January Challenge 2025 Results
We achieved 4645 good deeds for ~400 charities, community organisations and isolated older people.
January 31, 2025
A massive well done to the GoodGym community for the incredible start to 2025. We’re only 1 month in but thanks to the individual commitments, pledges and efforts of each of us - we’re on a flying start!
The results
GoodGym tradition dictates January as one of the biggest months of the year - it looks like 2025 will be no different! This year we celebrate the thousands of GoodGymers from more than 60 areas who contributed their time and energy to better themselves and their communities.
Together we had a positive and immediate impact on ourselves and the places we live despite battling the cold and wet start to the year. Our collective efforts have been nothing short of inspirational.
What changed?
Listening to feedback it became clear we needed a better way to set and track personal goals. Alongside the fresh new look to the January Challenge webpage, we introduced pledges - allowing someone to set a goal for good deeds and distance, then track their progress as it feeds into the area and GoodGym totals.
Read more about the pledge system and get a peek at 4 GoodGymers and their pledges
The movers and shakers
From conservation activities for the parks of Norwich to monumental, 29 person leaf clearing sessions in York, we really were pulling out all the stops to get over that good deed target - but never at the cost of making a difference. Here’s some favourites we saw from this month:
Southwark GoodGymers attended a regular session to clean the kids toys at the Salvation Army. With lots of winter sniffles going around, it’s doubly important the toys get a good clean before being distributed to bring smiles once more.
Islington pavements were set ablaze by GoodGymers and their visually impaired run buddies for the evening as we helped Achilles International as part of their Chase the Moon 5k and 10k event.
Merton exploded onto the scene with a packed launch session attended by local Councillor Caroline Cooper Marbiah. Set to clear the outside area of a local food bank, in half the allotted time they’d already filled a large skip, cut down a tree and levelled the soil. Teamwork makes the dreamwork, even leaving time for a cuppa before heading home.
Shoutouts & MVPS
A global shoutout to GoodGymers listing, leading and organising sessions for others in the community. Without you, none of this would have been possible - that’s you TaskForce and Area Activators!
Finally, congratulations to us all. We did something incredible here, the level of impact few groups could dream of. You’ve kickstarted your 2025 by getting active and improving the lives of people around you. 2025 is looking like a big one for GoodGym and it’s all because of you.
Become TaskForce
Don’t wait for others to make things happen in your area. GoodGym is community first - if you have ideas to expand your groups and do more good, join TaskForce and make it happen.
TaskForce gain access to the GoodGym central team, online resources and training to help you make your ideas a reality. Claim your space on the next training.
The golden trowel
There’s no I in ‘team’, but there is in ‘Yorkies’. Despite even that set back, GoodGym Yorkies (as they often go by) managed to find harmony and achieve a mind-blowing 542 good deeds and cover 10278 km in distance.
As is tradition, they will be the proud holders of the coveted GoodGym Golden Trowel for 2025.
York's commitment to the January Challenge is something to behold. As one of the larger groups you wouldn’t be remisted to say they had a numbers advantage. But the degree to which they turn up, per person, is nothing short of breathtaking.
Well done and congratulations to GoodGym York for topping the tables this year.
They even managed to fit in a holiday together on the last weekend of January - but it certainly wasn’t a weekend off doing good!
Special mentions
We see you Tower Hamlets, smashing 177 good deeds, almost 2x above your target. Big numbers are nice and all, but areas such as Merton and Manchester showed the new kids on the block have something to prove too - and prove it they did.
Attention required for Worthing going the extra kilometre… or extra 2000 in this case?!