“That’s my kind of task, very satisfying”

“43 minutes flat, we’re done”

It was our first side mission Task. Terry from the Independent Living Agency put the call out that one of their members Jackie needed help.

Access to their back garden had become impossible with hugely over grown brambles and nettles.

Step up Harry, Steven and new joiner Alison – in 43 minutes flat the weeds and brambles were gone.

The Independent Living Agency is charity that provides a range of services and support for disabled people in Baring & Dagenham.

It was the perfect GoodGym task – we could see the end of the alley way and Jackie’s garden gate before we started, and all the brambles in front of it. You could see the progress, inch by inch, getting closer – until we broke through!

“This must be what it feels like when the tunnelers broke through at the end of the euro-tunnel”. Harry

Half way through, Alison spotted some beautiful flowers and curious looking orange fruit, revealed behind the brambles. Turned out it was a type of passion fruit which Alison boldly took a bite of – delicious!

“Thank you so much for clearing the awful mess and brambles. I truly appreciate this being done and am so very grateful. Jackie

We hope to work with the Independent Living Agency again soon!

How you doing Peter?

Very good. Nice and dry

Setting off from Barking Station, GoodGymmers took a gentle jog to Westbury Community Garden – gentle in the sense that Emdad needed us to slow down in places to they could capture some photos and videos of us. Eventualy crossing the rail tracks at the green bridge, we looped back to the garden - nestled under the Ripple Road flyover, next to the District Line.

I didn’t even know this footbridge exists… oh, this is the community garden, I must have driven past here a million times. (Peter, B&D GoodGymmer)

Part of the reason for setting up GoodGym B&D was to help locals discover more of their community, so it is always pleasing hearing comments like this.

Despite several hopeful pleas from the group, the rain did not “quickly pass". Not only that, as a newly created river serenely glided down Wedderburn Road, Harry emphatically confirmed “I’ve not seen this a much rain in Barking, and I’ve lived here for 6 years.”

Fortunately, the location of the table being built was under a tree with generous overhanging branches and a full leaf canopy, which diverted most of the rain away from GoodGymmers.

Despite the weather, there was a significant sense of satisfaction of completing a task that had been waiting months for completion. Generously gifted by local Abbey Ward Councillors, the heavy table-top needed all 6 pairs of hands to lift and glide it into position.

"I can't thank you enough, we couldn't have got this done without you" (Tim, project lead, Westbury Community Garden)

This is what GoodGym is all about – short bursts of volunteering power to get those practical and physical tasks complete that small community groups would otherwise struggle to get done. After only 30 minutes of sustained focus, problem solving and team work – all bolts on the table were secure.

The result? Local groups that use the garden - such as the Scouts, Salvation Army, faith groups, food growing clubs and more – as well as local residents now have a new focal point to gather round. There will also be somewhere to sit for the upcoming community BBQ.

More tasks are planned soon for this hidden gem – Tim has much to do – weeding the fruit tree beds, removing the dead trees, installing a shed, mulching and more. We can’t wait to come back, hopefully when the sun is shining!

See you soon, Steven