Running group launches in Warwick district to do good deeds for the community
Published: Monday 21 Oct 2019
A new social movement has been launched in Warwickshire, the first of its kind in the county, aiming to get people fit while also doing good deeds for the community.
GoodGym Warwick and Leamington Spa, which is jointly funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and Warwickshire County Council, doesn't have treadmills, cross-trainers, weights or a physical building. Instead, members run or walk to get fit and stop off to help people and community projects along the way.
Nearly 40 people joined the first 5km run from The Fat Pug pub in Leamington Spa to Guy's Cliffe House in Warwick and back, helping to clear and tidy the grounds of this much-loved historic site.
L-R GoodGym trainer Rebecca Wass, Warwickshire County Council director of communities Mark Ryder, Cllr Les Caborn, portfolio holder for adult social care and health, council chief executive Monica Fogarty, the WMCA’s physical activity policy and delivery lead Simon Hall, Year of Wellbeing delivery manager Jane Coates, and Nicki Curwood from Warwick District Council
Cllr Izzi Seccombe, leader of Warwickshire County Council and WMCA portfolio holder for wellbeing, said: GoodGym provides a really meaningful workout - not only do members benefit from the physical exercise of running or walking, they also give something back to the community
Cllr Les Caborn, portfolio holder for adult social care and health at Warwickshire County Council added: GoodGym is a fantastic idea, inspiring people to get active while doing good deeds for their local area.
It's great that so many people took part in the first run and I would encourage as many residents as possible to sign up and join the movement.
We've brought GoodGym to Warwickshire as part of our commitment to the Year of Wellbeing, and in doing so hope to improve the physical health of residents, as well as helping to reduce loneliness and social isolation amongst older people
Goodgym Warwick and Leamington Spa is part of the national GoodGym social movement set up for local people to get active and use their energy on doing good deeds.
Members run or walk to do voluntary work for community organisations and also support isolated older people with social visits and one-off tasks they can't do on their own.
GoodGym Warwick and Leamington Spa's trainer Rebecca Wass added: I'm so excited that GoodGym has come to Warwick and Leamington! I'm looking forward to helping to create a new community for local people to come together, get fit, make friends and improve lives for others in their own area
The group runs take place every Wednesday evening, starting from The Fat Pug, 23 Guy's Cliffe Rd, Leamington Spa, CV32 5BZ at 6.30pm.
The WMCA has helped to set up GoodGyms in Solihull and Coventry over the past year and is also supporting GoodGym Birmingham.