Being the newbie

Everyone's reason for turning up at GoodGym is different and all are welcome. Here, Megan Cumberlitch tells us how she got involved with her first GoodGym Bristol mission.

“I have known about GoodGym for a while” explains Megan, 31 from Bedminster, Bristol. “One of my housemates is a very committed member, working towards a target of 500 good deeds!

“I have always been very impressed by her dedication to helping others and thought that I should get involved too” she says. “However there always seemed to be something else on and I never got round to it.”

That changed earlier this month, when she stood in to help out at a community mission.

“My housemate was on her way to a task and said that they were a person short so I offered to fill the space” she explains. “This meant I didn't have time to think about it much in the lead up as we were straight out the door to build beds.”

Megan joined three other runners from GoodGym Bristol to help assemble a number of beds for Bristol Churches Winter Night Shelter. The B&B has been providing homeless people a safe place to stay during the pandemic.

“I really enjoyed the task and found everybody very welcoming” Megan says. “It was interesting to hear how the location had been used to help homeless people during lockdown and I felt that our help was very much appreciated.”

They say that teamwork makes the dream work and this was certainly the case for this task as Megan adds: “We made a long and difficult task much quicker and easier by working together.”

One mission in, and Megan was hooked.

“I immediately signed up for my second task” she exclaims, “this time without my housemate.”

“I would recommend it to others as it's a great way to give back to the local community and learn some new skills!”

Want to join something new? Find out more here.