Last night, GoodGym Hounslow headed to the High Street to lend a helping hand at one of the many Abundance Gardens scattered around Chiswick .These little green pockets are so important in our busy urban environment. They brighten up our streets, support wildlife, provide habitats for insects and other creatures, and give local people something lovely to look at. Last year, we planted bulbs in the beds, and the results have been brilliant. Local people commented on the difference, there was less litter around the area, and robins were spotted for the first time! 🐦 A positive impact all round.

🍂 This time, our mission was to clear away fallen leaves, tackle the weeds and get the soil ready for the next round of planting. The garden sits right in front of a nursery, so it's a little patch of nature that the children and waiting parents can enjoy.

In just half an hour, we'd collected plenty of bags of garden waste, cleared the area and got things looking much tidier. We also uncovered a healthy habitat for hundreds of snails! 🐌 That's got to be another indicator of a healthy biodiverse environment, right?

With the bags collected and the wheelie bin back in place, the garden was looking much better and ready for imminent planting.

💃 From gardening gloves to dance moves…

Of course, no GoodGym session would be complete without a little fun. As we shifted the bags and replaced the bin, plans were already afoot to recreate the latest viral dance for our socials. Community and choreography go hand in hand.

And the timing couldn't be better, because GoodGym Hounslow is turning TEN next week! 🎂🎉

We're planning a very special celebration, and we'd love you to be part of it. Don't miss out – sign up here and come celebrate ten years of running, helping out and making a difference together!

There's also a lovely task coming up this Saturday at the neurodisability hospital It's a really worthwhile mission and not too far away, so hopefully see some of you there!

Another week, another little corner of Hounslow made brighter. See you at the next one, GoodGymers! ❤️

Last night, we kicked off our first winter Tuesday session on The Strand in collaboration with GROAD to hand out clothes and essential items to people sleeping rough.

These sessions will be running on the third Tuesday of every month until April, helping make sure people have access to practical essentials through the colder months.

It was a hectic but effective task - there was a real demand for the items on offer, with people keen to find the things they needed. We had lots of chats along the way, and the majority of the donations found new homes by the end of the night. All in all, a good night's work!

The work GROAD does is so important because getting essential clothing and other everyday necessities directly to people experiencing homelessness can make a real difference, especially during winter. Alongside meeting immediate practical needs, these sessions offer opportunities for human connection, conversation and a little extra support.

If you enjoyed last night's session, we also have a weekly joint session with Gurseva on Saturday nights, handing out food to people sleeping rough in the very same spot. Everyone is welcome, whether you're a regular or joining for the first time!

A big thank you to everyone who came along to help last night 💛

🎃 Last night’s Halloween themed GoodGym Wandsworth session was a little different from the usual routine because, for perhaps the first time ever, there was no run at all! However, we did make up for it in other ways....

Firstly, a big welcome to Julian who came for his very first GoodGym session — great to have you with us!

Our task was just across the road at the amazing Wandsworth hub for people experiencing homelessness. This vital project provides support, safety and practical help for rough sleepers, and during the winter months, it can mean the difference between spending a night out on the streets and having somewhere warm and safe to sleep. With winter approaching, our mission was to help transform some of the spaces into emergency bedrooms, so that nobody has to spend a night sleeping rough.

We heard from Nick, the hub’s manager, who gave us a brilliant insight into the work they do and why it matters so much. Adam, one of our very own GoodGymers who also works at the hub, was there to help organise the task and get us all going.

Then it was time for action! Half the group headed downstairs to the basement, while the other half took on the upstairs space.

The first jobs involved setting up beds, moving computers and dismantling tables to clear the areas ready for their new purpose. The upstairs team certainly got a workout, trekking up and down the stairs with equipment and furniture — who needs a fitness session when you’ve got stairs to climb?

Meanwhile, the basement team got busy making beds and building the privacy screens. Easier said than done! Armed with limited instructions and what felt like a million different pieces, each with endless possible combinations, the team had to work out which way everything was supposed to fit together. This involved an impressive mental workout!

But the results were fantastic. It was amazing to watch the spaces transform as the evening went on. By the end of the task, there were beds in place, privacy screens up and spaces turned into safe, warm bedrooms for people who need them most.

And just like that, our evening’s work was done. No time for running or fitness tonight, but it was absolutely worth it to support such an important project. We even had some sweeties to keep our energy levels up while we worked!

🍪 But the treats didn’t stop there…

This was our special Halloween session, so we headed to the pub afterwards, where some of the group had put together an incredible spread of homemade biscuits, cookies and other goodies. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed — what a feast!

The costumes were just as impressive. Beth and Jo teamed up in a shared pumpkin ensemble, Sophie wowed us with her amazing skeleton outfit and bald cap, and Annabel showed true commitment to the carrot with her fantastic headpiece. Halloween spirit: absolutely nailed. 🎃💀🥕

Thank you to Jordan for organising a brilliant social, and to everyone who came along, rolled up their sleeves and helped make a real difference.

🏃 Next week: back to our usual routine! We’ll be back to the classic GoodGym combination of a run, a task and a fitness session — followed by the pub quiz, of course! Come and join us for some good exercise, great company and a chance to do something positive for our community.

And there’s more good to be done before then! This Saturday, we have a mission at the neurodisability hospital, creating a garden for patients. It’s a lovely way to kick off your weekend.❤️

Last night’s GoodGym mission in Roehampton included a change of task, some speedy brush work and one dimly lit fence!🖌️

We were there to lend a hand to Shared Roots, a community food-growing group bringing people together through growing food, connecting with nature and creating a greener, more connected community. 🌱

The original plan took a bit of a detour when we discovered that the artist designing the beautiful artwork for the fence was about to head off on holiday. With the clock ticking, we needed to get a coat of paint on the fence as a matter of urgency, ready for the artistry to follow!

So, Moly, Preya and I rolled up our sleeves, grabbed our brushes and got stuck in. Painting in the dark wasn’t quite the ideal artistic setting, but we were up for the challenge. Fortunately, a good chat and a bit of teamwork meant the time flew by, and we managed to get the majority of the fence painted. Hopefully, it’ll soon be transformed into something special. 🎨

And there’s more to come! We’ve got several upcoming sessions at Shared Roots, where we’ll be helping to plant trees and support this lovely community growing project. 🌳 Check out these three planting sessions

💪🌱

We kicked things off with our usual warm-up before heading out for an evening of community action, great company and a lower body blast!

A big welcome to Sean, and Andrew who joined us for their very first GoodGym session. Hope you will be back for more soon! 👋

🍁 Leaf it to GoodGym!

Our main mission of the evening took us to St Mary's Church, where we got stuck into clearing the churchyard of fallen leaves.

The aim? To get the area ready for the planting of 1,000 daffodil bulbs in a couple of weeks' time 🌼

Clearing the leaves does much more than make the churchyard look tidy. A thick layer can prevent other plants from thriving, create trip hazards and provide valuable material for making mulch to support next year's growing.

The team worked together, raking, gathering and bagging up the leaves, collecting over 20 bags in total! That's a whole lot of leaves - which won't go to waste. They're being transported to a local community garden in Doddington, where volunteers can put them to good use on their growing beds. 🌱

There were plenty of extra treats along the way, too, including mini tours of the church, snacks and sweets to keep everyone fuelled, and a gorgeous view of the river to enjoy while we worked.

🏃 Time to get those legs moving!

With the leaves cleared and the hard work done, we headed just around the corner for a leg-focussed fitness session. It was a proper workout for all those lower-body muscles, and everyone put in a seriously impressive effort.

📅 What's coming up next?

There's lots more GoodGym on the horizon:

This Thursday: We're heading to Roehampton to help create a community growing space

Next week: We're mixing things up with a slightly unusual session. There's no run this time, but we'll be doing a positive task supporting a hub for people experiencing homelessness, followed by a Halloween social. More details here

A big thank you to everyone who came along, for bringing such brilliant energy and making a real difference.