Today we headed to the Bull Theatre in High Barnet to help Susi and Dave get this important local theatre and performing arts centre ready for its next season.

With its theatre and two dance studios, the Bull provides a great space for young people and the wider community to get involved in drama, dance and music. We got stuck into some much-needed decorating. painting walls, cleaning them down as well as painting the floor.

There’s plenty of history here too. The site dates back centuries and has been a pub, magistrates court and, from 1975, the Old Bull Arts Centre. When its future became uncertain in the early 2000s, the local community helped save it, and today it continues as an independent charity and home for performing arts in Barnet. It has even seen the likes of Amy Winehouse and Alexandra Burke perform here in their earlier days.

It’s exactly the sort of community facility that is worth supporting giving young people opportunities to build confidence, learn skills, perform and meet others.

And, of course, this was GoodGym so we had to get there actively! Jack and I cycled, Subham ran some of the way, while the rest of the team made their way by public transport.

Thanks to Susi and Dave for welcoming us. Hopefully this is the start of us doing a bit more to help keep this historic little theatre vibrant and serving the Barnet community for many years to come.

The plan was simple: help the Phoenix Cinema by delivering some promotional leaflets. Then came the call… could we help water the planters at Lyttelton Playing Fields instead?

As GoodGym helped with the planting over the last couple of years, there was only one answer: yes!

With temperatures still around 29°C, we warmed up at the Phoenix, delivered leaflets en route to support our fantastic local cinema, then jogged on to Lyttelton. Thanks to the hosepipe ban, around 15 planters had to be watered the old-fashioned way—with buckets and teamwork.

Of course, not all the water reached the plants… there were a few well-aimed splashes too! It was a great reminder that even serious challenges can bring people together with a smile.

As our climate changes, we’ll need more of this—communities helping communities. That’s what GoodGym does best: getting fit, having fun and making a real difference together.

also

🎉 Save the Date – GoodGym Barnet is 10! 🎉

This August we’re celebrating 10 years of GoodGym Barnet – and we’d love you to join us.

Whether you’ve run, walked, volunteered, hosted us, or worked alongside us to make Barnet a better place, you’ve been part of our story. Over the last decade we’ve helped dozens of local organisations and met some incredible people. We simply couldn’t have done it without you.

Join us on Tuesday 18th August at Long Lane Pasture, the very place where GoodGym Barnet began 10 years ago. We’ll lend a hand with a short volunteering task, then celebrate with food, birthday cake and plenty of time to catch up. Event details & sign-up https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/10-year-anniversary-gardening-at-long-lane-pasture-nature-reserve

If you’re still a GoodGym member, please sign up via the link. If not, just reply to let me know you’d like to come so we have an idea of numbers.

It would be wonderful to celebrate with as many old and new friends as possible. We hope to see you there!

A few people came online to do yoga.

Yoga talk

Yoga can contribute to muscle development while nurturing physical and mental wellness. In yoga studios and classes, practices like vinyasa yoga incorporate strength-focused poses that engage muscles and encourage growth. While yoga’s primary goal isn’t solely muscle-building, it does enhance overall body strength and tone.

A few people came online to do Yoga.

yoga talk

Regular yoga improves flexibility by gradually increasing the tolerance of your muscles and nervous system to stretching, allowing your joints to move more comfortably through a wider range of motion.