Thirteen GoodGymmers came out in force to help keep a community kitchen clean and tidy.

Eight of us ran 2km from our meeting point at the Old Stein, braving the long climb up Ditchling road to meet the rest of the group at our new task venue - One Church on Florence Road. One Church is a faith based community in Brighton that also runs various projects and initiatives that helps to bring the community together.

One such project is the Florence Road Cafe - a well used space to relax, work or meet other people. And we were tasked with giving their kitchen a good clean and tidy up! From clearing and cleaning the fridges, to pulling out ovens to clean them inside and out, to sorting pots and pans to make them easier to access. This really was an example of many hands making light work, as we worked our way through the long list of jobs in just 45minutes.

As a notice on the fridge said: "the first rule of the kitchen fairy, is there is no kitchen fairy; the kitchen is only cleaned by volunteers" And our amazing group of GoodGymmers certainly did a good job of being kitchen fairies this week.

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We had a quick change of plans due to an emergency cancellation of our task at the Real Junk Food Project. Brighton Good Gym-ers practiced their hill running heading up to the Brighton Table Tennis Club.

We made quick work of washing up and cleaning the kitchen and reorganising cuboards.

Others folded and resorted the lost property pile so people could find their items more quickly. This included sorting out a large pile of lost glasses.

The task was done in record speed!

Thanks Theresa, BTTC Women coach, for hosting GoodGym today, and all as ever for the amazing job!

We followed this session with a social gathering at a Christmas Choir, where GoodGym-ers Rosie and Ben were the stars!

All STARS TT, actually :-) !

On a cold November night 13 intrepid GoodGym-ers made the short run over to the Brighton Community Kitchen to give it a good clean and a freshen up. We were joined on the task by first-timers Steve and Nicole!

Upon arrival, Jo from the kitchen explained to us the mission of the kitchen (part of the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership) to offer practical cookery skills and nutrition education to people facing food insecurity with their community cooking classes. The classes also help foster a community spirit, tackle social isolation and promote mental health.

With the help of one of Jo's famous checklists we split into groups to tackle sorting out the plastic bowls (Russian Doll-style), ordering plates, chopping boards and cutlery, giving all the stools and chairs a thorough clean, giving the ovens a deep clean and squeegeeing the outside windowsills.

Although ostensibly an altruistic mission, some GoodGym-ers got immense satisfaction from ensuring that everything was in its proper, ordered, place in the kitchen (cough, cough, Jane).

Once we'd got through all of that Jo thanked us and said that although it seems like a small thing to do these tasks, it makes a huge difference to the her as they are things that she just doesn't find time to do.

We said goodbye to Jo with a promise to return early next year and headed-off to the nearby Basketmakers Arms for a pie-and-pint social which was expertly organised by an absent Frannie!

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13 GoodGym-ers braved the incoming dark night to run along the Lewes Road at rush hour to Stanley Court, which is a YMCA supported accommodation.

We were last there in spring to help clear the small back yard area and to create a useful open-air space for gardening and other recreational activities for the residents. Over the summer the dreaded bind weed has made its presence known again so we were clearing the back yard, cutting back, pulling weeds and getting rid of the bind weed.

We also did some litter picking in an alley way next to the court, where lots has been abandoned in years. It was a real adventure to navigate in the poor light, but we managed to do the job.

A familiar face joined the team for the first time in Brighton - Welcome Jo!

We all made a big difference in a small area, and this is very satisfying!

Hoping that the little garden thrives over the winter.

Afterwards we jogged along to the Level Park to do some speed training, watched on by the ever-present skateboarders.

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