GoodGym York has grown enormously over 2017 and now have many volunteers signed up for ‘missions’ in York. Unfortunately, very few missions are being referred so these brilliant opportunities are being missed.

Missions are primarily one-off tasks to help older people (which GoodGym define as 60+). This could be a five minute job such as changing a lightbulb or smoke alarm battery, up to a maximum two hours doing a garden clearance. Absolutely any practical task could be referred. To give you an idea, recent missions have included:

• Clearing a garden shed ready for a council waste pickup
• Putting up thicker curtains for winter
• Taking Christmas decorations down from the attic
• Clearing weeds from a patio
• Removing bramble from an overgrown garden
• Moving a bed downstairs to enable a person to be discharged from hospital

Referring a mission is very simple, you can do this via a quick form on this webpage: https://www.goodgym.org/request-a-mission or, for those people who might not use the internet, you can contact our central mission team directly on 0203 432 392.

Missions are always completed in teams of 2-4, depending on the size of the task. Runners are all DBS checked and have been given training in safeguarding, and dementia awareness.

GoodGym also complete ‘community missions’. These are physical or practical tasks in the community. It could be painting over graffiti, building raised beds, packing gift bags for charity events or even setting up chairs and tables. To request a community mission – just contact the group’s trainer, Egg. Her number is 07473933335 or email her on egg@goodgym.org. If you have any questions at all regarding missions or GoodGym, she would be delighted to have a chat.

In just the next couple of weeks, the following times all have groups of runners available and wanting to complete voluntary tasks:

Weds 20th 2-6pm

Thursday 21st 10-4pm

Friday 22nd 10-4pm

Saturday 23rd 10-12

Sunday 24th 10-12