3. GoodGym

GoodGym turns exercise into practical community action. Its members run, walk or cycle to help local projects and isolated older people, whether that means clearing a garden, sorting donations at a food bank or helping someone with a task they can no longer manage alone.

“GoodGym was founded on a simple idea that we could use being active to help people and strengthen communities, Ed Field, head of operations, said. “What we’ve seen is that the benefits go both ways and that the people participating feel healthier, more connected and more purposeful through helping others.”

Each session combines movement with usefulness, giving people a reason to get active and to keep showing up, while turning exercise into something that reaches beyond the person doing it.

Image: Laura Lewis
Main image: Ella Richardson