In a unique approach to health and community engagement, a nonprofit organisation in the United Kingdom has successfully drawn thousands of participants by promoting the concept of "getting fit by doing good." This innovative model offers a refreshing alternative to conventional gym memberships, focusing on physical activity intertwined with meaningful volunteer work.
A Community Garden Workout on a Rooftop
On a chilly, damp evening in London, a group clad in running gear dons headlamps and sets to work in a community garden situated on a disused parking lot rooftop. While shovelling compost and clearing weeds might not appeal to everyone, these volunteers are all smiles and chatter. They warmed up by jogging a mile to the location, with the subsequent digging, squatting, and lifting forming part of their weekly exercise regimen.
This fusion of exercise and community service lies at the heart of GoodGym, an organisation that encourages UK residents to improve their fitness through altruistic acts. There are no costly gym fees, treadmills, or weight machines involved. Participants simply need a willingness to walk, run, or cycle, coupled with a readiness to assist with tasks such as sorting cans at food banks, collecting litter, visiting elderly individuals, or undertaking various local volunteer projects.
Member Motivation and Regular Participation
Jason Kurtis, a 42-year-old regular at the south London garden, shared his perspective: "I typically attend a regular gym and engage in other forms of exercise, but this is my mandatory once-a-week run with the GoodGym group. It's genuinely enjoyable and compels me to get outdoors, particularly on a cold Monday night in the middle of winter."
GoodGym reports having more than 26,600 members across 67 locations in England and Wales, with ambitions to establish new groups in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Weekly meetups occur regularly, with recent London activities including clearing discarded Christmas trees from pavements, removing plastic waste from the Thames' muddy banks, planting fruit trees, and setting up cots for homeless individuals.
Members frequently cite the act of signing up for activities and feeling part of a positive initiative as key motivators for maintaining regular exercise habits.
The Origins and Evolution of GoodGym
GoodGym originated in 2007 when founder Ivo Gormley began running to deliver a newspaper to an older neighbour. At that time, Gormley was not exercising regularly and missed the camaraderie of a basketball team. "I simply disliked the notion of going to a gym, descending into a sweaty basement to lift objects that didn't genuinely need lifting. I believed I could make my exercise more purposeful," he explained.
He started organising group runs to locations where participants could assist with community projects, both large and small. The inaugural group removed outdated posters in his east London neighbourhood. The idea gained momentum in other English cities, and GoodGym, which registered as a charity in 2015, expanded swiftly.
The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily halted group runs, but the organisation experienced a surge in requests to aid isolated older adults. Volunteers shifted focus to tasks like delivering prescriptions and groceries. Today, GoodGym still pairs volunteers with retirees seeking companionship or practical help, such as moving heavy furniture or mowing lawns. While many home visits involve individual volunteers without a group exercise element, participants are encouraged to run, walk, or cycle to their assignments.
Reducing Barriers to Participation
Gormley emphasised his goal of making it as straightforward as possible for people to stay active and contribute to their communities. Monthly donations are welcomed but entirely voluntary, and members face no pressure to attend regularly. "You can sign up today and give it a try tonight. We aim to minimise barriers as much as possible. If you don't enjoy it, you're not obligated to return. It's a very accessible way to get involved," he stated.
Community Impact and Social Benefits
In Battersea, southwest London, local GoodGym leader Anastasia Hancock guides members through lunges, jumps, and stretches before their mile-long run to the Doddington and Rollo community roof garden. This green space is a rare oasis amidst towering apartment blocks built as affordable housing in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Hancock coordinates various volunteer projects for GoodGym members in her area, but maintaining the garden is a monthly recurring task. She recalls a time when the group moved hundreds of heavy compost bags up narrow steps to the rooftop: "That was an incredible workout." She rarely cancels scheduled runs and activities, noting that members continue to participate even during London's gloomy, drizzly winters. For women, these regular sessions provide a safe way to run outdoors after dark.
Sophie Humphrey, 33, expressed her enthusiasm: "I truly love attending. It feels like a weekly boost of positivity. It's wonderful to gather a group of people who simply want to assist strangers." Members of Hancock's Monday night group often socialise at a pub after completing their volunteer work.
Research on Mental Wellbeing Benefits
Christian Krekel, an assistant professor at the London School of Economics specialising in behavioural economics and wellbeing, led a two-year evaluation of GoodGym to assess whether combining volunteering with exercise yields additional mental health advantages. Based on survey responses from 3,600 individuals who had either shown interest in joining or were active members, the findings were encouraging.
A team of economists observed improvements in all six measured aspects of mental wellbeing. Participants reported reduced feelings of loneliness, increased life satisfaction, and a stronger sense of "belongingness and connectedness." Krekel noted: "Due to this distinctive blend of volunteering or pro-social activity and physical exercise, we identified more pronounced wellbeing impacts than the existing literature suggests for volunteering or physical activity alone. That's what makes this so unique and remarkably powerful."
While further research is necessary, the team hopes that validated findings could inform public mental health policies in the future.
A Simple Yet Powerful Concept
Gormley remarked that he is unaware of many similar organisations merging fitness with volunteering, though he acknowledges that GoodGym's premise is "really obvious" to some extent. "It's what people have always done, isn't it? You cultivate food, and through planting and digging, that's where your exercise originates," he reflected.
The social aspect is a crucial factor that engages participants. A recent member survey indicated that many young people are eager to disconnect from phone screens and increase face-to-face interactions. This community-focused fitness model continues to demonstrate that exercise can be both physically beneficial and socially enriching, proving that getting fit by doing good is a winning formula for thousands across the UK.
