Monday 17th August
Report written by Anastasia Hancock (she/her)
Last night saw GoodGym Wandsworth head out to a brand new task at York Gardens Children’s Centre in Battersea.
We kicked things off, as usual, with a warm up and a quiz question : how many “las” are there before Kylie sings “I can’t get you out of my head”? Three people knew the answer (32, if you're wondering!) — and with Kylie now firmly lodged in everyone’s heads, we set off towards York Road.
York Gardens Children’s Centre is an important local resource for families, offering a welcoming place for young children and their parents and carers to play, learn and get support. The centre provides activities and advice for families, alongside services such as health visiting and family support.
We were met by Toni, who explained that they were preparing for an open day and wanted the centre looking its absolute best. So we got stuck in. There was sweeping, weeding, clearing and generally attacking anything that looked untidy. It was hot, the ground was parched but everyone put in maximum effort.
The result was well worth it: a fantastic before-and-after transformation. The centre is now looking much smarter and ready to welcome the children, families and other users.
Then it was time for our fitness session. This week’s challenge was partner-based: work together for a minute, with the aim of increasing the number of exercises by one rep each time. It was hard work, requiring plenty of effort, encouragement and even some tactical play.
After that, we headed back to base for a well-earned stretch. Next week brings another brand-new task, this time at the Yvonne Carr Centre, where we’ll be getting stuck into more tidying and improving the local community space.
We’ll also be celebrating a special GoodGym milestone! Expect an impromptu pub quiz and half price off food at The Latchmere. Come and join us — the more the merrier!
Wandsworth
Make this space for young people welcoming and safe
