Kim
(She/her)
54
Good Deeds
Workouts
259
Cheers given
79
Cheers received
251
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Member
Doing good since September 2022
6 Month Streak
Latest activity
Kim (She/her) signed up to a community mission.
Thu 25th Apr at 6:00pm
Be a sighted runner and explore the world of guide running!
Read moreKim (She/her) went on a group run
Mon 22nd Apr at 6:45pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
On a slightly overcast Monday evening, Dan, Alison met with Kim and Area Activator Simon outside Caledonian Road and Barnsbury overground station (Thank you for accomodating for Simon's stress fracture recovery- we are making progress!) before walking together to Thornhill Square Gardens. We chatted about our activities over the weekend (such as helping at Canonbury Square Gardens on Saturday, and joining the Goodgym cheer squad at London Marathon on Sunday) on our way over.
Upon our arrival, we met with Anna, the local resident gardening expert within the square who had a variety of tasks available for us! Lucia and first timer Milena (welcome!) picked up trowels and forks and helped with picking weeds, green waste and sycamore saplings out of the rose bushes surrounding the south side of the gardens.
Emre and Kim chipped away at the moss and weeds growing out of the walling at the entrance of park using hoes and "zombie knives", while Alison, Dan and Emily gathered the greenery into wheel barrows and towards a lovely composting system towards the back of the park.
Within 50 minutes, we did an awesome job- almost all of the weeds in this overgrown patch had been gathered within a single evening. Well done everyone!
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GoodGym Islington News
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
Thursday 25th April- Stratford Olympic Park
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Thursday 2nd May- Green Park
Thursday 9th May- Paddington Rec Track (Maida Vale underground)
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The Garden Classroom- Weekly Volunteer Mornings in Islington Parks!
Wednesday mornings, 10am - midday, Newington Green
The Garden Classroom has started multiple weekly open garden mornings in Newington Green, Market Road and Hillside Park (near Caxton House). Set up by trained horticulture specialists and open to all!
Newington Green Next Wednesday- 10am - midday
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Highbury Quadrant Greening with Elizabeth House
Every Saturday, 10.30am - 12 midday, Highbury Quadrant Meadow
A fantastic task for post-parkrun runners at Highbury Fields or Finsbury Park!
Elizabeth House Community Centre, in partnership with Islington Council, Highbury Quadrant Tenants and Residents Association, Highbury Councillors and community organisations transformed three unloved and unusable green spaces on Highbury Quadrant estate.
These green spaces have been designed into three distinct spaces, improving bio-diversity and the local environment. There is now a beautiful meadow, an orchard and woodland areas.
Local residents have the opportunity to access these green spaces and take part in gardening and nature based activities, every Saturday mornings 10 am to 12 pm.
Saturday 27th April
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/highbury-quadrant-greening-with-elizabeth-house
Saturday 4th May
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Penn Road Gardens Volunteer Open Day
Sunday 28th April, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.
Night of the 10,000m PBs- Volunteer marshals for the UK athletics party of the year!
Saturday 18th May, 2pm - 10pm, Parliament Hill Track
Help the UK's premier grassroots athletic event go ahead on Parliament Hill!
The event is an annual full day of endurance distance racing with the most competitive runners on the scene. These races have been listed as part of the European 10,000m qualification criteria, so some incredible running will be on show!
Hackney Half Volunteer Aid Station!
Sunday 19th April, 7am - 1pm, Hackney Marshes Centre
Help our fellow runners at this incredible local half marathon party! Join the Goodgym team at an official water and aid station to cheer on the participants!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/hackney-half-aid-station-volunteering
London Orienteering Klubb- Finsbury Park Go Orienteering Event
Tuesday 21st May, The Twelve Pins, 6pm onwards
Orienteering is really great fun! All abilities running, walking and map reading.
Follow a map offered by London Orienteering Klubb, and find the "controls" (flags and scanning points) across Finsbury Park in order.
2.5km and 5km distances on offer
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-orienteering-klubb-finsbury-park
Kim (She/her) signed up to a group run.
Mon 22nd Apr at 6:45pm
Joining the lovely resident gardeners at Thornhill Square Gardens for an evening of composting, watering and maintenance
Read moreKim (She/her) went on a group run
Mon 25th Mar at 6:45pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
On Monday evening, Area Activator Simon met with 6 local Goodgymmers (including first timers Bonnie and Florence- welcome!), and Rufous, a lively 10 year old border terrier at Caledonian Road Underground Station. We were all super excited to enjoy Easter Breaks and good times over the next week- trips abroad were planned, time away from classrooms and visits back home to see family- lovely stuff!
Together we walked to Caledonian Park, and met with the wonderful Gail, (who some of us know from Caledonian Park Junior parkrun) by the Tollacre Café and under the beautiful Victorian clock tower. Our objective for the evening was to shovel up as much bark chip as possible over the course of an hour, and to lay it on the new pathways around the woodlands near Market Road. The volunteer team have been really keen to allow this great North London park to be as accessible as possible for visitors during the Spring and Summer months.
Our crew did a smashing job over the course of the evening, and really contributed to this huge task. Well done everyone!
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GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
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Highbury Quadrant Good Morning Lifting and Shifting
Friday 29th March, 8.30am, Highbury Quadrant Meadow
Helping the lovely team at Highbury Quadrant (near Clissold Park) with a new compost delivery. Many hands make light work!
Volunteer at Caledonian junior parkrun- Easter Holiday edition
Sunday 31st March, 8.45am, Caledonian Park
Encourage a new generation of parkrunners with Goodgym positivity! Free weekly timed 2km run on Easter Sunday, for youngsters aged 4 - 14 years old.
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/volunteer-at-caledonian-junior-parkrun-easter-holiday-edition
Penn Road Gardens Volunteer Open Day
Sunday 31st March, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
Special Runthrough Chase The Sun 5km/10km Battersea Park event with Achilles International
Wednesday 27th March, 5.45pm, Battersea Power Station Underground Station
Testing out a new potential group run location for all abilities and accessibilities sports charity! And celebrating a smashing regular running event!
Thursday 28th March- Stratford Olympic Park, Stratford Underground station (Westfield exit)
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Thursday 4th April- Paddington Rec Track, Maida Vale Underground station
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Thursday 18th April- The Big Battersea Park London Marathon Meet Up!
The Garden Classroom- Weekly Volunteer Mornings in Islington Parks!
Wednesday mornings, 10am - midday, Newington Green
The Garden Classroom has started multiple weekly open garden mornings in Newington Green, Market Road and Hillside Park (near Caxton House). Set up by trained horticulture specialists and open to all!
Newington Green Next Wednesday- 10am - midday
Compton Terrace Gardens Volunteer Open Morning - April
Saturday 13th April, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel
Monthly community gardening mornings with the Friends of Compton Terrace Gardens.
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (April)
Saturday 20th April, 10am, Canonbury Square Gardens
Lending a hand with this beautiful neighbourhood maintained garden in Islington, a perfect post-parkrun task!
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 21st April, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our annual trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-april-2024
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Kim (She/her) went to a social
Thu 21st Mar at 7:30pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
6 frequent Goodgym Islington attendees joined a slightly broken Area Activator Simon at The Tollington Arms on Benwell Road last week. A hidden gem for delicious homemade Thai food in the borough!
The GoodGym Islington AGM 2024
We hosted our first proper open meeting together to talk about how Goodgym Islington is going, and to take feedback for future sessions.
Here were some of the key topics of discussion, directed at group runs and community missions in particular:
Monday Group Runs
We agreed that our usual time and set up for Monday group runs seem to work well for those who attend. And the Arsenal Community Hub start point is well suited for exploring the whole borough together. The bag drop and WC facilities are key to establishing a base for group runs. Tasks without these can pose as a barrier to entry for new attendees.
However, we are open to accommodating occasional changes to the schedule, depending on the task.
For example, our Easter group run to the Rose Bowl Youth Centre will be hosted on Tuesday instead to sideline Easter Monday:
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-rose-bowl-youth-club-tuesday-session
and our next trip to Elizabeth House Food Hub will be at 6pm to allow for more varied tasks (more deliveries, less clear up), and to help with the regular volunteers:
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-elizabeth-house-food-hub-easter-helpers-6pm-start
Favourite Tasks
Some of our favourite tasks in recent times have been:
- Lifting and shifting tasks!
- Food bank deliveries (requires a bit of additional admin, but alway good!)
- Building and constructing for gardens and community centres
- Youth centres and playgrounds
- Slow Ways route mapping and reviewing
We are also looking at collaborating for more weekend missions - particularly if we can combine a parkrun excusion too!
On the same subject, we are very open to combining nationwide campaigns as part of our Goodgym sessions. Examples include:
Run and Talk Butterfly Day The Big Plastic Count Race Against Time Relay
Fitness Activities
We are open to including fitness games and core training as part of our Group Run warm ups.
Longer fitness elements (e.g. Emirates Stadium Time Trial) will be publicised in advance of the group run, as a "training session". Always optional, but an incentive for anyone who would like to try it!
Definitely preferred to introduce these before a group run, and not after.
Socials and Excursions
Yes to more socials and excursions!
Suggestions included:
- a trip to YHA South Downs for parkrun and hiking
- Visit to Caledonian Park clocktower
- London Zoo
- Summer picnic and slacklining
- Researching for more "Goodgym Islington" specific activities in the borough
Thank You for all involved!
If you have anything to add or suggest, you are very welcome to email Simon directly at:
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