It's been a long time since we last helped out at The Exchange in Erith, so it was great to be back.

The Exchange has a wonderful garden, and we'd been asked to help turn a large compost heap by moving its contents from a full pen into the empty one next door.

First, we needed to clear away nettles and brambles, and collect discarded flower pots and litter to give ourselves better access. So it was on with the heavy-duty gloves and out with the secateurs and litter pickers! This didn't take long, and soon we were ready for the main event.

If you've never moved compost, you might be surprised just how hard work it is! We certainly got a good workout as we forked the material from one side to the other. As part of the process, we also cut small twigs and stems into shorter pieces to help them rot down more quickly. Anything thicker than a pencil was picked out and tossed into one-tonne bags to be disposed of elsewhere.

In our allotted time, we managed to turn over about half the compost, so there may well be a return visit to finish the job.

Karen, manager at The Exchange, seemed very pleased with our efforts and rewarded us with hot drinks in the lovely coffee bar. It was a welcome chance to sit and chat over hot chocolates and coffees before heading home, tired but happy!

Another session for Caroline and me sorting through donated clothes and all sorts of other bits and pieces that come through the system at the Community Hospice Shop. As usual, our three-hour stint passed swiftly enough as we assessed the quality, or lack thereof, of the many items passing through our hands.

It really is a case of everything from the sublime to the ridiculous. One minute we're admiring an immaculate, spotless Gucci dress, and the next we're confronted with a pair of grotty dungarees that someone has presumably used to paint their shed, screwed up into a ball, abandoned in a dusty attic for a year or so, and then retrieved with the thought that they might somehow be worth recycling.

Nevertheless, it's always fun and fascinating, and provides a golden opportunity to evaluate a and perhaps discover a fashionable new look for the coming winter season!

Using a work volunteering day, I joined regular GoodGym volunteers Caroline and Simon for a morning helping at the Community Hospice shop and warehouse in Welling.

As a first-timer, I was welcomed by Andrew, the warehouse manager, who gave me a tour and explained how the sorting process works. Donations are checked and separated into different categories including men's, women's and children's clothing, bric-a-brac and textiles. We also learned how to identify items suitable for sale and which should go into the "rags" collection, where they can still be put to good use.

Thankfully Caroline and Simon already knew exactly what they were doing, so I was able to learn the ropes quickly and get stuck in. Together we worked our way through a full cage of donations before moving on to help with some more.

It was great to see the generosity of local people, with plenty of good quality items coming through the warehouse. There always seemed to be another bag waiting to be opened, and you never quite knew what you were going to find next.

One of the highlights was discovering a set of four donated teddy bears, who kindly joined us for a team photo, along with a few interesting clothing choices that gave us a laugh while we worked.

A big thank you to Andrew and the hospice team for making me feel so welcome. It was a really enjoyable way to spend a volunteering day and a reminder of how much work goes on behind the scenes to help raise funds for such an important local charity.

Caroline and I had another three-hour session at the Community Hospice Shop out the back helping with the sorting of donated bags. You just never know what's going to turn up. Sometimes its beautiful, unworn, still labeled, designer gems. Sometimes its a case of eeeuugh! Some people clearly have a very low bar for what they deem as recyclable. Seems to me the folks running this place could do with a few more of us volunteer sorters as there's quite a big build up of donated stuff as far as I could see. We always keep our eyes out for something unusual or amusing. I found this cuddly crocodile which I rather liked. Caroline couldn't resist donning this blingy Roman helmet. We were both bemused by the shark with three shoes on and wondered at the creative thinking behind that. The joker popped by to monitor progress but apart from that it was just another fun session Goodgymming!

This morning was another three hour session down at the Community Hospice sorting centre in Welling, going through as many of the many donated bags of clothes and whatnots as we could in the time.

Today was the most bags we'd ever seen piled up in the large metal cages. Thankfully Caroline and I were joined by new GoodGymmer Alice to help out. While Caroline showed Alice the ropes, I worked on a separate table. Alice took to it all straight away!

During our regular sessions here, we usually come across the odd thing that raises a smile; this morning was no exception with amusing statements on t-shirts and other items. We posed for the two most worthy of a picture!

I'm often surprised at the statements people are prepared to wear proudly, and our finds today reminded me of the time Caroline and I saw a very well built body builder-type chap wearing a 'World's Greatest Gran' t-shirt!

Hopefully the items we unpacked today will soon be worn proudly by new owners, with their resale raising vital funds for the Community Hospice's amazing work.

Congratulations on your first ever GG task, Alice- great to have you with us! We look forward to seeing you again soon.

If you fancy helping with this much needed donation sorting, drop us a line and we'll find some new dates with the Hospice team.