This week there was a last minute change of plans as our task owner wasn't available so it was time for a plogging circuit with this week's Three Amigos: Martin, Duncan and David.

We picked the litter we found as we worked our way along the streets in the Dallow direction, popping handfuls of rubbish in the bins we found along the way. occasionally stopping to deal with particularly bad spots. When we got to Dallow Downs we went through the woods and up the hill to Winsdon Hill. No bins on this section but tons of trash so it didn't look like we could help much. But then what's that? Among the trees someone had helpfully dumped a wheelie bin, just what we needed to get the waste out of the woods.

Working our way up the hill with the wheelie bin getting heavier as we went we arrived at the top with a full load. Back on tarmac we carried on through Farley Hill, across to Stockwood Park and then back downhill into town to complete a litter-free loop.

On Saturday the GoodGymers were out in force helping set up decorations and serve food and drinks for those attending a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. It was a great day organised for the local elderly community and there was a fantastic turnout of over 100 people! Everyone was in great spirits as they were treated to some traditional Irish dancing, songs from a local Irish folk band, a prize raffle and a round of bingo!! The GoodGym team also got to sample some of the lovely lunch for their hard work, which was a lovely lamb stew. The organisers were so thankful for our help and hard work on the day, and some of the attendees also expressed their gratitude and thanks. Can we do the same for St. George’s Day please?

Today we were joined by Ali who has been a member of GoodGym for sometime but this was his first official task. He was proudly wearing his GoodGym T-shirt and was happy to be introduced to Musa and Myra.

Our task was to help with meeting and greeting attendees at the Farley Community Jobs Fair, the third of these events that we have supported. As the event opened there were a great number of attendees queuing up to register and Gill was soon busy handing out iPads for digital registrations. Mayra had already got started by working the hall to make sure that all the exhibitors were signed in and had all they needed. Musa and Ali were on hand to help with the registrations, but as some of the attendees prepared to leave they soon jumped on to the feedback desk, helping people to complete feedback forms and checking that they had had a good day.

Once again the organisers were absolutely blown away by the way the team got on with the task in a friendly manner and ensuring that everything went smoothly. They are hopeful that they may be able to involve us in any future events too.

This morning was the second of our tasks to help with Luton Council's Community Jobs Fairs. Gill, Kamal and Derrick were all on hand to support the event and were soon given specific jobs to do themselves. Gill started on greeting the job seekers and helping them to register. Kamal was then in charge of ushering them to the hall . As the numbers of people arriving increased we were pleased to be joined by Derrick who took over ushering so that Kamal could help in the hall and encourage people to complete feedback forms before leaving the event. The event was a great success and the organisers commented on how vital our team had been in ensuring it ran smoothly. Well done team - and we have another one next Monday afternoon, so if anyone fancies helping out for an hour or two we'd be really happy to have you on the team.

It was a long stint for Abim, Musa and Yasin at the jobs fair at Futures House this afternoon, but their help was very much appreciated by the Employment and Careers Team at Luton Council. Our trio of Goodgymmers really made a difference to the way the afternoon went, as they met job hunters at the door, got them signed in and then ushered them into the halls so that they could visit the various stands and displays put on by local employers. Everyone was welcomed with a smile, and made to feel at ease.

Thanks to Abim, who signed up yesterday and didn't take much arm twisting to take a lead on the task, co-ordinating with the organisers and making sure our trio knew what to do.

It was an eventful day, and one of our volunteers even managed to secure an appointment for a job interview!

We have two other jobs fairs coming up, so please do sign up to help if you can.

On my last visit to Mrs J she was very confused about one of the bulls that needed paying. Unfortunately it seemed that the Council invoice could be paid online or by bank transfer but there was no option to post a cheque. The only way to pay by cheque was to take it in person to the Post Office to pay it in. Mrs J was very frustrated as she doesn't use the internet and wanted to pay by cheque but is house bound. So we agreed that I should take a cheque to the post office and pay it in for her. So this morning's task was a swift run to the post office with Bill, a slow wait in the queue, a discussion with the teller to pay it in and obtain a receipt, and a swift tun home. Next I will be contacting the council to find out why they don't allow people to send a cheque especially when they are on their own and don't have access to technology. (It was a bill for care support package...)