Today I had the pleasure of joining George for his 100th good deed a brilliant milestone and a testament to what GoodGym Barnet is all about.

We met on the walk over (he’d come by bus as usual!) and headed together to help a Barnet resident whose garden had become completely overtaken by brambles. (She risks compromising her tenancy agreement if it’s not kept tidy) Armed with her tools, we got stuck in: clipping, clearing, chatting, and enjoying that simple but powerful feeling of doing something useful for someone else.

What always strikes me about Community Missions is how little the “who” or “why” matters. It’s the giving that counts the small act, the short visit, the bit of sweat and fresh air that somehow leaves you walking away lighter than when you arrived. They’re usually local, quick, and strangely satisfying in a way that’s hard to explain until you try it.

If you’ve ever thought about joining a Community Mission, give it a go. You’ll need a DBS (details on the GoodGym website), but after that it’s easy and you might be surprised by how rewarding these moments are.

Ask George who really enjoyed his hundredth good deed!