Southampton Celebrates One Year of Good Deeds

GoodGymers in Southampton celebrated their one-year anniversary (Monday 22nd April 2024) by going back to where it all started with a special mission at Southampton City Farm.

The group have welcomed 52 new Southampton GoodGym members since they first started in April 2023, taking part in 127 sessions to help community projects across the city.

GoodGym is a community of people who get fit by doing good. It covers 61 areas across the UK with over 22,000 members and over 300,000 good deeds complete. The GoodGym community run, walk or cycle to do physical tasks for community projects and local charities.

GoodGym was brought to Southampton by Energise Me after 400 people initially registered interest for the community. It is supported by a volunteer local taskforce that lead sessions and arrange community missions for the group.

Missions in the first year have included litter picking along the river Itchen, clearing garden spaces for charities, conservation tasks, and building a goat mountain at a community farm.

Taskforce member Lauren was new to GoodGym when the Southampton group formed. She’s already completed 52 missions and said “I joined GoodGym when I was at a particularly low ebb. I had been looking for something different that would expand my opportunities to meet new people whilst also helping the local community. I love it as it enables me to do all of these things with the added bonus of keeping fit in the process through our tasks.

“I would encourage anyone who may be thinking about joining to not be put off by the active nature of our tasks. There is something for everybody to contribute whatever your current level of fitness with no pressure, we are always just genuinely happy to see people and have fun in the process”

GoodGym is completely free to join, and all fitness levels are welcomed. All the tasks help people from every walk of life to be active and there’s always the option to walk, run or cycle to community missions for those looking for an extra boost.

If you would like to sign up to GoodGym Southampton you can visit the GoodGym website. https://www.goodgym.org/v3/areas/southampton

The Taskforce are always on the lookout for physical tasks in Southampton. Would your community group or organisation love support from local GoodGymers? Message the Taskforce to request support https://www.goodgym.org/areas/southampton/request-a-task