On our penultimate group run of the year we were back for our second visit to Green Dragon school to work on their new garden, visit the foxes and tackle more than a few brambles and rocks.

Well done to Michelle ad Jon for racing at the weekend in tough conditions. Great running!

We met for a run down to the school, beautifully lit by all the festive lights along the route. By the time we arrived, Una, who manages the garden, was ready with spades, forks and instructions on our job for the evening.

It maybe have been one of the last group sessions, but there was certainly no slacking. We had some very gnarly established bramble roots to dispatch, huge rocks to remove and a flat planting area to create.

We soon got to work, the evening filled with the festive sound of tuneful GoodGym voices echoing gently over the peaceful playground and the neighbourhood beyond....

After a good stint the area was looking much clearer, with Una remarking that 'you did more in one night that we could have in a month' - praise indeed! Well done team.

If that wasn't hard enough, we did an intense arm work out that worked our traps, biceps and shoulders. We even got a bit of encouragement from the kids on bikes that passed by!

Next week is our final group run of the year, but don't worry, it's going to be a goodie. In what has become an end of year tradition for us, we are going to be spreading the word about the amazing It's a Wrap project, hopefully getting a pressie into the hands of every underprivileged child in the borough. We'll then be celebrating with a social at the pub. Don't miss it!

It was a night of celebrations in Westminster last night - not only did we pick up two very successful hauls of bread, rolls, sandwiches and pastries that would otherwise be thrown away but it was also...

Sam's 1500th good deed!

Huge congratulations Sam - from sorting and stacking at foodbanks, packing clothes for rough sleepers and volunteering at junior parkrun, Sam has created a huge positive impact by doing good in Southwark and beyond. Well done Sam, you've spread a lot of happ-bee-ness!

Andy, Sam and walked through the Christmas crowds carefully balancing our bags of goodies trying to locate the Under One Sky Team on their weekly walk to support vulnerable people in central London. This charity provides essentials to rough sleepers, not only good food that would otherwise be wasted, bu hot drinks, resources and support. It was great to see their vital work in action.

On a wet Monday night in Wandsworth we bought the festive cheer, beginning with a warm up and a survey about Christmas films - do they make you ho ho ho or are they just about as fun as an over boiled brussel sprout? The grinches just lost out in the votes, and the verdict is in - Christmas movies are here to stay!

It was great to see some new faces along to our run - a huge welcome to Emma and Giulio who came along to their very first session. Give them a big festive cheer!

Our job for the evenings was at Larkhall park, a regular location for GoodGym visits. Every time we come we work hard on various spots throughout the park alongside the regular volunteers who help keep it a safe and welcoming green space for local people.

Last night we divided into two groups. The first team was to tackle the big bed at the entrance of the park, the second went off to help shift a massive pile of soil and to clear an area of leaves.

Before long it was action stations and everybody was hard at work. Jordan and Felix took on the massive soil shifting challenge, while Jason debuted his fabulous new invention - the spade light. Quick, somebody get it patented. It only took 40 minutes for us to make a big difference and the Friends of Larkhall Park group appreciated how much got done. Well done team!

The fun didn't stop there though - there was just enough time to squeeze in a circuits based fitness station in the playground. It featured squats, ladder runs, curtsy lunges and plenty of laughs.

Next week it's our final group run of 2026. I'm just finalising the task, so keep an eye out for the sign up page. We'll follow this with a social at a local pub - time to get those vocal chords warmed up!

There are plenty of opportunities to spread the Christmas joy this week, including:

• Helping collect donations and other jobs at Battersea's oldest church tonight. We really need a couple more volunteers for this - and you will be rewarded by celebrity speakers and mulled wine!

• Supporting a carol concert for the elderly on Thursday

• Putting up Christmas decorations at a church in Battersea on Saturday morning