GoodGym

What is it?

GoodGym is a community of runners that combine getting fit with doing good. They stop off on 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. Helping to #ReachOut and reduce social isolation and loneliness together! It's a great way to get fit, meet new people and do some good.

What can you do with GoodGym?

1. Join a local beginner running group and run once a week whilst volunteering as part of your running group session - every Monday, meeting at 6.30pm at Salt Hill Activity Centre - starting 30 July 2018.
2. Join a friend, colleague, or family member to run to an isolated older adult to help them with a one off task – starting later in 2018.
3. Run on your own to an isolated older adult on a regular or semi-regular basis to befriend them and help remove the burden of loneliness – starting later in 2018.

Outcomes for Slough

Building on the support gained already from local residents we hope to achieve the following outcomes.

1. Reducing isolation amongst older people and improving their wellbeing #ReachOut

100% of the older people supported through GoodGym feel happier after six months of visits, showing a 28% improvement across life satisfaction indicators. 98% consider their runner a friend after six months.

“I was housebound, I was lonely. The world crumbled in on me, I hadn't got much of a family, so someone coming in to see me enlightened me...now I can get out and about, and we're friends" - Joyce, Hackney.

Read more on the council's #ReachOut campaign to tackle loneliness and social isolation.

2. Improving physical and mental health and wellbeing amongst our volunteer runners

Runners through GoodGym increase their exercise by an average of 20 minutes exercise per week. 57% of members say they would not have joined another running group and 74% of registered runners are women.

“GoodGym has given me an enormous amount over the last two years. It's given me back my enjoyment of running, brought me into contact with some wonderful people” - runner, Bristol.

3. Promoting greater civic action and community cohesion

In any given area, GoodGym creates 1,600 hours of local volunteering per annum and supports up to 50 community organisations and friends groups within the year, many of which maintain outdoor spaces or improve the public realm. We engage a different type of cohort to better connect with their communities - 61% of our runners say they are not engaged in volunteering before joining GoodGym.

"You’re going there together and you’re all doing it together and you really feel that sense of community" - Carl, runner.

Find out more

For more information and to sign up, visit the GoodGym website and follow us on twitter @goodgymslough or email sloughpublichealth@slough.gov.uk or the run leader manjit@goodgym.org