This nursery school is a state nursery school for under 5s with a large garden to the rear. The top part of the garden is overgrown. The area needs to be cleared so we can then use it to do 'forest school' activities outside with the children. Many of the children don't have the opportunity to do such activities in their homes. We need lots of physical help and it would be great to have this done so the back of the garden can be used this summer. It needs to happen at a week-end when the children are not using the school.
28 GoodGymers have supported Balham Nursery School - Prepare for Forest School with 5 tasks.
Monday 22nd June
Written by Anastasia Hancock (she/her)
With temperatures on the brink of soaring, a welcome breeze kept conditions comfortable as the GoodGym Wandsworth crew gathered for another Monday night run.
After meeting up for a warm-up, we were delighted to welcome Robyn for a very first GoodGym session. Great to have you with us, Robyn!
Before setting off, it was time for the Quiz Question of the Week: Which country holds the record for the highest peak temperature ever recorded? A tricky one this week, but the answer was Kuwait, where temperatures have reached a blistering 54°C. A bit like the Victoria line this week...
Our destination was Balham Nursery School, where a long list of jobs awaited us. This state nursery plays a vital role in providing early years education and support for local children and families, making it a fantastic community asset where we love to help out.
On arrival we found Annabel already hard at work so we followed her example and quickly split into teams.
Robyn, Chris, Hazel and Matthew rgot busy tackling the gardening and weeding. Meanwhile, Adam and Felix took on the tree trimming, with Caroline bagging up the cuttings as they worked. Over on bunting duty, Pritesh, Beth and Jack were tasked with decorating for the nursery's upcoming open day and party. Faced with a breezy evening, they came up with the ingenious solution of tying spoons to the ends of the strings to stop them flying away. So simple, so effective, soGoodGym.
It was hard work - but the result?
And then came the reward. We were introduced to the nursery's newly hatched ducklings. Tiny, fluffy, chirpy balls of yellow cuteness that had only recently entered the world. It just goes to show that no two GoodGym tasks are ever quite the same.
We've got a mission coming up this weekend in Southfields, and next Monday we'll be helping to spread the word about the Battersea Children's Centre scheme by stuffing envelopes. Hope you can make it!
Monday 18th May
Written by Anastasia Hancock (she/her)
Last night we were back at Balham Nursery following the amazing work the team did last Monday – and this time it was all about painting!
After a warm up and a Eurovision-themed quiz question (where the team impressively remembered all five UK Eurovision winners: Sandie Shaw, Lulu, Brotherhood of Man, Bucks Fizz and Katrina and the Waves), we headed off on our run to the nursery.
Natasha, the headteacher, was ready and waiting for us with a perfectly prepped painting area, so it was straight into action grabbing brushes and rollers. Within minutes the place was already looking brighter and fresher. A few of the team also tackled the windows, giving them a much-needed wash down and making an immediate difference.
Natasha was absolutely delighted with the transformation and told us we had saved the nursery a “small fortune” – a good reminder of the impact a Monday night GoodGym session can have.
With the painting complete and the rollers downed, we headed over to Clapham Common via the “scenic route” for fitness. And by fitness, we were staring down the barrel of a FIVE MINUTE plank challenge. Yes. Five whole minutes.
The variations included military planks, diamond planks, side planks, reverse planks, shoulder taps and plank jumps. Who knew there were so many ways to suffer in a horizontal plank position?
Very impressively everybody managed the full five minutes. What an incredible effort.
Next week we’ve got a special lunchtime Bank Holiday session helping clean up a pétanque court at Larkhall Park – come along! We'll follow with coffee/ice cream (delete as appropriate depending on bank holiday weather...) You can sign up here
Monday 11th May
Written by Sophie Humphrey
The weather cheered up just in time for Goodgym Wandsworth to assemble! Brilliant to see so many friendly faces. We checked in on Eurovision plans and tested our knowledge of the most successful nations (Ireland and Sweden joint top in terms of previous wins for those who missed it).
We were off to help at a local nursery today with some fantastic jobs lined up. An empty sandpit awaited which was swiftly filled at record speed with fifty fresh bags ready for the kids to enjoy tomorrow. Elsewhere there was some energetic hosing and scrubbing from Jordan and Ali to ensure the cover looked as fresh as the pit itself. The rest of the team got stuck into freshening up some planters with cardboard bases, twigs and then compost. Bags galore and all ready for the children to do some planting.
The team were so quick that they even fitted in a quick spot of weeding out the front to finish the session. It was back to Clapham common for some exercises spelling out Balham (spot a very happy Felix doing his high knees!) and making the most of the glorious light evenings. We even spotted a pony being walked. When in Clapham! Well done all and hope to see you soon.
Monday 10th November 2025
Written by Anastasia Hancock (she/her)
Last night at GoodGym Wandsworth we had a very special double celebration - we had not one but two huge milestones to celebrate! Ladies and gentlemen of GoodGym, please put your (gloved) hands together for the wonderful Joanna and for Annabel who both did their 100th good deed last night - absolutely amazing doing good and getting active. From shifting compost, to sorting food donations, creating a GG garden, to painting community centres, they've contributed so much to their community. Great work Annabel and Jo!
We met as usual at the BAC to do our warm up and to discuss what we'd like to do, in honour of the milestones, before we're 100. The group is obviously very intrepid, as people opted for visiting all seven continents, skydiving and bungee jumping!
Our job for the evening involved less travel (although it was still a good 5km run up a long hill!) but significantly more mess. We had been asked by Balham Nursery to come and create a 'mud club' for the under fives. This was definitely our sort of task, as it involved annihilating anything in our way, and exposing as much mud as we possibly could!
Meanwhile there were some slightly cleaner tasks that did involve some heavy lifting, which Jason, Ali and Felix took care of - getting a good work out up several flights of stairs in the process!
Before long the job was done, and the headteacher was really pleased with what we had got done. here's what she had to say this morning after the kids had arrived:
A huge thank you to you and your team for all your help and hard work yesterday. The mud club is a hit and it was all made possible by you. Please extend my thanks to everyone
I think there are going to be quite a few muddy knees among the under fives of Wandsworth today!
Great work everybody. Next week we're back doing more good in the neighbourhood - hope to see you there!
We also have a mission on Saturday to help out at Doddington garden if you're free and want to kick of the weekend with a lovely outdoor session
Monday 30th June 2025
Written by Anastasia Hancock (she/her)
It was all anyone was talking about all day, but on the hottest day of the year so far, our intrepid GoodGym crew forewent the air con and dark rooms and braved the blazing sunshine for a brand new task – heading over to Balham Nursery to help create a beautiful garden space for their under-fives.
We took a gentle jog to the site where we were warmly met by headteacher Natasha and immediately offered ice-cold water, which was very gratefully received. After a quick briefing, we got to work clearing and transforming the space.
The area needed a bit of TLC to become the safe, vibrant spot the nursery envisions – a place where the children can play, sit, and learn among wildflowers. We raked, weeded, and cleared debris to make it safe and welcoming. Along the way, we unearthed a number of long-lost treasures: colourful balls, plastic spades, and even a lion – along with a few other wild animals! Naturally, all creatures great and small were carefully returned to their rightful home.
The heat at 7:30 wasn't conducive to pushing ourselves further so fitness was shevled - but only until next week! So after a satisfying tidy-up, a bit more water, and a final look at our progress, we called it a success and made our way home.
Next week we’re heading back to Doddington for our regular monthly visit – and then on to a pub quiz. Come along and join the fun – we’d love to see you there! Here's the sign up page