Today we were called to spruce up the Ashton Avenue play park.

Two tasks awaited us, namely digging over bark chip and weeding.

Team one arrived at 18:30 and headed to the climbing frames area where a selection of mattocks, forks and spades was used to dig over bark chippings to make the surface softer and safer for children to play. Our activity attracted a lot of attention from the local youth, who were curious to find out what this is all about. While being careful to stay at a distance and not hit anyone with the mattock, or spade we spent some time chatting with them explaining about the task and GoodGym.

The second team arrived at 18:40 to weed within the fenced off play area part of the park. Few hoes and trowels have been useful to remove the grass and other weeds from the edges of the soft surface, while spades and brooms were used to scrape and sweep moss from the concrete around the perimeter. The sole wheelbarrow was used to transport all the green waste to a designated location by the park boundary.

Kristina promised a delivery of fresh bark chippings to top up around the climbing frames and the weeding team have left some weeds for the next day, meaning we are likely to be coming back here in the near future.

After the task some of us headed back home and some stayed for the training session. The training featured two sets of ten different movements (the first round being very short due to wrong timer...) and a socially distanced relay race. The relay taught us that Ben is a crab walk grand master.

GG Yorkies responded fantastically to a call from the York Carers Centre for help with delivery of IT equipment (tablets with chargers) and Easter eggs to 44 young carers across the city. Today’s windy weather wasn’t an obstacle big enough for the 10 of us to mount our bikes, or go on foot and complete all deliveries within one afternoon.

The Young Carers Team supports young people who provide unpaid care for a relative. The tablets will enable them to participate in online sessions designed to provide a break from caring responsibilities and a boost to their wellbeing, while the chocolate Easter eggs will be needed for their themed session on Tuesday, yum!

Tempted by it Pete decided to go to the shops and get a supply of chocolate eggs for himself.

Jenna took the opportunity for a doorstep chat with few of the young people she was delivering for.

Paula found herself inspired to go for a bike ride on a day she wouldn't normally venture out.

Two of Leanne recipients weren’t at home, but she happily went out again couple hours later, using it as an excuse for extra cake consumption for the energy boost.

This time Young Carers Team at Young Carers Centre asked us to help with delivery of art materials to young carers across the city in time for their Easter themed Zoom session. The weather was great on Sunday and Monday making our deliveries by bike and on foot very pleasant. We went as far as Wheldrake, or Rufforth and by the sunset on Monday successfully delivered 29 art packs consisting of acrylic paints, paint brushes and an egg cups.

The Zoom art session is designed to give young people a break from caring responsibilities and a boost to their wellbeing and we feel privileged to be able to help to make it happen. A father of one of the art pack recipients was helped by us recently, when we delivered a pulse oximeter for him. Debs was the lucky one to chat with them.

I just want to say, you guys are brilliant. One of you dropped off a pulse oximeter a couple of weeks ago, and it probably saved my husband's life. His oxygen was 93 and dropped to 89 a couple of hours later, so he spent 2 days in hospital, but is now loads better. So if you ever think ''oh I can't be bothered'', that’s the difference you're making... thank you!''

The Young Carers Team at York Carers Centre have asked if we could help with delivery of bath bomb kits to some of their young people.

Yes , of course! we said

The latest data from the Carers Trust shows that 59% of Young Adult Carers are experiencing a decline in their mental health and wellbeing since the Covid restrictions hit. This is largely due to their caring roles intensifying under lockdown with little chance for any break. York Carers Centre does what they can to promote self-care and to reduce isolation and loneliness. The packs containing bath bomb making ingredients will compliment an online session on relaxation and self-care.

5 keen GoodGym Yorkies picked up one kit each and delivered them to 5 young carers in York.

We were asked by the York Carers Centre to help with delivery of support workbooks to some of the unpaid carers in York.

Books parcels were promptly delivered by Michael, Leanne, Paula, Kay and Jenna to 11 addresses over the weekend.

Those books will be used during online support group sessions for carers affected by a loved one addiction to drugs or alcohol. They will aid carers with focused learning sessions to learn to manage their lives better.

Support group sessions will hopefully help carers to cope better with any crisis situations in their caring role.