Tonight was a great reminder that Goodgym is a wonderful way of learning about the place where you live and all the fantastic projects that go on that you might otherwise not hear about. Like the Brighton Table Tennis Club. It’s just amazing! So much positive energy including so many people, mainstream and marginalised, all coming together and bonding through the positive power of ping pong! Coaches at the BTTC include Harry, who is the only coach in any sport to have Downs Syndrome and paralympic gold medalist and Strictly star Will Bayley!

To find out more about the club and the people that play there check out this Brighton Ted Talk by co-founder Tim, the end had me grinning from ear to ear with a lump in my throat!

On arrival Tim and his team split us into 3 groups, one group tackling the weeds and windows in the outside areas, another cleaning those hard to reach areas behind furniture in the reception area and the third cleaning the kitchen and windows in the neighbouring parish hall which is used by the marvellous Real Junk Food Project. As we worked the main hall was abuzz with the sounds of a women only table tennis session who posed with us for our group photo.

I had my eye on yet more unused table tennis tables in the back room for a table tennis fitness session but unfortunately they ended up being used by some top level players practicing for a competition. Hopefully next time! So instead we headed back to the parish hall and had a rare opportunity to work out indoors. The session was 14 exercises changing every minute with the option of working for 30 seconds with a 30 second rest or 45 seconds with a 15 second rest. Unsurprisingly you all took the 30/30 option apart from Jay who took his own option of 60/0 and completed a solid 14 minutes of non stop exercising. Extraordianry stuff!

We rounded off a great evening with our monthly social at the Sidewinder, another top choice from Juliet. See you next week where we are heading to Hove to help out at Scope charity shop.