What a buzzing morning at the Community Hospice today, and a warm welcome to Mo for her very first GG task!

Head Gardener Jason kicked things off by showing us the peonies we planted last month. They’re looking strong and healthy; here’s hoping for blooms later this year.

Our main mission was a satisfying round of ‘chop and drop’, cutting back tired growth to make way for fresh spring shoots. Instead of letting the trimmings break down where they fell, we raked and gathered them up and added them to the compost heap elsewhere in the garden.

We also tackled two stubborn rose bushes and a couple of thorny brambles. Deep roots and all, they didn’t give up easily, but neither did we!

With tools put away, flower beds ready to spring into new life and all of us feeling that warm glow that follows hard work in good company we wrapped up with a few team photos, attempting to capture the energy of the morning. Let’s just say our synchronised jump shots need a little work… check out our social media feeds to see the results!

Eleven Goodgymers came along to tonight's task for our 9th birthday. What a great turnout!

We were back at Box3Education, helping transform their unit in Bexleyheath Mall into a community space. Walking through the closed mall to get there was a little surreal!

Professor Levi met us and we soon got started with painting metal shelving units, and there was a lot of them!

We got stuck in with brushes and rollers, being super careful not to get paint on the nice floor. (Thankfully there were industrial wipes available to mop up drips!). While we worked there was lots of talking and banter, with a few jokes and hot drinks thrown in!

I noticed some black paint on my GoodGym top... I only had my-shelf to blame!

The session flew by and it was time to wash the painting gear and make our way out of the mall.

We then headed to the nearby Wetherspoons where Lisa and Graham had secured a large table for us.

The evening continued with food, drinks and more chatter, plus a chocolate Connie Caterpillar cake complete with candles and a rendition of 'Happy Birthday To Us'! Nine years of doing good and social fitness in Bexley - that's a brilliant milestone!

A great night was had by all, thanks for coming everyone. Here's to the next year!

Such a fun evening tonight at Parkview Care Home.

We were greeted by the home's activity coordinator, Annette, who had song sheets already prepared for us and the residents were waiting and looking forward to the sing along!

We started with "Tip toe through the tulips" and then "My old man's a dustman'". I'm sure our voices are improving and there was even some dancing thrown in! The care home manager even complimented us on our singing!

In no time at all it was time to leave and we finished, rather appropriately, with "We'll meet again".

We said our goodbyes, until next time!

And we'll be back again next month so do come and join us!

Despite the rain at today's junior parkrun, the volunteering team stayed positive as the young runners took on the three-lap course with incredible determination.

This morning Eltham junior parkrun marked its 10th birthday, and we were there to help the celebrations go with a swing while also helping making sure the event ran safely for everyone taking part.

It was bucketing down when we joined the other volunteers to collect our hi-vis jackets and high-five hands. Spirits were high 🥳, even if the weather wasn’t playing along 🌧.

Then, as if by magic, the rain eased off as we headed to our positions; Peter as timekeeper, Ivar marshaling at the 'Corner Out of the Bushes', and Johnny and Sarah doing a double act at 'Split Point'.

Three-two-one-GO!

Fifty-four youngsters and their grown-ups set off for two dry, albeit ridiculously muddy laps, slip-sliding round with plenty of smiles.

Once the finishers were through, we helped pack everything away before enjoying some birthday treats - a fitting way to celebrate a decade of junior parkrun with our friends at Eltham juniors!

At 9am on a Saturday morning, GoodGymers across the country are out in their local parks, lending a hand at parkrun. You'll find them setting up, marshalling and cheering around the course, time-keeping, barcode scanning, token sorting or packing down.

Peter is one of those dedicated hi-vis heroes at Avery Hill parkrun. This week he was on 'Quiet Please' duty during the briefing, before heading off as park walker offering friendly company for the anyone preferring not to run the 5km route.

If Peter’s morning has inspired you, why not get involved in parkrun volunteering through GoodGym? It’s a simple, feel-good way to start the weekend by supporting your local community.