On this lovely, fresh morning we met Dani to start sprucing this space up ready for the community Christmas party later this month.

Under starters orders we got to work starting with cutting back and making tidy the stag beetle domain/ thus clearing the path.

DIY skills were put to the test, attaching the wheel on our wheelbarrow ready to move some more woodchip to the area where Dani had removed the last pumpkin and debris.

We left knowing we had make inroads and ticked a few jobs off the list so it would be looking it best on celebration day 🥳

Today, Farzeen, Amraz and Anna volunteered at the KingsGate Student Pantry in Kingston. This social supermarket enables university students to access £25–£30 worth of weekly groceries, toiletries and cleaning essentials for just £5.

During the session, Farzeen and Anna assisted students at the fresh produce station, where we offered recipe ideas and helped students discover new ingredients, including passion fruit and leek. Amraz coordinated student entry at the front, calling out group numbers to keep everything running smoothly.

Having previously supported KingsGate Church with donation sorting and deliveries, it was rewarding to see the final stage of the operation and the full impact of that hard work in action. This weekly pantry provides vital support to students navigating cost-of-living challenges and food insecurity. In addition to affordable food, the church offers a welcoming space where students can enjoy a hot drink, learn low-cost recipes through live cooking demonstrations and access pastoral support.

KingsGate Church’s weekly pantry is a fantastic community initiative that directly addresses student food insecurity and the ongoing cost-of-living pressures. We love this social supermarket model and truly believe it should be replicated everywhere!

We strongly commend KingsGate Church for this practical community response and look forward in volunteering with them again.

Another mission down helping out with Student Pantry at KingsGate Church in Kingston. It was a little quieter than usual due to Reading Week but we still had a great turn-out with over 40 students making use of the services.

We started off the day by transporting goods and stocking up shelves. Amraz started off welcoming students and providing them with baskets. Anna was on the fruit and vegetable tables, giving out recipe ideas for the produce that they were picking.

Overall, another successful and rewarding mission with meeting new faces and saying hello to familiar ones.

A group of GoodGymers gathered at Elm Park Recreation Centre this evening for a community clean-up effort focused on restoring and maintaining the popular public space.

Equipped with rakes, brooms, hoes and garden shears, we tackled several neglected areas around the grounds to ensure the space remains safe, welcoming and accessible for families.

Dave and our newest GoodGym member, Callum, tackled in removing unwanted tree roots from the ground. Jana, Tom, Jonathan, Rachel, Anna, Marcos, Ken and Saber worked in small teams to sweep up the endless piles of leaves and placing them in compost.

Events like these remind us how much we can achieve when we pull together. A huge welcome to our newest volunteer, Callum, who jumped right in on his very first day and pitched in with the team!

Thank you to everyone who lent a helping hand.

Three GoodGymmers, one hour, a mountain of weeds and a well-earned slice of cake. It was all hands on deck at Staywell Raleigh House in New Malden this morning, where Sabir, Emily and Jana tackled a rather wild-looking wood-chipped area beside the new shed. The weeds had clearly been making themselves at home, with some absolute giants and even a few mushrooms joining the party. With just an hour to make an impact, the team formed a line and worked steadily forwards, leaving a weed-free trail. Sabir and Jana got stuck into the heavy-duty work with pick axe-style tools, while Emily made short work of the smaller stuff. By the end we'd filled a huge bag with weeds and made a satisfying difference. At 11 on Remembrance Sunday we paused for the two-minute silence, then rounded off with cake that Jana had brought along. Great teamwork, great company and another little corner of New Malden looking much tidier.

Well done to all those that had a productive stroll and litterpicked round our local waterways and parks. A cleanup was done in a few spots, Fishponds, along the Thames and the Hogsmill. A worthwhile task to protect our and the other animals habits and recreation spaces, made extra special by the wonderful sights to see along the way.