Leaf it out!

13 Goodgymers helped their local community in Camden
1 / 6
Camden

Thursday 26th October 2017

Report written by Paul Bown

Share the love

15 lovely Propercorn employees bagged up 7 bags of leaves and planted seeds & bulbs for Cecil Sharp House!

On a wet but warm evening a smiling group of employees from Propercorn (those guys who make yummy pop corn! mmm) turned up at Cecil Sharp House to do some good for their local community.

Upon introducing ourselves, I explained a bit about GoodGym; we were founded in 2009 and aim to combat loneliness and help our communities all while be getting fitter. We think that gyms are a waste of energy. There are many neglected tasks and people in our communities that need that energy. We want to bring these things together. There are three ways to do good with us:

  1. Group Runs - We run in groups to do physical tasks for community organisations.
  2. Coach Runs - We run to make social visits to isolated older people who we call our 'coaches' because they motivate us to keep going.
  3. Missions - We run missions to older people; clearing gardens, changing lightbulbs and doing odd-jobs for people who struggle to do them alone.

Onto information about Cecil Sharp House, Susannah explained that the Home of English Folk, Song & Dance was founded in 1932 but the charity lost funding in 2012 due to Local Government cuts. Therefore the gardens were planted by permaculture and the venue hired out for weddings. Ultimately this means that volunteers like you guys are essential to maintain the garden, which means the charity can keep growing.

Now for the GOOD

Right enough chat, what did we actually do? We grabbed all the tools, soil, seeds and bags around the corner to the big lawn. Splitting into two teams:

  • Team A - a group of seven started tackling the leaves on the lawn, path, flower beds and steps. Using all the fun tools!
  • Team B - learnt all about soil, seeds, planting and more from Susannah. They then planted some peas and some flowers!

It's quite amazing the amount of leaves that fall in late October, this lawn needs constant care and you sure guys gave it that. Within 40 minutes you guys had filled seven bags of leaves and the lawn looked BEAUTIFUL!

After a group picture, we packed away and said our thanks to Susannah from Cecil Sharp House.

If you guys at Propercorn are interested in coming to GoodGym here are the three closest to your office (plus there is another 20 in London):

  1. Monday - GoodGym Islington meet at the Arsenal Hub by the Emirates Stadium at 18.45pm.
  2. Tuesday - GoodGym Hackney meet at E5 Bakehouse near London Fields at 18.45pm.
  3. Wednesday - GoodGym Camden meet at Living Centre within the Crick Institute next to St Pancras at 18.45pm.

Thanks for coming guys - see you soon.

PB out.


Session Leader
Attendees
Paul Bown
George Rose
Rebecca Musgrave
Grace Ham
Ellie Cobb
Charlotte Foussat
Holly Porter
Catherine Hester
Fiona Robertson
Santana
Kitty Wright
Rosie Joly
Emma
Join us on our next session

Camden

Help a friendly community garden
🗓Today 12:00pm

The refurbished area is becoming a hub for food growing, gardening and wildlife activities

John ShirleyJacqueline Shirley
2 GoodGymers are going

Discuss this report