It was an evening full of purpose and productivity for GoodGym Westminster tonight. We kicked things off by welcoming back Laura after her time abroad. It’s fantastic to have you back running with us again — and in slightly cooler climates too! Great to have Denzel join us for a first session in Westminster. An excellent start to the Tuesday task!

After a quick warm-up in Hyde Park and the usual gauntlet run of determined cyclists, we set off on a steady run down towards the Abbey Centre. This community centre in Victoria is a cornerstone of the local area, providing vital services, support, and a welcoming space for many. Our task there focused on the community therapy garden, where we got stuck into weeding, planting, and sweeping. A satisfying transformation and a space that will continue to benefit everyone who uses it.

But the evening didn’t stop there.

Realising we were just around the corner from another of our regular task locations — and spotting an opportunity — we decided one task simply wasn’t enough. So off we went again, running round to a busy youth centre where a room needed tidying and reorganising. The result? More usable space and more room for resources to support the young people who rely on it.

With two runs and two tasks under our belts, there was just enough time left for a quick core blast to round things off — even though some of the crew had already squeezed in a gym strength session earlier in the day. Special shoutout to Denzel for doubling down on the effort — impressive stuff!

Not one but two tasks, two runs, and a workout all packed into 90 minutes. You don’t get more GoodGym than that.

Great work team — and if you’re up for more, you can sign up for the next session here

GoodGymer Chandrima delivered 4 pints of whole milk to Mr R, who suffers from memory loss and limited mobility due to old age, after a referral from Age UK Westminster. This small yet vital delivery ensures he has essential dairy for his daily needs, helping him stay comfortable and independent at home! ❤️

GoodGymer Chandrima stepped in after Adult Social Care Westminster referred Mrs J for urgent food shopping assistance due to her poor mobility and sight impairment.

Mrs. J had a clear shopping list for everything she wanted— 15 items from basics like brown eggs, bread, meat, cheese, biscuits and coffee to sandwiches and freezer meals—and noted her fridge was entirely empty, so I completed a full shop to stock her up for the next several days.

This support helped her maintain independence and comfort while easing the strain of getting her essentials 😊.

A small but perfectly formed team of two set out for GoodGym Westminster last night, braving a properly blustery evening that kept us on our toes all the way to the garden.

On arrival, we discovered that most of the space had recently been weeded, but one lonely bed had been left waiting patiently for our attention.

We stuck in straight away, chatting all things green as we worked. Luckily, we had Lyndsey on hand—armed with expert horticultural knowledge and an impressively green background—who knew exactly what needed to come out and what deserved to stay.

A little bit of focused effort went a long way, and by the end of the session the bed was transformed. The garden is now in great shape and ready for planting—something we’re hoping to get stuck into next time.

Speaking of next time, we’ll be heading to the lovely Abbey Centre next week, a real lifeline for local people in need of extra support. It promises to be another rewarding evening—hopefully with slightly less wind!

I'll admit that the correct use of (if any) punctuation isn't an essential ingredient of the average shopping list, until it is - on today's Mr R list he'd written Bananas Cheese...so I just had to check...

My geography of northwest London clearly failed me this afternoon, when the friendly Mrs N handed me her very neatly written list and I asked which shop to aim for. There's a Tesco on Clifton Road she said, just a short walk away. A quick check of the map to make sure I was heading in the right direction and off I wandered...only to find myself in a very familiar Tesco that I occasionally shop in for another beneficiary in the area, but just approach it from a completely different direction...