This week is Mental Health Awareness week, and to celebrate members from two special partners came together for their first ever GoodGym session.

First we have Zurich, GoodGym's partner for the Movement For Change program which will be bringing thousands of young people into GoodGym over the next few years.

Next, we have Shout, a free, confidential, 24/7 crisis text support service for anyone in the UK. Since launching in 2019, Shout's trained volunteers, supported by experienced clinicians, have taken more than three million conversations!

We started the day at the Zurich office where we ran 3.5km to the Galleywell Nature Reserve, an amazing oasis of natural habitat in Central London. The reserve allows nature to thrive, and is a vital resource for the local community and adjacent school who can visit to learn about the environment.

After a quick intro from the head of the nature reserve Paul, we got straight to work. One corner of the reserve had become a dumping ground for discarded items over the years and it was blocking a safe path to the tap, as well as causing numerous hazards for everyone visiting. This was a real arm workout as moved heavy wooded sleepers, fences and other form of debris as we cleared a path to the water tap.

A shed also needed moving so Paul and his team has attached makeshift bars to the side of the shed enabling the whole structure to be lifted off the ground. It was a giant game of Tetris as the group shifted and wiggled the shed into its new home.

Special shout out to Benisha who complete her longest run, and to Joel and William for their exceptional help with the heavy lifting. Emily and Laura showed great initiative in regards to starting the task and Jihane and Timotej showed great fitness today during the run.

After the task, we ran back with some of the Zurich team back to their office, with a total distance of 7km and all fit into an extended lunch break. The work done today will have a real impact on local residents. Galleywell is a vital green spaces in the borough with a invertebrate habitat wall, made out of recycled materials and gradually being built by volunteers. The site is currently well used by the adjacent school, and raised beds, native climbers and a bee hive are proposed to encourage more public interest in the garden.

Everyone did amazing today and I hope you all enjoyed your first GoodGym Session.