Brrr! Yesterday was a cold and rainy evening – a shocking return to the English weather for Stefania but nicely warmed up by the greetings of a grand group of Brighton GoodGym-ers ready for action!

We conquered Victoria Gardens by running several loops and alternating running fitness exercises with speeding up legs to keep us warm before leading to our task. But, this was not there available to our surprise! Never minded, and freewheeling, this GoodGym session turned to be a great social gathering at Lord Nelson Pub, where Michelle organised a quiz night for us, thank you!

GoodGym Teams: ”Good-ER Gym-ERs” and ”Great Guys” quizzed the names of cakes and guessed colours by answering multiple (and more) questions, but there is never a black or white answer for everthing, isn’t here? (Tom’s quote 😉)

We welcomed Matthew to join the fun and return to our future group sessions!

On a humid September evening we ran and cycled down Lewes Road to Moulsecoomb Primary School to help them prepare their school field for the first day of term the following day.

However, this wasn’t just your bog-standard school field. Upon arrival Warren gave us a little tour and showed us the replica Iron Age Roundhouse, a Clay House, some beautiful flowers and a vegetable patch all covered in wild grass plus a new greenhouse. The students get to explore the buildings in their history classes and they help out (and sometimes even enjoy!) maintaining the vegetable patch too. We were joined on the task by first time Goodgymers Andy and Tom - welcome to both!

We were tasked with removing the Bindweed from the Vegetable patch, weeding and moving and bagging the ready-to-go compost from the compost patch. Fittingly, and much like a school disco, we split into a boys group and a girls group, and although we didn’t dance separately we did all roll our sleeves up and get going! Apart from a few vicious (and as yet unidentified) insects in the vegetable patch everything went swimmingly and we were able to leave Warren with a few manageable tasks for the children to finish on their return.

No pub for us afterwards, all the Brighton Goodgymers needed an early night before the first day of school the next day 🤓

Well this summer continues to evade us, with a lovely day turning into patchy rain by the time we set off to Vicarage Bowls club yesterday evening. Luckily the rain didn't last and we navigated our way through the streets of Brighton out to the bowls club.

We have been regular visitors to the bowls over the years but sadly our host informed that this will be the last season the club is in use. After ninety-six years the club can no longer get the support it needs to keep running so will be closing come September.

With this in mind we set to work to make the planting look its best for the club's final hurrah! The main task was clearing a huge bed of overgrown brambles and weeds. All nine of us set to work cutting and pruning out any unwanted intruders. We had soon created a huge mound of debris filling eight bin bags!

With all this hard work on a humid summer's evening our kind host brought us water and biscuits to keep us fueled up. We then continued on clearing the bed, whilst some of us refreshed the path, with Jane in particular wielding her own weeding knife to great effect.

With such a big task we stayed later to try make a larger dent in the bed, skipping the fitness session. After a few photos we all ran and walked back into Brighton. If this is to be the last time we help the Vicarage Bowls Club then it was a great session to go out on and maybe we'll be back in future to help with whatever replaces the club. Thanks for everything VBC!

GoodGym Brighton made a heroic return to Somerset Point, where we have contributed various tasks over the years to keep their garden looking fresh.

On this sunny August evening, we met at the usual spot and began our efforts by running up an epic hill to reach our destination. The task tonight: weeding. The tool shed: open. The snails: everywhere.

Juliet and Sherman took charge of the shears and dealt with some unruly bushes round the front (ooer), ensuring that access to the building was kept clear for people with limited mobility. The rest of us got stuck into the weeds that seemed to have sprung up in every available space. It always amazes me how rapidly a big group of people can make a big difference to a task like this, and we left Somerset Point looking remarkably neater than when we arrived.

To finish up, we jogged down to the seafront for a sunset run. After assuming single file formation, we executed a straightforward workout in which the person at the back sprinted to the front, while the rest of us jogged continuously. Edel workshopped some bootcamp-style chanting to take this to the next level (although I'm not sure it was possible for us to look any cooler). Finally, we had a collective stretch in the last of the sunlight, before making our way to the pub for a well deserved cold beverage.

Despite the early start - post Saturday Brighton Pride festivities - a crack team of GoodGym-ers assembled to help keep Brighton beach litter-free and stop those pesky pieces of plastic from making their way in to the sea (as lovely a day as it is for a swim!)

We joined a great big bunch of other volunteers organised by our friends at the Brighton & Hove City Council Tidy Up Team as part of the BIG Pride Beach Clean, kitted up and litter-picking our way along the beach and promenade. Litter grabbing tools - also sometimes referred to as 'reaching tools' - fully justifying the tenuous S Club reference in the title :) - just one of the Brighton Pride 'Fabuloso' acts that the litter pick fabulously rewards us all with free tickets to.

Welcome to Edward who joined us for the first time and thanks to all of the returning GG team.

Venue: YMCA at George Williams Mews

Event: GoodGym Community Relay

Weather: Warm and sunny, perfect for outdoor activities

The sun beamed down like a spotlight on the grand Olympic stage as four runners and one cyclist embarked on their 3.5 mile mission from the Peace Statue to the YMCA at George Williams Mews. With the scent of barbecues and suntan lotion wafting through the air, the seafront route was nothing short of idyllic.

The Lineup

• Rosie - Lawn Mower Specialist

• Juliet, Liam, Daron, and Jane - Elite Weed Removal Team

It was a pleasure to welcome back Daron for his second task, and we celebrated Liam’s hat-trick as he joined us for his third.

Earlier in the day, our own Liam, acting as our reconnaissance athlete, met with Paul the gardener. Thanks to Liam’s early efforts, we swiftly gathered the keys from reception and were briefed on our tasks as we opened the well-stocked shed.

The Events

Lawn Mowing (Gold Medal Performance):

Rosie tackled the lawns with the finesse of a seasoned Olympian, leaving the grass immaculate and ready for any future picnics or outdoor games.

Weed Removal (Team Event):

Juliet, Liam, Daron, and I took on the challenge of transforming the paved area leading to the reception. With a combined effort reminiscent of a synchronized team, we removed weeds and ensured the approach to the reception was welcoming.

In the spirit of the Olympics, we left with a sense of camaraderie and fulfillment, ready to tackle the next community challenge. Until then, keep running, cycling, and spreading the GoodGym spirit!

Here’s to many more ‘gold medal’ moments in our community efforts. Well done, team!