FoodCycle Finsbury Park
Free community meals each week
Every Saturday lunchtime, FoodCycle Finsbury Park provides a three-course, sit-down community meal which is open to all. The meal is cooked entirely from scratch using surplus food by cooking volunteers and hosting volunteers chat with guests to create a friendly and welcoming environment.10 GoodGymers have supported FoodCycle Finsbury Park with 3 tasks.
Top supporters
Previous sessions
Food, Glorious Foodcycle
Monday 11th March
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Area Activator Simon met with a top crew of Goodgymmers from all across the borough at the Arsenal Community Hub last night (including first time Goodgym Islington runner Rosie - welcome!) for a trip to the Andover Estate, near Finsbury Park. After a dynamic warm up on the Emirates Slopes, we ran together up Sobell Road and over to the Andover Estate Community Centre, aka the HQ for Foodcycle Finsbury Park.
This smashing project was set up as an open community hub for residents of Islington and Harringey, offering assistance for supplies, advice and free hot food on Saturday afternoons. More information can be found here: https://foodcycle.org.uk/
Between our 6 runners, we paired up and took handfuls of flyers between us. Together, we ran up and down the distinctive housing blocks surrounding the Andover Community Centre. We took care to make sure that we didn't "double post" into the neighbours houses. And we also had the chance to talk to some of the residents about what the community centre had to offer! Excellent stuff all.
After 40 minutes of super efficient flyering, we packed up our bags, and ran towards Seven Sisters Road, and back to the stadium. A super satisfying evening of Goodgym fun- well done everyone!
Goodgym Islington News
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!
Thursday 14th March- Emirates Stadium, Arsenal Underground station
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Thursday 21st March- Paddington Rec Track, Maida Vale Underground station
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Thursday 28th March- Stratford Olympic Park, Stratford Underground station (Westfield exit)
ON Running Spitalfields run club- Thursday morning wake up runs!
Thursday 14th March, 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.
Next run is on Thursday 14th March:
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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
Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (March)
Saturday 16th March, 10am, Canonbury Square Gardens
Lending a hand with this beautiful neighbourhood maintained garden in Islington, a perfect post-parkrun task!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning-march
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 16th March, 11am - 1pm, 85-87 Wood Vale, Highgate Woods
Our monthly 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-march-2024
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Goodgym Islington AGM - social and catch up!
Thursday 21st March, 7.30pm, The Tollington Arms
Area Activator Simon invites you to an evening out for a social catch up on all things Goodgym related.
Alongside general good times, we are open to discuss:
• What do you most enjoy about Goodgym?
• What would you like to see more of, or are we missing anything?
• Suggestions for potential tasks, trips, socials etc!
• Would you like to be part of the Goodgym Islington taskforce in any capacity? And what would this involve?
Your feedback is super helpful for the future of GG Islington and beyond!!!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/goodgym-islington-agm
Camino London Ultra: Lea Valley 50km and Gratitude 25km- Finish Line Party!
Saturday 23rd March, 12 midday onwards, Here East, Hackney Wick
The Camino Ultra London 50km returns for 2024, stretching from Welwyn Garden City, to Ware, and then down the Lea Valley to our finishing line in Hackney Wick (Here East).
Race organisers Darren Strachan and David Bone aka DaznBone would love to invite the Goodgym community back to bring excitement and positivity to our runners, as they finish their races.
The theme is: Bring The Party!!!
Cowbells, cheers, noise makers, music and fun!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/camino-ultra-london-lea-valley-races-finish-line-party
Penn Road Gardens Volunteer Open Day
Sunday 31st March, 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.
A ruff guide to leafletting!
Monday 20th November 2023
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
After a highly successful group run to the Andover Estate two weeks ago, our Goodgym crew returned to the Foodcycle Finsbury Park hub for another round of flyering. Area Activator Simon and Kareem met at the Arsenal Community Hub before the session, and ran the 1.2 km up Sobell Road together, arriving at the Estate office in ample time.
Upon arrival, they were met with Dharmesh, Kim and a ten year old Border Terrier called Rufous (who was super keen to help out tonight!). Our objective for the evening was to distribute as many flyers as possible to neighbours within the vicinity of the Foodcycle hub. Foodcycle offers free hot food to anyone who needs it on a twice weekly basis (no questions asked), and an opportunity to socialise outside of the household for many residents. Between us, we wanted to get the word out as effectively as possible.
Within 45 minutes, our little team of 5 had posted flyers to every house around 3 major streets in Finsbury Park before calling it a night. Well done everyone!
Goodgym Islington News
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Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions- Emirates Stadium
Thursday 23rd November, 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:
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BONUS GROUP RUN- Arc Centre Mulch Moving via the ON Running Spitalfields store
Thursday 23rd November, 6pm, ON Running Spitalfields, Brushfield Street
An additional one-off group run from The brand new ON Running store in Spitalfields. A 1.6 mile run to The ARC Centre and Riverside Gardens (by Regent’s Canal) to assist the volunteer team with shifting bags of mulch for winter bulb planting.
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GG Race Team- Met League Hill Training Session! - November
Friday 24th November, 7.15pm, Pembroke Castle, Camden
A monthly hill training group run session led by Goodgymmer and CIRF Simon. All abilities Kenyan Hills running over at Primrose Hill, in preparation for our next cross country fitness at Uxbridge!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-november
Simon's 200th parkrun (& 100th volunteer shift!) @ Mile End parkrun
Saturday 25th November, 8.45am, Mile End stadium
Join Area Activator Simon for his 200th parkrun at Mile End, and his 100th volunteer shift! We will head to the lovely Yurt Café in Limehouse afterwards for breakfast, hot drinks and good times!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/simon-s-200th-parkrun-100th-volunteer-shift-mile-end-parkrun
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Penn Road Gardens Volunteer Open Day- November 2023
Sunday 26th November, 10-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.
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-november
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Met League Cross Country - Uxbridge
Saturday 2nd December, 12 midday, Hillingdon Athletics Stadium
Run with GoodGym for some cross country racing- the 3rd fixture of the amazing Met League season. Approximately 7-8 km of muddy fun, open to all!
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Freightliner's Farm Sunday Special- December
Sunday 3rd December, 11.30-1pm, Sheringham Road, Islington
We are so happy to be invited back to the wonderful Freightliner's Farm just off Paradise Park for our first regular weekend volunteering day!
The team will be on hand to offer some animal friendly tasks around the site.
Sign up here:
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/freightliner-s-farm-sunday-special
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Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day (December 2023)- Christmas Special!
Sunday 3rd December, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our final trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of digging and wheelbarrowing to be expected! Followed by a local festive picnic with the regular volunteer crew.
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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (December Xmas Special!)
Saturday 16th December, 10am, Canonbury Square Gardens
Lending a hand with this beautiful neighbourhood maintained garden in Islington, a perfect post-parkrun task! This will be the December Xmas special too, so come and enjoy some festivities!
Over Andover and over and over
Monday 29th May 2023
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Simon and John met at the Gym Group on Caledonian Road on a special Bank Holiday Monday Goodgym group run. After dropping off bags in the gym, they made a round trip from the end of the Islington/Camden border, over to the hub for Foodcycle Islington in Canonbury.
From here, our crew ran the 2 miles up to Seven Sisters Road, following the glorious Gillespie Park Nature Trail towards Finsbury Park station. Andover Estate Community Centre (on Corker Street) is a newly founded food bank project, offering free meals to the local neighbourhood (no questions asked) and building a friendly hub for residents.
Between the two runners, John and Simon delivered approximately 150 flyers to the buildings immediately surrounding the food bank project (switching between upstairs or downstairs distribution and leapfrogging between houses to make sure that no houses received multiple flyers!).
The team even found an outdoor gym set-up hidden within the estate- seated cardio bikes, leg presses and pull-up bars. We were accustomed to stopping whenever we found some free equipment to make sure that it was functional before submitting our findings to the Move The Masses website (find out more information here: https://www.movethemasses.org.uk/move-map/ ).
John and Simon ran together to Holloway Road, before zipping back to Caledonian Park to complete a successful evening of leafletting in the local area. Great job all!
