This evening a gaggle of Goodgymers turned into Christmas Elves.

Gathering in a cosy Oxford pub (chips were indeed consumed) we scribed Christmas cards to be distributed around care homes in the UK.

Heads were scratched and inspiration was found in the form of doodles, Christmas Cracker jokes, poems and sharing of favorite decorations and food.

These tasks can feel a bit daunting sometimes, where to start when writing to a stranger? But we amassed a brilliant stack of cards to be sent off for distribution. I'm sure that they will spread a lot of joy at a time of year that can be very lonely for some.

Thank you Goodgym Elves!!

Our winter food bank clean got going last night; a very welcome indoor task given the sudden chill!

Each winter we do a session roughly once a month to give the food bank a thorough clean. It's hard for their usual team of volunteers to take time away from packing food parcels to do a really thorough clean, so GoodGym taking over the task helps them focus on getting food out to people in need.

This month we cleaned fridges, emptied food waste, cleaned the wall behind the food waste crates, swept & mopped in the kitchen. In the main hall we moved the shelving along the wall closet to the car park, swept, mopped, cleaned the shelves.

louise and trev helped put up signs and carry bags to set up for the various talks about M.E. we directed people so as not to use up too much of their energy and offered help with refreshments

it was a well attended event both i n person and online

OMEGA are very greatful for Goodgyms support

This evening we were back at the Rose Hill Community Centre to tackle the garden space for the Rose Hill Junior Youth Group.

Armed with tools, fortified with Meg's lovely flapjacks and lit by a combination of football pitch floodlights, head torches and rechargeable potable lights, we managed to get a lot done.

More roots were cleared and scrubby plants removed. I really hope that we managed to protect the bulbs planted by the nursery earlier in the week!

Chat ranged from holiday planning, winter recipies, food and book recommendations.

Good work team!!

3 Goodgymers litter picked the night away at Oxfords 57th Fireworks display at South Park.

At first we arrived, persuaded the gate keepers that we were indeed volunteers and to let us in, and then picked up our pickers, hoops, bags and high Vis. We began our mission by Round Table-ing the parameters, focusing around the food vans and the fair ground before it got too busy. We also answered lots of questions from the public, including "Where are the toilets?" and "Where will the fireworks be?" 🤷🏻‍♀️ We enjoyed the new addition quiet fireworks display from the VIP area, after collecting a few cans and cups from the fancy tent and straw bales section and bumping into 'Off Duty' Mark.

Time for the main event, the big fireworks display beside a luminous waning supermoon.

When the masses left the park, our real work started. A litter picker's treasure trove of plastic cups, chip boxes and empty wine bottles left on the ground. We scooped up over 15 bags of rubbish between us on the night. We think we made a good dent in rubbish removal but lots of other volunteers will be working late into the night and the next day helping restore the park back to sparkling. Thanks to them all!

The litter around West Oxford Community Centre has been quite heavy in the past, so we try to get out there a couple of times a year for a clean up. With the whizz-bang of fireworks all around we set off for our autumn session. Despite some Halloween detritus, and some unusual finds (a French dictionary, burglar alarms, mini-bedspread, pants), we were pleasantly surprised by the state of the litter. We collected far less than usual - good job West Oxford!