GoodGym - Volunteering, Running, Walking, Cycling

www.goodgym.org

Email: getinvolved@goodgym.org

We run, walk, and cycle to help local community organisations and isolated older people by doing practical tasks.  We’re not an ordinary gym. We offer a way to volunteer that fits into your life easily, making it easy to commit for the long-term.  Anybody can join, no matter your fitness level. All you need is a pair of trainers.  You can attend as often or as little as you like. Once you’re a member we'll do our best to help you achieve your fitness goals.  We also organise social events like parties and races so that you can get to know other members in our vibrant community.

GoodGym is free to participate in and as a member you’ll get a free Saucony technical top.  We're a registered charity and members have the option of making a monthly donation which goes directly towards achieving our aims of supporting isolated older people, helping local communities and improving physical and mental health.  Donation plans start at £7 per month, there's no commitment and you can cancel at any time.  We don’t want money to be a barrier so if you're not ready to donate, or can't afford to, you can still sign up.

Here are the sorts of tasks our GoodGymers can help with:

- Food shopping (up to £30)

- Collecting prescriptions

- Gardening for safety/access/ or mental/physical wellbeing reasons

- Outdoor garden painting - fences etc

- One-off dog walking

- One-off face to face welfare checks

- Technology support

- Changing a lightbulb / battery in smoke alarm (would need to have the replacements)

- Furniture moving

- Furniture assembly (tools must be available)

- Sorting/packing belongings

- Putting rubbish in outdoor bins

- Window cleaning (ground level only or they must open inwards)

- Taking down and re-hanging curtains

- Taking bags of clothes etc, to nearby donation/charity bins

Our GoodGymers are DBS checked and go through training. As our GoodGymers arrive at the location on foot or bike, they cannot supply tools, so these have to be provided. We also need arrangements in place for disposing of any waste. Tasks last around an hour.

When choosing the times for your task request, it's good to note that GoodGymer availability is better in the evenings or weekends. Also, giving us as much notice as possible helps our GoodGymers fit volunteering into their lives. Our systems enable us to respond promptly and seek help for urgent requests such as emergency food shopping or moving furniture to allow for a hospital discharge.

Please note that we are not a guaranteed service and rely on GoodGymers availability for your mission request. If no one signs up before the deadline, the mission will be cancelled and you will be notified. You can set the deadline on the referral so that, if it is cancelled, you will be notified with enough time to make alternative arrangements.