Aug 13

Aug 13 Volunteering during Covid - The GoodGym

Never let it be said that I don’t practice what I preach.

Practising what I preach. Read on to find out how and what I’m doing in this pic

A couple of weeks ago I encouraged you to consider finding a way to volunteer during this ‘specially challenging time, when organisations and individuals are more in need than ever of help. (Read that blog post here)

Of course, coronavirus makes volunteering more complicated and, in some cases onerous, than it would otherwise be. But the benefits - to whoever you’re helping and yourself - are as valuable and satisfying as always. Arguably even more so.

And the chance to get involved with organisations and activities that you might not otherwise have considered or, indeed, known about, is another pandemic positive.

Which is exactly what I did when I joined nine other fitness enthusiasts for my first GoodGym community mission earlier this week.

What GoodGym is all about

Unravelling that statement a step at a time (fitness pun entirely intended), let me tell you first about GoodGym. The not-for-profit organisation was born out of a belief that all the energy people put into running on treadmills in gyms could be put to better use by harnessing their desire to keep fit, and coupling it with the opportunity to help others in their communities.

GoodGym’s ethos is to put people’s desire to keep fit to good use helping out in their communities

The original GoodGym activities were mostly group runs, headed by a GoodGym leader, to venues or places where people or organisations needed help. Once whatever task was required was completed, the group would run back to their original meeting point.

A decade on from its launch

In the 10 years since the organisation launched, their scope and activities have widened, as have the fitness challenges. Nowadays you can take part in Community Missions, where you’re encouraged to run, walk or cycle to help with community projects and practical tasks, Mission Runs, to help older people with one-off tasks they can no longer do alone, Group Runs to do physical tasks for community organisations or Coach Runs to visit isolated older people (many of the GoodGym projects focus on alleviating loneliness) who are referred to as ‘coaches’ in recognition of the motivation they provide to participants.

Many of the GoodGym activities are focused on alleviating loneliness

Covid changes

Obviously some of those have had to change or temporarily stop due to Covid (group runs are on hold, and coach runs have replaced with socially distant visits or calls), but GoodGym has worked hard to continue to provide as much support to the communities they serve - there are 58 GoodGym groups around the country, from Bournemouth to Barnsley, Exeter to Edinburgh - and fitness incentives to their participants, as they can under the more constrained circumstances.

Signing up

I was introduced to my local group by a neighbour who’s one of their leaders (they call them champions) and was immediately attracted by the combined opportunity to do something to support my local area and community and get fitter at the same time. (Disclaimer - I’m not a fan of running, so knowing I could get involved and not have to do that was the clincher as far as I was concerned).

There’s a reassuringly thorough sign up process which includes having to complete several on-line training modules, covering everything from your own personal safety and wellbeing, to your responsibilities towards both the individuals and organisations you’ll be helping and your fellow participants. There’s currently also a special Covid training module which you have to do before you can take part in any of the activities.

My first mission

Having completed the sign up procedure, I duly reported for my first mission. Our GoodGym group was tasked with re-laying the wood chip flooring in one of the forest seating areas at Stephens House, our marvellous little local park.

Group leader Paul started off by getting us to introduce ourselves to each other, then explained a little about the history of the park, donated to the community, along with the house it was the original grounds of, by its owner Henry ‘Inky’ Stephens, the manufacturer of the famous indelible ink, which was created by his father.

We set to work loading, carting, laying and spreading the woodchip as one of the hottest days of the year mercifully cooled (slightly) into early evening. And when our task was completed, Paul - a qualified teacher - led a brief cool-down yoga session before we headed home.

Paul (far right) leading the socially distanced post-work yoga stretch

I wasn’t the only first-timer, in the group, and chatting to Fiona, a GoodGym participant since 2018 with dozens of runs and missions under her belt, about the satisfaction she gets from seeing the good the activities do, and how much she benefits from the motivation to maintain her fitness and the socialising with other GoodGym members, I’m definitely looking forward to doing lots more in the future.