Today six GoodGymers headed back to English Martyrs School to assist with the holiday transformation project. After a tour to see progress in a highly crucial area of the school which we had previously worked on, the boys toilets, Richard set out the two tasks for today.

Today’s task was wall worth the effort!

Today was all about walls. Painting some, and hanging notice boards on others. The team split evenly across the two tasks. Well, into even numbers at least.

Rolling, rolling, rolling,

And a lot of cutting in. Mel, Paul, Charlie and Julia set about the painting task. Mixed colour walls soon became uniform, and with most of the paint on the walls, the room was transformed.

Cutting edge

Belinda and John escaped the paint to help Richard cut and hang notice boards. Measure twice, cut once proved to be a useful adage as Belinda pointed out the angle that shouldn’t be there. Boards cut to size, were then hung in position ready for new term displays.

And cut!

With both groups finished, the task was a wrap. Until next time……..

Sometimes the smallest teams make the biggest difference, and that was certainly true on this beautiful summer evening.

John, Belinda and I, together with my ever-faithful litter-picking sidekick Hudson 🐾, were delighted to welcome our newest GoodGym recruit – six-week-old Diago! Although he was a little young to wield a litter picker, he supervised proceedings brilliantly while enjoying his second GoodGym adventure with Mum and Dad, Sarah and Ryan.

Our mission took us around one of our favourite local beauty spots, which sadly seems to attract its fair share of litter. Armed with grabbers, gloves and plenty of conversation, we soon got to work, catching up as we combed the area.

By the time we'd finished, we'd filled three bags to bursting point – so full they were almost too heavy to carry! While it's disappointing to see so much rubbish in such a lovely place, it's always satisfying knowing we've left it looking that little bit cleaner for everyone to enjoy.

With the sun shining, the sea sparkling and the wind doing its very best to rearrange our hairstyles, we strolled (or, in some cases, jogged!) back along the seafront, feeling grateful for good company, wagging tails, new friendships and another small but mighty GoodGym mission accomplished.