Millions of people visit Brighton's beautiful beaches every year to swim in the sea and enjoy the seaside vibes. However, not everyone departs without leaving a trace. After this year's May bank holiday weekend, the council cleared up 20 tonnes of rubbish from the beach.

Brighton & Hove Tidy Up Team is a volunteering organisation that has equipment stashed all over the city to allow volunteers to proactively keep their city clean.

On a blissfully cool summer evening, we took a shift with their equipment to have a beach clean of our own. We were joined by new Goodgymmer Alessandro, lapsed Goodgymmer Rachel back after a long sabbatical and Liz for her second task with us. We picked-up funky vests, monstrous litter pickers and an array of bin bags from the communal equipment bin by the Bandstand and then descended on to the surrounding promenade and beach.

We split into pairs, with dedicated bag holders to avoid the ignominy of having a gust of wind upend your rubbish bag while you're trying to put something else in. Although the beach wasn't looking too litter strewn we still managed to pick-up a lot of cigarette butts, bottle caps, plastic wrappers, straws and cans.

Hearteningly, throughout the evening we were approached by a number of people thanking us for our work, which was a beautiful reminder that most people care deeply about keeping their beaches clean and that the litter is only dropped by a small minority.

Another very warm Sunday morning saw us back at Queen’s Park Junior Parkrun, helping the young runners safely around their 2km course.

I was on tailwalking duties, while Sarah took up position marshalling at the wonderfully named Fairy Grotto, guiding the kids around the course and helping point them safely home towards the finish.

Despite the early start, it was still seriously hot out there! A few of the youngsters sensibly decided to call it a day part-way round. This did, however, leave the tailwalker suddenly with nobody to tail...

So much for walking! 😅

With the remaining runners disappearing into the distance, this particular tailwalker had to put in an unexpected sprint around the course to catch up with the back of the field. Who knew tailwalking could turn into speed training?!

Eventually everyone was safely accounted for, with Sarah cheering and directing our runners through the Fairy Grotto and onwards to the finish.

A hot but fun morning supporting another brilliant junior parkrun — and a rather more energetic tailwalk than expected!

6 GoodGymmers ran and cycled their way to FareShare Sussex and Surrey’s depot this evening, to help them prepare for tomorrow’s deliveries and collections.

After donning our mandatory kit of boots, high viz vests, and gloves - we were given our instructions by task host Steven.

After a rather hot and sweaty 2.5 mile run, Rosie, Jane and Nicola were eager to help out in the refrigerated section of the warehouse, picking orders ready for collection, while cyclists Rachel, Sarah and Sarah opted to keep warm and help load the van with tomorrow’s deliveries to the Guildford hub.

FareShare Sussex & Surrey provide food to more than 144 local charities and community groups that not only deliver meals but provide additional services, such as advice and guidance, health support, counselling and befriending. They are an environmental charity that uses surplus food as a vehicle for good above and beyond alleviating hunger.