Southwark News

• Tonight more people are needed! A special community mission to help Crisis move lots of donations at their warehouse one New Kent Road. We're in need of more people to help out. You don't need a DBS check for this one and we won't be running as a group, just turn up and do some shifting. Find out more and sign up here.

• Next week we're going back to Bell House for gardening. It's a gorgeous house and gardens 3km away in Dulwich. Find out more and sign up here.

• GoodGym volunteers are eligible for Charity Worker Discounts! Have a look at the website to save some money on all kinds of things.

That's enough of the business

Last night 7 runners gathered at Old Spike Roastery to head off to Nunhead Cemetery to help out with cleaning up the cemetery in advance of their Open Day on 18th May. I'll be posting up a Community Mission to help them set up and take down so keep an eye on the website! There will be all kinds of stalls and of course lots of information on the beautiful cemetery available on the day.

We arrived and Jeff from Friends of Nunhead Cemetery ushered us in and set the group to work whilst I waited at the gate for Pauline who heroically ran from the bus with several bags in tow and a coat! That's dedication!

We split into three groups - two heading opposite ways along the boundary wall to pick up litter and one to clear up bits of tree on the main avenue. Friends of Nunhead Cemetery are so grateful for our help and we're looking forward to helping them set up on Open Day.

Oddest pieces of rubbish: an entire suitcase, several empty packs of butter, assorted underwear

Finishing up at 7.55pm we said our thank yous to the team and headed off to Nunhead Green for a game of Cups and Cones and Find The Cream Egg. It's amazing how much lighter the evenings are even from last week. Hooray! Bring on summer!

Great work team.

See you next week! Lucy J

There was a bumper turnout at GoodGym Westminster this Wednesday, as a group of runners from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel joined us – hope to see you again next week guys! There was also a bumper crop of Frances’, as I filled in for Joel alongside the regular Frances, who led one of two groups to Victoria.

After a jog through central London and past Buckingham Palace, we reached our regular task at One Big Family, where we again split into two groups. One group made sandwiches and packed pastries which the volunteers hand out to homeless people around Victoria, while the other went with Graham and took turns at choosing exercises, ranging from some gentle stretching to burpees. The groups swapped halfway through so that everyone got a chance at doing some good.

With the task completed swiftly, we set off back to base – this time taking in the sights of Green Park, with some of us taking the opportunity to push the pace a little. All in all, a productive evening with the cooler weather making for an enjoyable run!

OMG could it be ? A bumper batch of 23 ? Running miles, all with smiles, to Camberwell from Peckham for baby bank heaven.

It was a wondrous sight indeed what befell my eyes this eve, as one by one the bright and beaming faces of the southwark GG crew rocked in through the doors of Old Spike.

Joining the ranks of rad regulars were a totally fantastic, completely boombastic double digits gang of newbies galore!!!! Hurrahhhhh

So after warm welcomes to old and new and a Goodgym share and spiel for good measure, we had a quick 5mins for announcements at base with Beth; Who kindly reminding the troops to track their runs on strava so we meet our January targets for the big GG Drive. Yes!!! Come on team get logging!!

After all housekeeping was done, we head out into the chill to tackle the 1.7mile route towards our hosts for the eve - The Salvation Army Camberwell and their bank of baby clothes for sorting.

Leading out the ranks I cruised with my crew the first mile with ease, but we knew what was lurking round the corner...... The infamous Grove Park hill!! But do you know what, we hit that first hill hard and with my fave power couple Rob and Sarah up front, there was no stopping the pace or sense of determination as the whole squad dashed off the first leg in no time at all!!! YAY

Arriving at our destination in well under 30mins, we were greeted by our ever so grateful and smiling hosts who were so very happy for our help!! The jobs at hand, our lovely task leader explained, were sorting and clearing the donations of children's clothing, moving the large objects up to the loft and labeling the canned food goods before stacking away.

Much to do and not a whole lot a nothing, in fact, there was a whole lotta something for everyone to get stuck into, so stick and stack we did and the task was underway.

Splitting the crew (as I said - there was in fact much to do), we ploughed through the mountains of baby grows and knitted cardies galore, not to mention all the peculiar slogan tees; Our favs being ‘Chick magnet’ and ‘lock away your daughters’ looks like the new batch of Youngers growing up in Southwark will be a big old bunch of Romeos!!!

So back to the tasks at hand and we were well and truly in the mix, sorting, folding and rolling to make room in the boxes that filled up fast!! Over on the other side (and dangerously close to the big box of leftover Xmas choccys I might add) Beth and Hanna led the second group troops in the labeling and shelf stacking of canned and boxed goods alike.

With all the action 35mins seemed to fly by, like a stalk on delivery day and BOOM before I knew it, the countdown was upon me!!! 3,2,1 and we're done!! Having made a huge impact on the big piles and completely finished the canned element of the task as well!! Amazing!!!

So with tasks well and truly wrapped and the countdown timer chiming its last chime, we bid our fond farewells and.......ok one last chocolate for the road before we were turning on our heels and off once more.

Route home was swift, even though there was yet again.... Another hill to tackle!!! Yes, She is a tough one, but the encouragement and smiles all the way, made us mad for the madam and the goodgym cheer flowed happily all the way home!!!

Stretches finished the eve and after those hills we were pleased, but sad to say goodbye, until next week.

A Fabulous evening filled with big love, big efforts and big vibes - Its GG Southwark of course, I expect nothing less!!!!

See you next time x x x x

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE

9 Fitness seeking GoodGymers hammered 60 minutes of Fitness 4 All action in Kennington.

Brilliant session this evening in Kennington!! Everyone put in a top shift of effort and execution!!

Welcoming a few first time GoodGymers to the fold we got going in Cleaver Square. Mobility warm up, muscle activation and some body weight strength exercises mixed in all while getting our mind sharp with some balance practice.

Jumping literally into a range of form drills to hone our running form and efficiency and get us being kind to our lower body by reducing down our impact forces.

With the drilled nailed we worked hard with some tag team pairs laps of the square to put it all into action!

Mixing it up with some plyometric bounces and hops in our drawn boxes to toughen up our legs. To finish the session we powered around 5 minutes of fast laps with an active recovery after each circuit.

Thanks for coming along tonight, hope to see you all again next week!

Smooth Running

Joel