archaeologists, uncovering ancient layers), they left no flake unturned.

Despite the cold, there was plenty of laughter, much discussion about Saturday night plans, and a general sense of job satisfaction. Seeing the centre in daylight was definitely an added bonus!

Another GoodGym mission complete for the Tower Hamlets January challenge – weeds vanquished, paint prep sorted, and weeds thoroughly put in their place. Until next time (tomorrow!), Ocean Youth!