Marie-Laure Hicks
Islington
Doing good since January 2020
24Good deeds
51runs
20cheers
Islington
Want you bag, want you bag, want you bag for good...
Goodgym Islington members met up at the Highbury Quadrant greening project for our first gardening related group community task of 2021! Fantastic to see plenty of familiar faces and to welcome first timer Louisa.
Frannie, the green fingered powerhouse in charge of the Octopus Community Network was surprised to find a large delivery of building aggregate, bags of compost and loose pebbles had been dropped off on the street immediately in front of the Highbury Quadrant housing estate. This was not expected, and not convenient!
Luckily, we had a solid team of Goodgym runners arriving to help out on Thursday evening, and we got right to work with moving these heavy items off the neighbourhood parking bays, and over to the Highbury Quadrant meadows. We shared roles between us, switching from shoveling rocks and gravel, and then wheelbarrowing and carrying buckets and bags between the street and the gardens. We threw a slight spanner in the works when we attempted to drag the first bag full of building material in one go, and split the bottom of the sack just as we approached the gardens, but John and Ernestas quickly scooped up and swept the spilled rocks and gravel in no time.
After just over an hour of hard graft, we successfully deposited all of the rocks, gravel and compost into the garden play area, ready for local school groups to visit soon. The plan was to make all of the paths safe to run around on, even when wet and muddy. The space looks really lovely (an amazing renovation since when we first started helping here in late 2019), but certainly needs for Goodgym assistance over the coming months- we will be back soon!
More Octopus Community projects can be signed up to here:
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/back-to-market-road-gardens
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/new-task-partington-community-garden
Islington
Highbury Quadrant Greening!
Octopus Communities, the network for allotments, green spaces and projects across Islington have invited us to help with some Thursday evening gardening in Highbury Quadrant!
3 under utilised allotment spaces are ready to be renovated for the residents in the local housing estate.
Meet us at 361 - 387 Highbury Quadrant, N5 2TB, on the road nearest Green Lanes. Frannie will direct us to the allotments from there.
Islington
All Ringcross, Every Friday
4 Goodgym cyclists were treated to a break in the wind and rain on Friday, and took the opportunity to assist with our weekly pedal powered deliveries for the Ringcross Community Foodbank. Our team have been on hand since the start of lockdown to help with providing to support to the volunteer staff as the centre, and to make sure that households in Islington, Canonbury and Archway have their essential items and produce every week.
If you would like to get involved, we have a special WEDNESDAY SESSION next week, as the Ringcross will be closed for the Good Friday Bank Holiday.
Sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/cyclists-wanted-ringcross-community-centre-foodbank-4a46d525-eb84-4727-b7a5-4c26a9a7bd6b
Islington
Cyclists wanted! Ringcross Community Centre Foodbank
Ringcross Community Centre has been operating a large foodbank since the start of lockdown, and currently offers food and essentials to over 70 Islington households every week.
Islington Cycle Club have also offered assistance to the project, by arranging a food collection pickup from shops and supermarkets, often using a cargo e-bike.
Goodgym have offered to assist with delivering shopping parcels to various households around Islington (no more than 2 miles from the community centre).
Would you like to be a foodbank cycle courier?
All deliveries will be prepared in advance, with addresses and contact phone numbers attached to the parcels.
You will need:
A bike
A method for carrying pretty heavy stuff
This can be pannier bags, or a large rucksack (12 ltrs or larger). Most deliveries would be the size of 4 shopping bags of items, so a larger capacity bag will make your trip easier. A few spare bags will be available to borrow if required.
There are 3 large bags available to borrow if you are without a suitable rucksack!
Some sort of map
Google maps on your phone would be fine.
Confidence when cycling on London streets
We are looking for safe cyclists! Steady, controlled and predictable cycling is preferred over speedy deliveries!
Any questions, feel free to contact Simon Fitzmaurice (Islington Trainer).
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