Barbara’s 70th Birthday & Summer Social

What a fantastic evening at Goring Gap — a true celebration of community, good deeds, and a very special milestone!

This week’s GoodGym task brought us to one of Worthing’s local beauty spots for a litter pick, but this was no ordinary mission. We also had the joy of celebrating a 70th birthday and hosting our summer social — and it was all rolled into one unforgettable event.

A Birthday Good Deed

It’s a real credit toBarbara generous spirit that she chose to spend her birthday giving back, joining us for the litter pick on her special day. The Birthday Girl was met with a lovely surprise — a visit fromLucy ! It was so good to see you, Lucy, and your timing couldn’t have been better.

Barbara was joined by a strong GoodGym turnout:Mel andPaul , Stéphane](/v3/profile/stephane-forrer) (who’s almost fully recovered from his recent bike accident — though a reminder to avoid shaking his still-broken hand!), and the always-enthusiastic Anne,Paul , Roxy Daisy, andCraig . This dream team made short work of the litter, filling multiple bags and even heading back for more. A great effort from everyone!

Food, Fun, and Festivities

With Goring Gap sparkling once again, we made our way to the greensward where the second part of the evening kicked off.

,John , El and Gillybean had set up a brilliant BBQ area and were busy cooking up a feast with food kindly brought by John. Everyone chipped in with a spread of nibbles, cakes, and drinks, turning the evening into a true celebration. Gill was brilliant with all the cooking and tidying up too.

We were joined by Barbara's son Matthew - it was lovely to see him on his Mums special evening. Nick also made a guest appearance. It was also lovely to see Tamsin and Jemmie who brought along the game Corn Hole This was great fun and was also was enjoyed by a handful of us John was victorious despite Jemima trying her absolute best to beat him !

We wrapped up with a perfect moment — presenting Barbara with a beautifully framed collection of memories to honour her birthday and her incredible commitment to volunteering. It was smiles all around as we captured the moment with some great group photos.

Thank you Barbara for being such an inspiration, and thank you to everyone who came and made this such a special GoodGym evening. Here’s to many more good deeds, good food, and great company!

🌞 GoodGym Worthing, 30th June

On the last day of June, Worthing was basking in glorious sunshine as we returned to a halfway house supporting homeless residents. We were tasked with a front and back garden tidy-up – having previously given the back garden a full makeover on our last visit, this time we turned our attention to the front while still giving the back some finishing touches. The heat didn’t deter our dedicated team, who rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in to transform the space for six grateful residents – one of whom, Adrian, enthusiastically joined us, proving to be a great help on the day.

⚡ Power tools and teamwork

Ryan took on the electric hedge cutter like a pro, tackling the overgrown bushes with gusto and precision. Meanwhile, Pauland Elwere on strimming duties , trimming back the wilder under growth and restoring order to the unruly greenery. Paul later turned his attention to a more challenging task – removing ivy from a tree that was suffocating with it.

✂️ Precision pruning and mighty mowing

Gillybean took the lead on pruning in the front garden and side passage, carefully shaping plants and shrubs to bring out their best in the summer sun. Belinda andMel also tackled the front garden, pulling out multiple debris piles from the flowerbeds and giving the area a much-needed refresh.

Over in the back garden, John gave the lawn a tidy mow doingthe best he could in such dry conditions. He subsequently joined Paul who had turned his attention to dealing with a large, stubborn branch on the evergreen tree out front – what a team effort!

🧹 The tidy-up crew

Megan and Mel were absolute troopers throughout the session, constantly on the move, tidying and clearing the growing piles of garden waste. Mel, ever the step-count champion, kept a keen eye on her fitness goals while making a big difference to the space.

By the end of the evening, the gardens were looking alot tidier, brighter, and far more welcoming for the residents who call this place home. The sun was still shining, and there was a shared sense of pride in what we’d achieved together.

We'll be back again next month to continue the good work.

Next week we will be celebrating Barbara's milestone Birthday as well as a cheeky summer social BBQ - please bring your own food and drink to enjoy.