With a last minute task cancellation last night we had to pivot quickly but that didn't dampen our enthusiasm in the slightest! Maybe that was because it was our fitness leader Catherine's birthday so we were feeling festive (and energised by the prospect of cake) or maybe it was that spring was in the air, or perhaps it was just those Monday GoodGym good vibes!

We kicked off with a warm up and a quick round up of what we'd be wishing for if we were blowing out the candles. From new houses, to more dogs in the world, to be able to fly, to fewer candles on the cake - our dreams are certainly varied!

We set off on our run to Bramford Gardens, a community green space run by a volunteer, Shah. Unfortunately when we arrived we found that a contractor had been in and pulled up a load of carefully thought out plants. We needed to jump into action to tidy up the place as best we could - and fast.

We divided up into teams. There was plenty to do - collecting and transporting pallets, litter picking, strengthening the raised beds which had been knocked down, scrubbing graffiti and picking out that sticky weed - which seems to get everywhere!

After a good stint we were done, and moved onto party game themed fitness. There was freeze tag and a plank waterfall, with just one team emerging victorious, although it was a close run thing.

After a run back it was time for stretches and cake - lots of cake! Next week it's Easter Monday so there will no group run - but don't worry it wil be scheduled for later in the week. There is plenty to look forward to, including this mission to beautify a nature reserve and a task to dig lots of holes in Southfields!

What a session! A big warm welcome to Hollie , who bravely joined us for her first ever GoodGym session and we also had the pleasure of welcoming Michael from Tower Hamlets, who joined us for his first group run in Wandsworth. Lovely to have you both with us.

We had a new task for the evening, one that was short in distance but big on impact. Wandsworth Bereavement Services provide invaluable support to people coping with grief, offering a compassionate space for those navigating difficult times through free counselling. With a paint job last done over 30 years ago, they asked for with some much-needed painting and decorating.

We jumped straight into the task with typical GG energy – tackling the rooms named August, Summer, and Winter. Armed with tape and rollers, we delved into the technical jargon of the painting world. Words like "cutting in" were casually thrown around as if we were all seasoned pros even if the techniques were slightly more mixed.

There was some debate over whether we were getting more paint on ourselves or the walls, but I think we all know the answer – it was a bit of both. By the end of the session, however, we could all agree that the rooms were looking much fresher, and progress had definitely been made.

Next week, we’ll be back to finish what we started and finish giving the place a great facelift for the service users. If you're in the mood for some more fun this Saturday, join Jason at Age UK Wandsworth where we'll be washing buses and tackling a few other bits and bobs. It’s a task that's definitely cleaner than painting. Fingers crossed.

Thanks again to everyone for your hard work and enthusiasm for a massive task, hope to see you all for the big finish next week!

The Katherine Low Settlement in Battersea is an amazing hub for all sorts of charities. They support refugees with various programs, have clubs for the elderly, provide food for vulnerable groups and loads of resources for kids. They also have a garden which has been neglected over winter, and needed a bit of extra love. Which is where we came in!

A big welcome to Holly who joined for the very first GoodGym session, great to have you with us Holly!

We met at a very chilly BAC and got straight into getting those frozen muscles with lot of dynamic movements up the hill. We finished off the warm up with a quick Valentine's Day related quiz question with a bit of a dark edge to it before setting off.

After a brisk run down to the centre we were shown the garden and given a list of jobs which included deadheading, sweeping, clearing and weeding. There was also a job inside for the lucky few tidying up a games cupboard and sweeping.

Before long we were a buzz of activity and within 25 minutes of hard work the garden was looking so much tidier and more welcome for the service users. The games cupboard was immaculate and ready for use by the kids club, and the floors were spotless thanks to Jo and her giant brush.

After a few minutes thawing out in the warm we headed back out to face the night and do a fitness session based on lower body muscle groups. Every 30 seconds saw us change up the exercise, from curtesy, plié, oblique crunch and static squats, to lunges, jumps, single leg holds and pulses. Phew!

Next week we have an indoor task writing envelopes for an intergenerational charity - sign up here

Great work everybody, thanks for all your efforts on a pretty cold night!

Last night was testament to the amazing things a group of us working together can do in just a short amount of time - and the level of happy chaos it can also create!

We had the pleasure of a new task yesterday. The Positive Network believes in fostering unity, empowerment and resilience predominately within the Black community across generations. They put on various programs and initiatives, celebrate cultural heritage and create a supportive network. They also believe in the power of community and collaboration to drive positive change - something we can definitely agree on here at GoodGym!

They have a centre in Balham which is used by its members. With so much going on there it is little surprise that its small store room had got to bursting at the seams with food, paperwork and other resources. It had become a bit of an issue for Grace, who runs the centre, and she asked us to come and give it a good sort out. There was also the question of a set of shelves to be built...

We quickly organised ourselves into a human chain. Out came dozens of water bottles, files of paper, more toilet rolls than we could count, a piano, a kettle, even a eyesight chart. It was like our very own generation game. All that was missing was the cuddly toy!

Meanwhile the shelves were being assembled by a group of allen key heroes. They made impressive headway in a short amount of time, only to meet with some resistance right at the last step. Nevertheless they persevered and right at the last minute they could be moved back into the office. Only to find, after all that work that the door didn't close properly with them in it! Disaster. Still, with some very impressive tetris style manoeuvring the problem was solved and we could call it a job well done.

Two groups set off for the pub in stages (thanks for expertly guiding everybody back Pritesh and to Katie for leading stretches!) and an evening of board games. With an epic game of Traitors we learned even more about each other, trust and treachery...!

Next week we're back to Age UK and there is also this great mission on Wimbledon common on Sunday - hope to see you there!

Brrr, the cold snap wasn’t letting up last night, but that didn’t stop our awesome group of runners from showing up and getting straight to work! There was no time to hang around in the freezing temperatures, we were all eager to get moving, warm up, and make a difference.

We welcomed some new faces to the group this evening — a big GoodGym welcome to you all! We’re so glad to have you with us and hope you’ll be back for more fun in the future. Great to have you join us Hannah, Lisa and Benjamin

We kicked things off with a quick warm-up, and Catherine came up with an excellent Monday question - where is the best roast in the area to be found? It got us all thinking (and hungry) — there were some great suggestions but we decided we definitely need to find a good veggie option. Suggestions welcome!

Once we were all warmed up and ready to go, we ran down to the Venue, a community hub that serves as a space for healthy eating classes, kids' groups, storage for donations, and more. Our task for the night was a massive tidy-up. There was plenty of composting, cleaning, and clearing to be done, but the biggest challenge? A pool of dried, spilled cream that had made a sticky mess! It was a tough one, but there was no use crying over spilled, er, cream. With hot water, cleaning fluid, and plenty of elbow grease, we managed to get the job done. No more rancid spillage, just one big sparkling floor!

There was lots to clear away, but with so many hands working together, we got through it all in no time.

After the task, we finished off with a core session. We all got to know each other a little better as we squeezed into one corner and got down to business.Core work helps with stabilising your body when you get tired during a run, so you can maintain good running form. It’s a key part of injury prevention, so well done on some great efforts from everybody.

After a run back we wrapped up with some stretches after all that hard work. Next week we have a new task in Balham, which means we’ll be leaving sharpish to get there. If it sounds like too much of a stretch, you can always meet us there. After the task, we’re having a social at the Four Thieves with some board games — it’s going to be a lot of fun, and we’d love for you to join us!

Some more dates for your diary:

• On Saturday there is this great mission to help clear the paths at a nature reserve

• We have a new regular community mission helping out with a kids club at the Doddington community garden late Thursday afternoons

• If you're free on the morning of the 24th and have an hour to spare, this amazing organisation which is home to several charities needs some help moving two offices around