GoodGym: helping you get fit by doing good for others

This group of runners combine regular exercise with helping out in their communities.

A good reason to run

GoodGym are a community of runners that combine getting fit with doing good. They stop off on their runs to do physical tasks for community organisations and to support isolated older people with social visits and one-off tasks they can’t do on their own. It’s a great way to get fit, meet new people and do some good. As long as you’re up for getting sweaty, they say, everyone is welcome.

GoodGym are getting people off treadmills and into their communities

The GoodGym concept arose out of a frustration with normal gyms being a waste of energy and human potential.

In gyms all over the country people all over Britain work away furiously; peddling, pushing, lifting, running and achieving no external benefits. There are many neglected tasks and people in our communities that need that energy. GoodGym wants to bring these two things together, and the group aims to harness this energy by making it easier for people to channel it towards social good.

Something they have been working on a great deal is loneliness and isolation amongst older people: in the UK, over 1 million people aged 65 and over admit to always or often feeling lonely, and 17% of those living alone see family and friends less than once a week. GoodGym makes a contribution to improving quality of life for older people.

While the idea started out in London, GoodGym is now open to everyone in 47 areas across the UK. Organisers say they hope to rival the success of regular gyms, getting people all over the world off treadmills and into their communities. Follow GoodGym on Facebook.

Source: GoodGym.org

WHAT EXACTLY DOES GOODGYM DO?

Participants get fit by doing good in the following three ways:

1. MISSION RUNS

Members run to help older people with one off practical tasks they can no longer do alone, such as clearing gardens, moving furniture or changing lightbulbs. Run to an older person’s home where you’ll team up with other runners and help them with something they are struggling to do themselves, then run back! FIND OUT MORE

2. COACH RUNS

Members run to make social visits to isolated older people who they call their ‘coaches’ because they motivate the runners to keep going. Over a million older people in the UK are always or often lonely, some go for months without seeing friends or family. Visiting an older person as part of your weekly run can make a huge difference to their life. Increase your motivation to exercise. Make a difference to someone’s life. Make a connection and feel great. FIND OUT MORE

3. GROUP RUNS

Members run in groups to do physical tasks for community organisations. Run to plant trees for the local park. Run to shift earth for a community gardening project. Run to sort cans for the food bank.

• RUN THERE: Meet the group at the area start point, drop your bag and run to a local community organisation.

• WORK OUT: Work hard with the group digging, lifting, scraping and clearing for a good cause.

• RUN BACK: Push yourself on the run back with some intervals or a fitness session.

• STRETCH: A qualified trainer will help you stretch and celebrate what you’ve achieved. FIND OUT MORE

From this activity you will: 

1. Increase your motivation to exercise
2. Help make your local area a better place to live
3. Connect with great people and projects