If you know me well, you know that GoodGym has always been a big part of my life. Through all the ups and downs, it’s been a constant — a source of motivation, connection, and purpose. When life is going well, GoodGym is there to celebrate those moments with me. And when I go through harder times, I know that once I find my way back up, GoodGym will still be there — waiting with the same warmth, energy, and community spirit that make it so special.

I’ve always looked for ways to give back to GoodGym. Whether it’s encouraging my employer to make a donation, reaching out to corporate partners to explore collaboration opportunities, or helping build frameworks for future support — it’s important to me to contribute to something that has given me so much.

Recently, when I learnt that GoodGym Central was organising an event at the House of Lords, I was genuinely excited. The event, titled “Movement for Change”, was described as “launching GoodGym’s new youth-led volunteering and fitness programme for 18–25s” — a project designed to inspire young people to get active, give back, and help reduce loneliness through community engagement.

It featured an inspiring line-up of guest speakers, including: • Baroness Beeban Kidron, advocate for children and young people’s rights • Shubho Hassan, co-founder of Tom’s Run Club • Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Civil Society, Youth and Loneliness • Ivo Gormley OBE, Founder and CEO of GoodGym • Kim Leadbeater MP, champion for social cohesion

I felt honoured to play a small part in making the event run smoothly. I was given the enjoyable task of matching attendees’ names with their stickers. At first, I’ll admit, I panicked — with so many names and people arriving at once, it felt a bit overwhelming. But seeing how confident and calm Jacob was in welcoming everyone, and how he gave me the space and time I needed to find each name, really helped. Soon enough, I got on top of it, and together we managed to match every guest with their sticker. It turned into a fun, team-spirited rhythm — a small but rewarding moment that made me feel truly part of the event.

Throughout the evening, I was so inspired by the energy in the room. Kim was incredibly resourceful — at one point she even fixed the screen setup, leading with calm authority and genuine warmth. And Ivo Gormley OBE — charismatic, social, and endlessly approachable — seemed to be the person everyone wanted to chat with. You could see how much respect and affection people have for him and the community he’s built through GoodGym. I also had the chance to meet some of GoodGym’s trustees, and it made me realise that I’d love to be considered for such a role one day — to contribute more deeply to an organisation that means so much to me.

I also learnt about young people launching their own running initiatives, listened to thoughtful and passionate speeches from the guest speakers, and even managed to make an appointment with a sitting minister who promised to try my hummus! Those moments reminded me how powerful GoodGym’s mission is — connecting people through movement, community, and kindness.

And of course, I have to mention the amazing food — the sandwiches and cakes were a real highlight! But more than anything, I just felt deeply grateful to be part of the GoodGym family. Whether it’s in Brighton, with the Central Team, or in any other city I visit, I always find the same spirit — people who genuinely care about their communities and about helping others.

GoodGym will always be a big part of my life. I’ll always look for new ways to give back, to support its mission, and to spread the message of movement, connection, and kindness that it represents.

Finally, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to Ivo, Kim, and Jacob for the opportunity — and for the incredible work they do every day to make GoodGym what it is.

And to top it all off, at the end of the event, I even managed to reclaim my confiscated watermelon pin from security! Somehow, that led me into the House of Commons, where I found myself watching the vote on the Sustainable Aviation Bill — which, unfortunately, did not pass. A truly unforgettable day filled with community, connection, and a touch of hummus.