A group of Lewisham residents is redefining the way people view exercise and community involvement.
GoodGym Lewisham meets every Monday to combine running, walking, or cycling with tasks that support local charities, community organisations, and older residents.
Recently, they visited The Albany centre’s garden, where volunteers picked up litter and weeds around the perimeter. “It’s the little things that make a big difference” said one participant.
Lewisham Area Activator, Kim Parker, told Eastlondonlines: “No run or task is the same. You always meet different people and go to new and interesting places. It’s a great way to get out into the community and meet people.”
Founded on the belief that traditional gyms waste energy and human potential, GoodGym’s mission is simple: to turn exercise into a force for good.
Lewisham’s chapter embraces this ideology and every week, the group tackles a new task – one involved planting bulbs around trees at Florence Green. Despite the challenge of manoeuvring around tree roots, the group enjoyed the straightforward, rewarding work.
GoodGym’s success in Lewisham is its inclusivity. The group welcomes participants of all fitness levels, with some members choosing to walk rather than run to tasks. A back-marker is always in place to ensure no one gets left behind.
“On all group runs, we have a backmarker who makes sure no one is left behind. We run at a pace that allows us to chat to each other—we’re all about achieving things together,” said Parker. “You’ll always be welcome, no matter your pace.”
The emphasis on inclusion creates a friendly, supportive environment. After each run, the group often heads out for food and drinks.
“I joined GoodGym because I was going to join a running club but I preferred GoodGym because it has a great social side with all of the volunteering, different types of fitness sessions, and tasks that you can do,” said one member.
GoodGym was born from a simple act of kindness, Founder Ivo Gormley started running to deliver newspapers to Terry, an older Hackney resident, who was housebound and lonely.
This relationship not only helped Terry but also gave Ivo a reason to run, leading to the formation of GoodGym in 2009.
Today, the organisation operates across 61 areas in the UK, including Lewisham, helping countless local projects and residents.
Whether it’s shovelling compost for food growers or hanging curtains for older people who can’t do it themselves, each session is a chance to make a tangible difference.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, GoodGym expanded its efforts, delivering prescriptions and food to those in need. Now that group sessions have resumed, the organisation continues to grow, with plans to expand to even more cities and boroughs across the UK.
“It’s the perfect way to combine making friends and keeping fit, getting to know your local area whilst volunteering,” said another member.
GoodGym Lewisham shows no signs of slowing down. The group is constantly looking for new projects to support and new ways to make Lewisham greener, more connected, and less lonely.
“We are particularly excited to be helping on a project with The Refugee Council to clear an allotment site which is overgrown,” said Parker.
