Two of us showed up for a climbing session at the Castle in Manor House. It was Paul's first climb in about 25 years, but he was very game, putting all his yoga, running and cycling to the test.

After a quick tour of the building (inside only, given the rain!), we warmed up and then started climbing. A couple of regulars joined us and we toured around the building, trying different routes. We finished up with a quick game of 'take-away' - we'll probably try add-on next time if enough people come.

Hoping this will be the start of a good habit! Expect regular sessions on Friday evenings through 2026. Please say in the comments if you can't make that evening and when you're available, so I can mix up times and days.

George and I were proud to represent GoodGym Barnet on a big community mission supporting North London Hospice with their Christmas tree collection fundraiser.

It was a much longer day than our usual GoodGym efforts starting bright and early at 8:30am in Winchmore Hill but brilliantly organised from start to finish. We were paired up with drivers from Redpath Moving, who had generously donated their trucks (and driving skills!). These big vehicles were essential for handling around 70–80 used Christmas trees across Enfield.

The routes looked neat on paper, but in reality required plenty of problem-solving: parking up, running down tight roads, and making sure no tree was left behind. My driver, Chris, was superb calmly manoeuvring into tight spots while we packed up to 45 trees at a time before heading back to unload and start again.

We finished just before dark having seen both sunrise and sunset tired but elated to complete everything we’d been assigned. Along the way we met lots of grateful residents (including one future volunteer for next year!), and we were well looked after with drinks, snacks, and sandwiches.

A long day, great fun, and a real reminder of how satisfying it is to muck in and help out. Huge thanks to North London Hospice for such a slick operation and if this sounds like your kind of thing, get involved next time. You won’t regret it.

We gathered once again at the ever-reliable Phoenix Cinema, braced for another properly cold winter’s evening. With the last few days dipping well below freezing, this Tuesday proved no exception and with the added prospect of snow and icy surfaces later on, safety came first.

Our task host at Shepherd Hill, Pat, made the sensible call to cancel the session there due to slippery conditions and a light covering of snow. So… Plan B it was. And when in doubt, you can always rely on GoodGym’s most generous task of all: litter picking.

We warmed up in the cinema foyer, where conversation turned to New Year’s Eve plans past, present, and imaginary. Answers ranged from the sensible (“go to bed early”) to the surreal. Subham absolutely won the night with his story of accidentally meeting Mike Tyson on a staircase in a famous New York nightclub Tyson going up, Subham coming down, polite smiles exchanged. Subham briefly considered pushing him down the stairs and claiming victory… wisely deciding against it.

It was also great to see John from Camden joining us, and the beauty of litter picking meant plenty of time to chat while quietly doing good around the local area. Always surprising (and slightly depressing) how many cigarette ends lurk around trees though there was a small victory when a blocked drain was cleared using nothing more than a litter picker and determination.

As the cold finally began to bite, we headed back inside for the important stuff: hot chocolate, refreshing drinks, and a rather large box of popcorn, courtesy of George much appreciated.

Thanks to everyone who came out, adapted, laughed, and still made a difference. Next week we’re at Stephens House & Gardens it’s a great one, so bring a friend!

Run, chat, do good see you there.

A few Goodgym Member members came online to do yoga.

Yoga talk

One reason you should be doing yoga is that it Reduces Inflammation • Research shows that yoga’s combination of movement, breathing, and relaxation can decrease chronic inflammation markers in the body. This helps balance the natural healing process without aggravating an injured area.

Warmth on a Cold Night at St Mary’s

Daniel and I spent the night supporting the Winter Night Shelter at St Mary’s Church Hall in Finchley and it was a quietly humbling experience.

Run almost entirely by local volunteers, the shelter provided warmth, food and calm on a night when temperatures dropped to –2°C. By the time we arrived, guests had eaten well and were settling down to sleep across the main and smaller halls. Our role overnight was simple but important: to be present, supportive, and help ensure everything ran smoothly.

In the morning, a fresh group of volunteers arrived to prepare breakfast before guests packed up and moved on to the next venue. Seeing the interfaith community working together so seamlessly really brought home how vital and effective this network is.

Without shelters like this, nights like that could be unimaginably hard for those sleeping rough. It was a privilege to play a small part in such an important local effort.

If this inspires you, please share and don’t forget our January Challenge: walk, run or cycle, log it on Strava, and help us do good while keeping fit