Tonight was the celebration of 9 years of goodgym in Cardiff, and what those years have given us.

We have helped 70 charities, community groups, schools and religious institutions on our group tasks alone. (Missions not included). Totaling a whopping 5596 volunteer slots and an impressive 2798 volunteering hours.

Plenty of more stats to come, but before then let’s get to the task. It seemed logical to help out the Samye Foundation, as they top the number 1 spot with 67 group tasks. Once Lorraine had confirmed our task Michael got to work planning a picnic under their beautiful gazebos.

But before we Celebrate we have to get those deeds in.

GoodGym started in Cardiff back in 2016, May 23rd. I remember it well, being on that first task and run. As a solo runner it was quite daunting, but now nine years on I look back on all the things we’ve done with smiles and laughter, and with a great group of new friends.

So to the task, we had a good long list of things to do tonight, a great way to work up an appetite.

Weeding

• Front entrance gate
• Side gate
• The three doorways
• 3 vegetable barrels in the garden area
• Any other pavement area (if time)

Plus * Empty old plant pots of dead matter * Move the (heavy) umbrella stand from the back garden to the gazebos out front. * Empty the greenhouse, organise and place back. * Sweep – everything.

No time to wait, there’s a lot to do. Everyone grabbed their tools (ooh er), and picked there task from the list. We had a healthy number of volunteers tonight helping out, so we should manage most of the list.

Martin was wisterical with his sweeping brush, as he tidied up those gazebo floors.

Ellen, Dylan, Emily and Lucy the compost crew, got to work out back emptying pots, weeding barrels and all in the name of new life from composting.

Jake went rogue.... And after initially wedding the path decided there was a bush that needed pruning back. He’s certainly had the practise on some of our tasks this year.

Llion the organiser, straight to the greenhouse duties.

Darren and Dave were paving the way as they got in-between the cracks to clean up.

Dylan multi-task Tuesday, carried that beast of an umbrella stand and then got to work weeding the doorways.

Adam the gate master, couldn’t wait to get behind that huge gate and get those weeds and leaves gone. All helped with the perfume of the surrounding roses.

Aaron, another sweeping delight, getting those doorways swept before joining the weeding teams.

But then... Began bucket wars... Our resident bin jumper (Martin) had already found his new slogan - "If there’s a bucket or a bin I’m gonna get in". But newcomer Aaron seemed to be looking for that title......

Who wore that bin better?

Wendy joined us slightly later, but worked those guns carrying the ?tub? of weeds to the compost Corner. Michael and Lorraine were busy, photos galore and getting the food together. Michael had got some bits and bobs so was busy popping them in the picnic area. Lorraine was adding some bits from Samye, a great collaboration of food preparation. Everyone sat down, ate and enjoyed. A few group photos tonight, including the goodgym flag. Then it was time to run back, Michael Dylan and Ellen stayed to help Lorraine tidy up as extra thanks for allowing us the space to celebrate. Once everyone was back at the Glassworks, we had a few additional goodgymers join us for the late night celebrations.

Time for CAKE

Michael got the cakes from the kitchen, thanks to the Glassworks for storing them for us. And special thanks go the Mel at the Secret Garden Cafe in Bute Park for making them for us, she is also the star that got the Community Orchard up and running.

Great time had, thanks to each and every GoodGymer, past and present. Without you we would not exist.

Our top 10 are as below....

But over the last year our top 10 look a little different....

Here’s to the next year.

Meeting at our usual place - Glassworks, we welcomed our first timer Ben.

CROESO

Tonight we were making our way to the Samye Foundation Wales, making use of the Spring light and better weather by getting outside for what is now dubbed "The sleeping edition".

The main tasks were putting some potatoes to bed and creating a new plant bed with railway sleepers.

Michael split the groups and sent 3 volunteers to the back yard, Rosie, Dylan and Jessica. Tasks, to remove and weeds, dig over the ground, and then pop the potatoes into their new beds ready to grow and provide some food in the summer.

The second group then had a few different jobs to complete, weeding around the doorways, the seating area and in front of the current raised bed. Then it was time to get destructive....Rip out the old wood, hoping that the beds don't collapse. Thankfully the liners and roots of plants held the soil in place, so as the wood was removed, broken down and then stacked a few people got to weed the now exposed area. Then came the lifting and carrying, each sleeper needed two volunteers to move, as we brick stacked them into their new locations wondering how they would finally be attached (Lorraine was deciding this later).

We managed to make out way through the whole list of tasks, and took some down time within the centre to chat and have some lovely soup which they had made for us. A little later back on this return, but the soup was worth it!

Tonight's celebration for our resident islander David.

The last week of the January Challenge, that means the last group run for the month.

Push it

All out in force we saw 13 goodgymers for the group task, after an already impressive 8 for an earlier litterpick.

Those deeds where flying this week, and whilst on the subject of

Congratulations DAVE for hitting 100 and beyond

Those jogging and running met at the Glassworks as usual, for a jaunty 4.5km distance (total there and back). Whilst the walkers met at the task and then walked back.

Our task organiser tonight was the Samye Foundation, hosted by the lovely Lorraine. Greeted by the board of tasks it was a good night for 13 volunteers.

• Removing staples from paperwork
• Shredding paperwork
• Vacuuming building 252
• Mopping kitchen and toilets in building 252
• Vacuum the shrine room in building 250
• Wipe down the bannisters
• Vacuum the mindfulness practice room
• Mop the corridors and Tibetan café
• Repot the large plant out front

Quite a list tonight, but as Cardiff is on challenge mode nothing was going to phase us. We split into three groups, 1 outside and 2 split between the buildings.

We had a shredder overheating, and a group turning from removing staples to ripping documents. Our two horticulturists, repotting plants outside. Cleaning teams working in the furthest building, loving a vacuum and wipe down. No winging it tonight (except for Dave) only a full McCulundred % would do. From one building to another, stairs, corridors and the beautiful shrine room. We were truly blessed to be in there.

We tore through those tasks

As the bell finally rang for tools down, the crew were gathered for a celebratory sit down with soup. We had been treated to a wonderful fresh vegetable soup made by Lorraine.

2 SOUPS

We finished and bid farewell, taking a quick group photo outside before heading off for the night.

But wait, there's more... As this is our last group task of the month it’s time for food. Tonight for the burger deal.

Our last group task of 2025, and on a stormy night... Thankfully the four of us were not blown away by Bram and made it to the task. Even with 4 tonight we managed a runner, a walker and cyclists.

We were back at Samye, having been here only 2 weeks earlier it was great to see the decorations that we had put up, and the lights now turned on on the trees.

How FESTIVE 🎄

Tonight though, our task was a little different. Lorraine, who we has been our contact now for several years, had started making cards for sale.

as quickly as I make them they sell.

So to help, she was asking us to cut out the felt from templates and then assemble them as cards.

What a great way to end a year of goodgym Cardiff group tasks.

There was another task, to try to fix a paper lamp (temporarily), so Michael accepted this so that everyone else could be together making cards.

We had foxy cards and reindeer....plus those doves, the dove from above...

coooo, cooooooo

It was a great way to end our year, we had soup and toasties after the task and chatted with Lorraine about holiday plans. No one was in a rush to get away tonight, but leave we must.

We finish our group tasks, having completed....

596 good deeds

We still have the odd weekend task avail e, but a big thank you as always from me. You all amaze me, every year.

As we bid farewell to November and start to think of all those December parties coming up, 9 goodgymers met for their weekly task in Cardiff.

We welcomed, for the first time Henry.

CROESO

We also had a celebration for our Flo, who had decided to celebrate her 50th, 100th and 200th in one go. They had not fallen on group runs so tonight was a special for them.

Our walkers took to the streets first, whilst Lucy led the warm up. Once we were warmed up and raring to go we started our run to the task.

It was a cold evening, but the Winter lights were on and this made up for the temperature.

The runners arrived first at Samye, followed by Flo, and then the walkers. We were all inside warming up for the briefing, tonight's tasks were some painting in one room and then bringing down the Xmas trees from the attic and putting them up in the relevant rooms.

Before we started, Flo was given her wings to wear for her 100th.

Henry and Michael we're straight on painting duties, once our task leader, Lorraine let us into the room.

Lorraine then took Su, Martin, Lucy, Rosie, Flo, Dylan and Neda to sort out the decorations.

With Michael busy painting, Martin, Flo and Su were also on photography duties for tonight's report. Trees out of the attic and it was time to put them together and decorate.

The smaller tree had to be stripped of decorations so that it resembled a tree once more, whilst the rest we given plenty of bling for the season.

The trees were then moved around to three different rooms, but the lights will be held back until Monday for a December 01st switch on.

Now that the tasks were completed, it was back to Flo, but this time for her to pop on the goodgym Cardiff cape for her 200th task....

Well done Flo 🎉

As a treat, Lorraine had made us soup with a choice of Minestrone and Carrot. It was soon eaten, with some lovely bread and a selection of baklava that they had spare.

We gave our thanks and headed back to our start location. We will be returning in two weeks to help one more time this year.

Henry, it was great to meet and chat with you on your first run and task with goodgym, and we hope to see you again soon.

GoodGymers, join us next week as we help a new place for the first time.

Sign up here

Tonight the goodgymers got together to help out our friends at Samye Foundation. One of the originals for Cardiff, and one dearest to our hearts.

We were split, the walkers meeting us at the task and the runners as usual from the Glassworks.

We had our warm up, counted the runners in and said our welcome to the newest person - Lucy.

CROESO

During the run a message came through for Michael, and it all changed. Due to dental issues, our organiser had to leave the location for the task. But as we know.......

goodgym doesn't quit

Upon arrival at the Samye Foundation, Michael had a quick look around, and hey presto, a task was born.

Gloves on, volunteers ready, let's go!

We weeded all along the raised bed at the front of the yard, around the seating area and in front of the building. We cleared up all of the fallen leaves, and then we used all of this natural material as a mulch back on the soil, just as nature planned.

Weeds became mulch

Leaves became worm food

And then it was time for home.

We got plenty done, considering the last minute change. Thanks to all for coming, and hope to see you again next time.