We're lucky enough to have some beautiful spots to work in during our GoodGym tasks - think Paradise cooperative garden, Doddington roof garden, the panoramic terrace at St Joseph's school and so many more. Last night most certainly fit into that category as we ran down to the oldest church in Battersea - St Mary's. This historic place by the river was where Turner painted some of his iconic images of the Thames, and the area outside is a popular spot used by local people to enjoy. The space is cared for by volunteers, who asked us to come and help make it as welcoming and safe as possible.

We arrived to find not only tools, but all sorts of snacks and drinks waiting for us - we could get used to this! But first - the jobs. We divided up into teams to tackle various tasks. These included weeding, raking, litter picking and sweeping. Grabbing what we needed we scattered across the churchyard.

Paul, Pritesh, Caroline and Catherine were in charge of making sure the area in front of the church was neat and tidy - with the help of the world's largest broom. Meanwhile Katie and Annabel were tackling the weeds alongside the building and searching for a sign of the grass seeds that had been planted 50 years ago - any day now. Jo, Jordan and Steph covered plenty of ground collecting all the dried leaves and grass, and Johnnie, Jordan, Sophie and Ali were waging war on the cig butts and other litter messing up the place and polluting our waterways. Great work everybody!

There was just time to enjoy some Haribo and a photo opp before we went round the corner to do our fitness session on some of the greenest, bounciest grass in Wandsworth. There were burpees, there was balancing, there were some yoga moves and there were some very smoooth transitions. Impressive moves, team!

The big news is that next week we have our birthday themed task and social - please come along to celebrate, to do some good and to mark an amazing nine years of GG Wandsworth. I'd love to see you there

Check out our community missions page if you'd like to help with the Battersea Summer Scheme every day this week. There are plenty of ways to help support this event for disadvantaged kids in the area.

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Mission accomplished at Loughborough Farm!

Tonight’s fantastic six-strong crew descended upon Heather’s domain at Loughborough Farm like a well-oiled (and slightly soggy) machine. Armed with determination, our heroes tackled the great ballast adventure of 2025!

The MOT Spreading Squad 🚛

Our fearless volunteers channeled their inner road builders, spreading MOT ballast by the plant room with the precision of seasoned professionals. Who knew that “getting your steps in” could involve so much actual construction work? The ballast didn’t stand a chance against our collective enthusiasm and surprising upper body strength!

Timber Titans & Concrete Champions 🪵🏗️

Not content with just one heroic feat, the team also:

• Relocated ancient timber with the grace of furniture movers (but with more dirt under their fingernails)
• Conquered the concrete mountain - because nothing says “cardio” like hauling chunks of old concrete to their final resting place

Welcome Back Celebrations! 🎉

The evening was made even more special with some brilliant returnees:

• Jordan graced us with their presence after what felt like forever away - we missed those legendary lifting skills!
• Jo made a triumphant comeback after becoming a superhero parent to a beautiful baby boy! From Task Force hero to actual life-creating hero - now that’s an upgrade!

Tonight’s Dream Team 🌟

A massive shout-out to our incredible volunteers: Michael, Ben, Tilly, Jordan, Jo, and Adam - you absolute legends! Six people, countless wheelbarrows, and one very satisfied Heather at Loughborough Farm.

Remember: We don’t just run for fitness, we run for purpose! Next week, who knows what adventures await… but we guarantee it’ll involve getting pleasantly grubby while making a real difference in our community.

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Keep being amazing, GoodGym Lambeth! 🏃‍♂️🌱

It was all anyone was talking about all day, but on the hottest day of the year so far, our intrepid GoodGym crew forewent the air con and dark rooms and braved the blazing sunshine for a brand new task – heading over to Balham Nursery to help create a beautiful garden space for their under-fives.

We took a gentle jog to the site where we were warmly met by headteacher Natasha and immediately offered ice-cold water, which was very gratefully received. After a quick briefing, we got to work clearing and transforming the space.

The area needed a bit of TLC to become the safe, vibrant spot the nursery envisions – a place where the children can play, sit, and learn among wildflowers. We raked, weeded, and cleared debris to make it safe and welcoming. Along the way, we unearthed a number of long-lost treasures: colourful balls, plastic spades, and even a lion – along with a few other wild animals! Naturally, all creatures great and small were carefully returned to their rightful home.

The heat at 7:30 wasn't conducive to pushing ourselves further so fitness was shevled - but only until next week! So after a satisfying tidy-up, a bit more water, and a final look at our progress, we called it a success and made our way home.

Next week we’re heading back to Doddington for our regular monthly visit – and then on to a pub quiz. Come along and join the fun – we’d love to see you there! Here's the sign up page

Mission Accomplished at Cressingham Gardens

Our dedicated team of GoodGym volunteers got their sweat on while making a real difference in the community! We tackled a major garden transformation project that left everyone feeling accomplished and energized.

Tasks Completed

• Full garden weeding - cleared the entire space of unwanted growth
• Central area restoration - removed weeds, concrete blocks, and old wooden edging to create a clean, usable space

Highlight of the Day

The most memorable moment came when we discovered an unexpected family of residents - five adorable little toads! 🐸 This delightful surprise brought smiles to everyone’s faces and reminded us that our gardening efforts are creating habitats for local wildlife too.

Community Impact

Christine from Cressingham Gardens was absolutely delighted with the transformation. Her joy and gratitude made all the hard work worthwhile and perfectly captured why we do what we do.

Special Recognition

Huge thanks to Katie who stepped up brilliantly to co-lead the session meeting Jordan at Papa’s when Joao got held up with work commitments. This kind of flexibility and teamwork spirit is what makes GoodGym Lambeth special.

Another successful mission combining fitness, community service, and unexpected wildlife encounters - exactly what GoodGym is all about!.