Last night, Area Activator Simon was joined by 7 keen local Goodgymmers for our first group run session of British Summertime! Simon, Luke, Caitlin, Paul and first timer Alice ran 1.3 miles together from the Arsenal Community Hub, up Mackenzie Road and down to the beautiful Thornhill Square Gardens (one of Islington's largest community maintained public parks).

Upon our arrival, resident gardening expert Anna introduced us to a variety of tasks for the night. We split into 3 groups- Matt and Sam (originally from GG Southwark) assisted with rebuilding a dead hedge (a barrier made of fallen branches and trimmings) by the south side of the park. Luke and Paul were given a root pulling challenge around the former rose bush beds- trimming down overgrown foliage, and excavating the long roots to prevent them from reappearing (the hard ground made for difficult work- we even lost a hardy gardening fork in the process!). Caitlin, Alison and Alice helped with weeding the memorial flower bed (very close to the cherry blossom trees we helped to maintain last year! Still going strong and looking healthy!), removing pervasive greenery to make space for more plants. Towards the end of the session, the crew found time to install loads of lovely snowdrops around the bed- hopefully we will see thousands of these growing soon.

We downed tools after just under 50 minutes of effort, and arranged to see Anna again soon. A team of us then celebrated the end of March (and first session with no lights or head torches needed) by visiting The Hemingford Arms for some refreshments. Well done everyone!

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GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS

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SESSIONS IN MARCH / APRIL

Community Mission- Barnsbury Square Gardens 7.15pm, Barnsbury Square Gardens Monday 7th April

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-friends-of-barnsbury-square-gardens

Group Run- Elizabeth House Food Hub 6.15pm (early start), Arsenal Community Hub Monday 14th April

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-elizabeth-house-food-hub-6-15-pm-start-easter-special

Community Mission- Timbuktu Adventure Playground 7.15pm, Timbuktu Adventure Playground, 31 Grenville Road Monday 21st April

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-timbuktu-adventure-playground

Group Run- Highbury Quadrant Estate 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 28th April

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-highbury-quadrant-green-space-garden-maintenance

Community Mission- Sunnyside Community Gardens 7.15pm, Sunnyside Community Gardens, Monday 5th May

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-sunnyside-community-gardens-composting-b58e17f0-7881-4f9a-a24b-8438fce2b8e1

Group Run- Sunnyside Community Gardens 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 12th May

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-sunnyside-community-gardens-composting

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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!

Green Park Thursday 3rd April https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-green-park-summer-session-2ac7d985-4c29-48ba-806a-b17afad7039b

Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 10th April https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-d35d794a-d813-4cb4-ba66-13782bb31631

Emirates Stadium Thursday 17th April https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-a04b2b49-dfb1-46c1-93b8-b4be751fa9f7

Paddington Rec Track Thursday 24th April https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-807ac766-ce7f-4496-8589-c8023e7fa0cc

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Track and Towpath Social Running Sessions

Every Wednesday (fortnightly), 7.30am, Mile End Athletics Track

If you are looking for accessible training sessions that can be included in your schedule, then come and join Area Activator Simon for his fortnightly runs.

Track training is always more fun with others, and these are designed to be sociable and open to all!

Structured training sessions, followed by refreshments at The Yurt Café, Limehouse!

Wednesday 2nd April

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-towpath-morning-social-track-session-mile-end-6-ab6a4b95-d369-41e3-a661-2cceae24d142

Wednesday 16th April

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-towpath-morning-social-track-session-mile-end-8

Wednesday 30th April

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-towpath-morning-social-track-session-mile-end-9

Wednesday 14th May

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-towpath-morning-social-track-session-mile-end-10

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Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!

Tuesday 1st April, 12.45 - 1.15pm, Elizabeth House

On Tuesday afternoons, during term time, the team at Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested for an extra pair of hands to help with cleaning and tidying up their donation centre.

Expect some satisfying sweeping and surface cleaning to assist this busy team!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/elizabeth-house-food-hub-lunchtime-sweep-up-task-4642b719-1d06-4931-abcb-9baeb3fb5906

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Green Guardians Spring Sessions

The Garden Classroom, Newington Green

Wednesday 2nd April

Wednesday 23rd April

Wednesday 30th April

Wednesday 7th May

Wednesday 14th May

Wednesday 21st May

Next session:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-newington-green-green-guardians-volunteer-morning-61f840e3-cbf7-40c4-8a65-7187f33efd31

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Market Road Gardens

Tuesday 1st April

Tuesday 22nd April

Tuesday 29th April

Tuesday 6th May

Tuesday 13th May

Tuesday 20th May

Next Session:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-market-road-gardens-tuesday-volunteer-morning-0365865f-631d-4070-a757-093768907968

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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session

Saturday 12th April, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington

A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!

A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.

Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/compton-terrace-gardens-volunteer-open-morning-april-d3362b49-47b5-4344-9edb-ee2d44238f35

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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (April)

Saturday 19th April, 10am - midday, Canonbury Square Gardens

The Friends of Canonbury Square Gardens host an open community gardening session on the 3rd Saturday morning of every month.

Usual tasks would include bulb planting, trimming, laying compost, maintaining flower beds and litter picking.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning-april-6a69ce93-f13b-4b4b-8824-620f40072a25

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Penn Road Gardens - April Volunteer Day

Sunday 27th 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.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-april-eca3427e-f335-4bd4-8c90-aa709fe9cf8b

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Hackney Half Aid Station and Marshal Volunteering

Sunday 18th May, 7am onwards, Marion Place, Pritchard's Road (TBC)

The team at Motiv Sport have asked if our Goodgym team would be interested assisting with the 2024 Hackney Half Marathon on one of the 6 water and aid stations.

All volunteers that help in 2025 are offered a free place in any of our running events in 2026 (Hackney Half, London 10K, Oxford Half).

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/hackney-half-aid-station-and-marshal-volunteering

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Mack on Track 02: marshals and pacers wanted!

Thursday 22nd May, 6.30pm, London Marathon Community Track, Stratford

Mack on Track is a super inclusive 5000m track running event, with a twist. The objective is to help as many runner as possible get (or come close to) their personal beats for 5km by providing trusted pacers to do so.

The team are looking for helps to assist with registration of participants, alerting runners about when each pace group starts and cheering on the athletes!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/mack-on-track-03-marshals-and-pacers-wanted

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London 10km with Saucony- Water Station Volunteers!

Sunday 13th July, 7.30am onwards, Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AH

An incredible event that offers runners to opportunity to race through traffic free streets in the Capital!

Motiv Sports (who also operate the Hackney Half and Oxford Half marathons) have requested Goodgym assistance to help at their 2nd aid station on the day.

Food and water provided, and a free entry for any 2026 event on the Motiv Sports roster will be offered to all volunteers!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-10km-with-saucony-water-station-volunteers-7fc3f823-de75-4b32-9ada-ec2e94c7a51a