Elizabeth House Food Hub
98 GoodGymers have supported Elizabeth House Food Hub with 45 tasks.
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Upcoming sessions
Saturday 4th May 2024 10:30am - 12:00pm
Previous sessions
Easter Eggs and Excellent Energy at Elizabeth House
Monday 8th April
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Early on Monday evening (a rare 6pm start!), 5 Goodgymmers met with Area Activator Simon outside Arsenal Underground station. Together, we walked together down Gillespie Road, and over to Elizabeth House Food Hub on Hurlock Street- a busy "supermarket style" community food bank for the Highbury and Arsenal boroughs.
The Easter holidays often affects the availability for regular helpers at the food hub- families and those with dependents may find themselves unable to attend the "supermarket" in person as well. So Goodgym Islington have been maintaining a frequent connection with this essential centre, offering assistance over holiday months. The hub was in full flow when we arrived, but Roshni and the crew had set up a series of pre-prepared drop off locations for supplies and essentials. Including a special Easter Egg for a former volunteer and visitor over in Highbury Hill!
Emre and Dan took on a collection of deliveries around Twyford House, on the estate, while Charlotte and Faye ventured further into the borough (past the former Arsenal stadium complex!). Upon the return of our Goodgymmers, the food hub had started to close down for the night. So we all pitched in to move non-perishable food and supplies back into the kitchens and on to shelving. All perishable items were then composted or offered to any hungry volunteers (lots of allotment grown rhubarb, celery and mushrooms were taken home!).
A wonderful evening had by all. Well done everyone!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
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Caxton House Community Centre Sensory Garden Building
Monday 15th April, 6.45pm, Archway Underground station
We have been invited back to Caxton House to lend a hand with their new sensory garden project. Lifting, shifting and digging to be expected. But other lighter tasks are also available as well!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-session-caxton-house-sensory-garden-building
And following our group session, we will enjoy our monthly social:
Post Group Session Social- The Archway Tavern
Monday 15th April, 8.45pm, Archway Tavern
Excellent refreshments and good times kn Navigator Square, Archway!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/post-group-session-social-the-archway-tavern
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
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Thursday 11th April- Emirates Stadium (Arsenal tube station)
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Thursday 18th April- The Big Battersea Park London Marathon Meet Up!
Thursday 25th April- Stratford Olympic Park
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Thursday 2nd May- Green Park
Thursday 9th May- Paddington Rec Track (Maida Vale underground)
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The Garden Classroom- Weekly Volunteer Mornings in Islington Parks!
Wednesday mornings, 10am - midday, Newington Green
The Garden Classroom has started multiple weekly open garden mornings in Newington Green, Market Road and Hillside Park (near Caxton House). Set up by trained horticulture specialists and open to all!
Newington Green Next Wednesday- 10am - midday
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Compton Terrace Gardens Volunteer Open Morning - April
Saturday 13th April, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel
Monthly community gardening mornings with the Friends of Compton Terrace Gardens.
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
London Heathside AC Track Busting Volunteer Afternoon!
Saturday 13th April, 2pm - 6pm, Finsbury Park Track
Call out for volunteers to spend a few hours 2- 6pm Saturday 13th April (the weather forecast predicts a scorcher) helping to get the track ready for the season ahead.
Come prepared for some manual labour, a bit of banter with club mates, afternoon tea and the satisfaction that you have helped your club keep this invaluable facility going - it is largely run by a small band of dedicated volunteers.
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/london-heathside-running-club-track-busters-volunteer-session
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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (April)
Saturday 20th April, 10am, Canonbury Square Gardens
Lending a hand with this beautiful neighbourhood maintained garden in Islington, a perfect post-parkrun task!
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 21st April, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our annual trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-april-2024
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Highbury Quadrant Greening with Elizabeth House
Every Saturday, 10.30am - 12 midday, Highbury Quadrant Meadow
A fantastic task for post-parkrun runners at Highbury Fields or Finsbury Park!
Elizabeth House Community Centre, in partnership with Islington Council, Highbury Quadrant Tenants and Residents Association, Highbury Councillors and community organisations transformed three unloved and unusable green spaces on Highbury Quadrant estate.
These green spaces have been designed into three distinct spaces, improving bio-diversity and the local environment. There is now a beautiful meadow, an orchard and woodland areas.
Local residents have the opportunity to access these green spaces and take part in gardening and nature based activities, every Saturday mornings 10 am to 12 pm.
Saturday 27th April
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/highbury-quadrant-greening-with-elizabeth-house
Saturday 4th May
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Penn Road Gardens Volunteer Open Day
Sunday 28th April, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.
Night of the 10,000m PBs- Volunteer marshals for the UK athletics party of the year!
Saturday 18th May, 2pm - 10pm, Parliament Hill Track
Help the UK's premier grassroots athletic event go ahead on Parliament Hill!
The event is an annual full day of endurance distance racing with the most competitive runners on the scene. These races have been listed as part of the European 10,000m qualification criteria, so some incredible running will be on show!
Goodgym Islington Take a Tattie or Two
Monday 12th February
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Half term holidays are upon us, and so is our regular visit to the wonderful Elizabeth House Food Hub! 3 Goodgym Runners joined Area Activator Simon for a dynamic warm up and a pleasant chatty run up Highbury Hill and over towards the former Arsenal stadium grounds.
We were met by Roshni, a superstar at the Food Hub, who offered our team a collection of addresses to deliver to, along with carefully prepared essentials and supplies for local families and vulnerable individuals in the community. We also caught with our cycling and run commuting crew, leaving us with 7 food hub delivery volunteers from Goodgym this evening! Alongside the regular supplies, we were offered the opportunity to include special Burns Night Meals (donated from the Caledonian Sleeper Train- full neeps, tatties and haggis), heads of lettuce and additional loaves of bread (from local supermarkets) where possible.
Our team made short work of the deliveries and helped out with moving all valuable leftover food back into the kitchen and pantry areas of the centre before setting off on our return trip to the Emirates Stadium. Since we were encouraged to take as much food as possible (reducing waste where we can), Louise, Caitlin and Simon adopted a run/walk strategy up and down the Islington slopes to make our supplies survived the trip! Thanks to Adam and Mehmet for the cycle support!
Next week we will be visiting the Thornhill Square Gardens for a special bulb planting and Springtime preparation task.
Sign up here:
Goodgym Islington News
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions- Emirates Stadium
Thursday 8th February, 6pm, Maida Vale Underground station
Every Thursday, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location. This week, we will be meeting up at Arsenal tube station, ready to run around Emirates Stadium. Open to runners and guides of all abilities! Follow the link to get involved:
Caledonian Junior parkrun Half Term Helpers
Sunday 11th and 18th February, 8.45am, Caledonian Park
Come and help local families and 4-14 year old youngsters with running a free weekly timed 2km course around Caledonian Park!
Sunday 18th February:
Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (February)
Saturday 17th February, 10am, Canonbury Square Gardens
Lending a hand with this beautiful neighbourhood maintained garden in Islington, a perfect post-parkrun task!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning-february
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 18th February, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our annual trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-february-2024
ON Running and JENKI run club- Thursday morning matcha runs!
Thursday 22nd February, 7am, ON Running Spitalfields, Brushfield Street
Area Activator Simon has set up a series of morning runs, hosted on Thursday mornings at the new ON Running store in Spitalfields market.
A social 5km before work, with the option to take out a pair of ON Running shoes for a test spin. Followed by hot drinks provided by the team at JENKI, Brushfield Street.
Next run is on Thursday 22nd February:
Penn Road Gardens Volunteer Open Day
Sunday 25th February, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.
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Grocery deliveries are our Bread and Butter
Monday 23rd October 2023
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Goodgym Islington returns one of our favourite regular task locations at Elizabeth House Food Hub tonight. This wonderful food bank project has been connected with Goodgym since the early pandemic months, and we are so happy to keep lending a hand with this busy volunteer team!
Area Activator Simon met Victoria at the Arsenal Community Hub before heading towards Highbury Hill, and down towards Elizabeth House Food Hub. Lots of running and traveling adventures over the weekend- great to catch up! Upon our arrival, we met with the lovely team, who had set out 7 grocery delivery locations for the event. Elizabeth House operates as a supermarket for donated food for local residents in the borough- hundreds of families and isolated people have used their services over the years. Half term holidays tend to be a particularly tough time for families to visit the food hub, so our Goodgym crew have agreed to deliver these essential parcels on foot!
Victoria, Simon and Robin successfully delivered at least 15 full bags of shopping between Hurlock, Twyford and Elwood House estates throughout the evening. We also assisted with closing down the food hub for the evening, by cleaning down and packing up portable tables, ready for tomorrow.
Great job everyone! Next week, we return to The Museum of Homelessness in Manor House for another excellent evening of path building:
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/group-run-arbor-projects-finsbury-park
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
GG Race Team- Met League Hill Training Sessions!
Thursday 26th October, 6.30pm, The Pembroke Castle, Camden
Goodgym Cross Country is back! We will be returning to the Met League in 2023 and 2024!
If you have never tried cross country, it is amazing muddy fun. A definite challenge, but accessible to all who want to give it a go, and are part of a UKA affiliated team (lim Race Team).
To coincide with the events, Area Activator Simon Fitzmaurice (who is a UK Athletics Coach in Running Fitness or CiRF for short) will be hosting a series of hill interval training sessions at Primrose Hill over the Autumn and Winter months.
The Pembroke Castle, 150 Gloucester Ave., London NW1 8JA, and we will run to Primrose Hill together to start our session.
October 26th https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-october
November 24th https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-november
January 5th https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-january
January 26th (aka February fixture session) https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-february
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions- Emirates Stadium
Thursday 26th October, 6pm, Arsenal Underground station
Every Thursday, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location. This week, we will be meeting up at Arsenal tube station, ready to run around the Emirates Stadium concourse. Open to runners and guides of all abilities! Follow the link to find out more:
Penn Road Gardens- Open Gardens Volunteer Morning (October)
Sunday 29th October, 10am-12 midday, Penn Road Gardens
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.
Local volunteers will be on hand to direct anyone who arrives to offer their help between 10am- midday. Come on down to enjoy a lovely morning community task!
Follow this link for more info: https://www.pennroadn7.com/the-gardens
Ghoulgym Halloween Headtorch Run (Hampstead!)
Tuesday 31st October, 6.30pm, The Bull and Gate, Kentish Town
Fancy an evening of spooky running in North London?
Area Activator Simon will be leading an approximate 10km run through Hampstead Heath, starting and finishing at the Bull and Gate pub in Kentish Town. Running in the darkness of night is a wonderful experience, and really good fun with running friends.
The Green Classroom Morning Gardening Sessions
Wednesday 1st November, 10am - midday, Newington Green
An open invitation to attend a wonderful gardening session hosted by Lizzy and Decibel of The Green Classroom, a wild cultivation space in Newington Green.
Sessions are available on the following dates:
Wednesday 1st November https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/the-garden-classroom-newington-green-volunteer-morning-39033162-54b7-4115-bb38-aa4a66b999da
Wednesday 8th November https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/the-garden-classroom-newington-green-volunteer-morning-dd4a2a57-faca-4d7e-a0f4-623f517a832d
Queen's Park Harriers Liddiard Cup Cross Country (75th Anniversary)
Saturday 4th November, 1:00pm - 5:00pm, Kingsbury Free Church (Baptist), NW9
Classic muddy running fun in Fryent Country Park!
Queens Park Harriers invites clubs to compete in the annual Liddiard Cross Country Trophy race which will be run under UKA rules.
This will be the 75th running of the event as no events were held in 2020 and 2021 and we hope to see many of the teams who have competed over the years, plus new ones.
There will be a unique, 75th anniversary medal for all competitors.
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/queen-s-park-harriers-liddiard-cup-cross-country-75th-anniversary
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Met League Cross Country - Wormwood Scrubs
Saturday 11th November, 12:45pm - 3:45pm, Claybury Park
Met League Cross Country is a set of five 7-8km races organised by London race clubs. They are held in parks and forests around London with the routes including a mixture of grass, gravel and a fair bit of mud (it is XC after all!)
Cross Country is for everyone! Wonderful fun- sign up here for more information!
Eliza-BEST House
Monday 21st August 2023
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Our Goodgym Islington crew met up again at The Arsenal Community Centre last night to run towards Elizabeth House Food Hub off Gillespie Road for the final time this Summer. The third of three visits from our team over the Summer Holiday period, offering some relief for the incredible group of volunteers who operate this vital resource. We ran together across the Emirates Stadium concourse, and down to Highbury Hill, before meeting up with Nathalie and the team (and David who caught us at the task).
A large collection of bags full of essential supplies and donated food had been prepared for us all to deliver to at least 7 households in the immediate area (plenty of spots on the Blackstock Estate). In pairs, our Goodgym volunteers methodically dropped off each bag to their respective owners.
Upon our return, we then helped with closing down the centre- collapsing tables, cleaning and sanitising all surfaces and sweeping the community centre floors. Any excess food was then sorted into the kitchen and fresh food storage areas, or collected up for organic waste and composting. But not before being offered to anyone in need of extra peppers, lettuces, courgettes, pears or huge marrows!
We concluded our evening with a steady walk together back to the Arsenal Community Hub. Excellent work everyone! We will return for a Special Bank Holiday group run to Highbury Quadrant next week!
Goodgym Islington News
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Caledonian Park Junior parkrun - Summer Time Marshal Help!
The team at Caledonian Road Junior parkrun (a free weekly timed 2km run designed for youngsters and families to run safely and independently - ages 4-14) are in need of more marshals and volunteers to allow the event to happen. Many of the core helpers are away for Summer, so any assistance would be hugely appreciated. It's the best way to start a Sunday!
Sunday 27th August, 8.45am:
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/volunteer-at-caledonian-junior-parkrun-summer-holiday-help-4
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Goodgym x Jog On Recycling Clothes Swap and Group Run @ The Running Works
Wednesday 23rd August, 6pm, The Running Works, Aldgate
Come join us for a social group run with Goodgym and The Running Works, in collaboration with Jog On and Athletic Brewing Company! We will be hosting a clothes swap and donation drive for running and athletics kit as well. A great night to be had! https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-x-jog-on-recycling-clothes-swap-and-group-run-the-running-works
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Achilles International- Guide Running in Green Park and Picnic!
Thursday 24th August, 6pm, Green Park Underground Station
Goodgym have been collaborating with Achilles International for the last 3 years for our weekly group run sessions with visually impaired runners. On Thursday, we will be marking the end of our summer runs in Green Park with a post-run picnic before reverting back to our sessions at Paddington Rec Track and Emirates Stadium.
Come and join us, no matter your guiding abilities! https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-green-park-summer-session-ad1207bd-6b6b-43ce-b86d-7f88f44fc894
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Penn Road Gardens Open Volunteer Morning
Sunday 27th August, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens, Islington
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road. Local volunteers will be on hand to direct anyone who arrives to offer their help between 10am- midday. Come on down to enjoy a lovely morning community task! https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-august-957f8dd9-aa82-4c3d-bae8-7aeb15bc3798
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Bank Holiday Monday Group RUN- Highbury Quadrant Gardens
Monday 28th August, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub
Back at Highbury Quadrant to build up this lovely community garden space with Octopus Community Network. Please note that although we are meeting at the Arsenal Community Hub, we will not have access to the bag drop or WC facilities this week. Back to normal next week!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/group-run-highbury-quadrant-gardening-good-times
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SEPTEMBER SOCIAL- Medal Monday at Victoria Tavern, Holloway Road
Monday 4th September, 8.45pm, Victoria Tavern, Holloway Road
Come and join us for delicious £7 pizzas and refreshments at The Victoria Tavern, to celebrate our achievements over Summer (especially to those racing at The Big Half!)
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/september-social-medal-monday-at-victoria-tavern
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THE BIG LONDON SOCIAL!
GoodGym London Monthly Social (GG Camden), Thursday 14th September, TBC
The first (of hopefully many) monthly drinks in London. Come and meet other GoodGymers and toast each others achievements. We'll be celebrating those on the Heroes Board from August and maybe even deciding which recent puns are worthy of accolade. The venue is TBC but will be somewhere fairly central with good transport links.
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-london-monthly-social
Blackstock and Back (4 years of Area Activator Simon)
Monday 7th August 2023
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
It was wonderful to be joined by so many familiar faces and new runners at the Arsenal Community Hub last night- a lovely dry Summer's evening for visiting the Elizabeth House Food Hub. As an introduction, we asked each other what their preferred "frozen iced treat" would be for the upcoming heat wave- top options included:
- Classic Solero (ice cream and passion fruit)- I remember those
- FAB
- Rocket lolly
- A discontinued US popsicle that sounded awesome
- Anything chocolately and in a waffle cone
We were happy to celebrate the 4 year anniversary of Area Activator Simon Fitzmaurice, who has absolutely loved setting up tasks and hosting runs over the years!
Here was Simon's first run report as the replacement for Goodgym legend Paul Bown in 2019:
https://www.goodgym.org/reports/back-to-the-cax-feeling-saw-after-the-gg-olympics
We performed a series of warm up drills together up the Emirates slopes, before setting off as a run-walk towards Elizabeth House Food Hub- a busy and super efficient supermarket style enterprise that provides essentials for families and isolated individuals in the immediate area. We met with Roshni at the main access door for cycle pick-ups and vehicle deliveries, and found a collection of about 9 large parcels of shopping, ready to be dropped off around the Blackstock Estate. In pairs, our crew contacted each household before making short work of these deliveries.
Elizabeth House Food Hub starts to wind down its operations at about 7.30pm onwards, so we all pitched in to get the place ready for more food bank work tomorrow. Ritchie grabbed a broom and got stuck in with sweeping up the hall, and Anne dismantled loads of folding tables. Paul, Adam and Ramona took it in turns to ferry any leftover produce back to the kitchen, while Erayna and Victoria disposed of any overly fresh food in a specific food waste recycling bin outside.
As we finished up our task for the evening, we were invited to bring home any produce that would otherwise go to waste. Between us, we found inventive ways to carry back spring onions, courgettes, bananas, lettuce and oat milk!
Due to the extra weight being carried, we decided to walk back to the Emirates (through the lovely former Arsenal grounds estate off Gillespie Road), followed by a trip to Someday Canteen in Finsbury Park for some celebratory pizza and refreshments. Well done everyone!
Goodgym Islington News
Thornhill Square Gardens - Saturday Session!
Saturday 12th August, Thornhill Square Gardens, Islington.
Come and join the lovely crew of resident gardeners at Thornhill Square Gardens! Expect a fun morning of wheelbarrowing, digging, planting and pruning alongside Anna and the team! Super friendly, and always welcomed.
GROUP RUN: Goodgym x The Running Works - Marvellous Morph Map!
Saturday 12th August, 5.30pm, The Running Works, Aldgate
A social run starting and ending at London's largest independent running shop, passing as many "Morphs" as possible! Aldgate Connect has set up a local art collection, featuring over 70 sculptures of the famous Aardman character, and we are planning on visiting as many as we can!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-x-the-running-works-marvellous-morph-map
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Caledonian Park Junior parkrun - Summer Time Marshal Help!
The team at Caledonian Road Junior parkrun (a free weekly timed 2km run designed for youngsters and families to run safely and independently - ages 4-14) are in need of more marshals and volunteers to allow the event to happen. Many of the core helpers are away for Summer, so any assistance would be hugely appreciated. It's the best way to start a Sunday!
Sunday 13th August, 8.45am:
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/volunteer-at-caledonian-junior-parkrun-summer-holiday-help-2
Sunday 20th August, 8.45am:
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/volunteer-at-caledonian-junior-parkrun-summer-holiday-help-3
Sunday 27th August, 8.45am:
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/volunteer-at-caledonian-junior-parkrun-summer-holiday-help-4
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Weekday Community Mission- Housing21 Aftercare and Retirement Home Gardening, Mildmay
Wednesday 16th August, 11am-2pm (flexible with times)
We had a referral through Goodgym Islington from the team at Mildmays and Housing21 regarding an ambitious gardening project for their residents. The community gardening spaces are in need of some attention for anyone who would be up for some digging, lifting and shifting! Super satisfying task!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/weekday-garden-fix-up-at-mildmays-housing21
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Goodgym x Jog On Recycling Clothes Swap and Group Run @ The Running Works
Wednesday 23rd August, 6pm, The Running Works, Aldgate
Come join us for a social group run with Goodgym and The Running Works, in collaboration with Jog On and Athletic Brewing Company! We will be hosting a clothes swap and donation drive for running and athletics kit as well. A great night to be had! https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-x-jog-on-recycling-clothes-swap-and-group-run-the-running-works
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Penn Road Gardens Open Volunteer Morning
Sunday 27th August, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens, Islington Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.
Local volunteers will be on hand to direct anyone who arrives to offer their help between 10am- midday. Come on down to enjoy a lovely morning community task!
Rain Rain Mango Away
Monday 24th July 2023
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
On a grey and slightly moody Monday evening, 8 Goodgym Islington Runners joined Area Activator Simon for an excellent group run to Elizabeth House Food Hub on Hurlock Street, Arsenal. Before setting off, we enjoyed a discussion about who was going to see the new blockbuster films, Barbie or Oppenheimer (or possibly both, but probably on different days...). We engaged on an active and dynamic warm up around the concourse of the Emirates Stadium (dodging skateboarder, tiny dogs and CrossFitters on route), and then ran up Highbury Hill and through the original Arsenal estate (a housing complex that still uses a lot of the original aesthetics of the stadium in its design). Local volunteer coordinator Roshni was on hand to welcome us all at Elizabeth House Food Hub.
Our objective for the evening was to deliver approximately 6-8 households worth of food and essential supplies to our Islington neighbours, all donated and allocated by businesses and supermarkets in the area. Many of the recipients are not physically able to pick these up in person (during the Summer holidays, or otherwise), so our contribution can make a huge difference!
As we completed the final deliveries of the day for the food hub team, our Goodgymmers assisted with the close down process as well. This involved cleaning, sanitising and wiping down all of the work surfaces at the centre, and putting away all of the chairs and tables ready for tomorrow. Luke and Patrick also helped with adding some of the over-ripe mangoes, nectarines and courgettes into a specific compost bin at the back of the hub. John, Louise and Michelle gave the whole hall a really solid sweep up to close out the night. We were also encouraged to take home as many nectarines and mangoes as possible, to limit any further food waste where possible!
As we made our way out of Elizabeth House, we spotted a free community outdoor gym, and decided to test it out for the benefit of "Move the Masses", an interactive map for fitness classes and equipment across the country. Expect a new submission very soon! A long climb up Highbury Hill to complete our workout before a steady slope back to Arsenal Stadium and to the community hub to complete a great group run. Well done everyone!
Goodgym Islington News!
Dartford Orienteers- Parkrace Series- Wick Woodland
Tuesday 25th July, 6.30-8.30pm, Lord Napier Star Pub, Hackney Wick
The London orienteering community have been setting up some really great events in different boroughs of the city- "localised" social challenges that are particularly good for new starters over summer. The series is concluding with a final event in Hackney Wick, and you are very welcome to give it a go!
Sign up in advance using the link below for either a long course (5km total distance for a perfect line) or a short course (2.5km), and a rental for a chip card for recording your times.
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/x
Penn Road Gardens Open Morning (July)
Sunday 30th July, 10am-12 midday, Penn Road Gardens
An invitation to help this lovely community garden space near Caledonian Road over Summer. Often complimented with mugs of tea and coffee!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-july
Orion Harriers Forest Five Summer Series: Race 3
Saturday 5th August, 10:00am - 12:00pm, Orion Harriers Club House, Chingford Come and join the Orion Harriers for this awesome and affordable trail race (concluding the Summer series in Epping Forest). 5 miles through fields and greenery (and friendly wildlife)- highly recommended!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/orion-harriers-forest-five-summer-series-race-3
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GROUP RUN- Elizabeth House Food Hub Helpers- and 4 years of AA Simon
Monday 7th August, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub
On Monday evening, we will be helping with deliveries to families and isolated individuals around the Islington borough for Elizabeth House- a super busy hub near Gillespie Road. https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/group-run-elizabeth-house-food-hub-summer-holiday-helpers-2
And afterwards we will be celebrating Area Activator Simon's 4 year anniversary as the leader for Goodgym Islington, with a trip to Someday Canteen in Finsbury Park.
GROUP RUN: Goodgym x The Running Works - Marvellous Morph Map!
Saturday 12th August, 5.30pm, The Running Works, Aldgate
A social run starting and ending at London's largest independent running shop, passing as many "Morphs" as possible! Aldgate Connect has set up a local art collection, featuring over 70 sculptures of the famous Aardman character, and we are planning on visiting as many as we can!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-x-the-running-works-marvellous-morph-map
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Goodgym x Jog On Recycling Clothes Swap and Group Run @ The Running Works
Saturday 23rd August, 6pm, The Running Works, Aldgate
Come join us for a social group run with Goodgym and The Running Works, in collaboration with Jog On and Athletic Brewing Company! We will be hosting a clothes swap and donation drive for running and athletics kit as well. A great night to be had! https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-x-jog-on-recycling-clothes-swap-and-group-run-the-running-works
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