BUBBLE
Getting fit ; being good
If your new year ’ s resolution is to keep fit or volunteer to help others , then there is a website you could use to get inspired to do either of those things – or both .
You might find what you are looking for on Bubble , the council ’ s website for communityled projects , funding opportunities and volunteering . See how you can maintain your fitness motivation and help your community at the same time .
NEW RUN IN THE PARK Starting on Sunday , 2 April , a new 2km junior ‘ Parkrun ’ for children will take place in Acton Park . The free , timed run is open to all children aged between four and 14 years old – from complete beginners to regular runners . The aim is to have fun and be sociable . Parents and guardians can also run with their children .
It will become one of four Parkruns around the borough , which already include a junior run at Pitshanger Park and two adult 5km runs that take place on Saturdays at Northala Fields and Gunnersbury Park . Both adult events
Parkrun ( left ); and GoodGym members
regularly attract more than 300 runners . Clare Walker , a keen runner , and her sister Andrea , both local residents for more than 20 years , organise the Acton junior event . Clare said : “ After a run , we will meet in the park coffee shop to share stories and make friends . Parkruns are organised by volunteers and we are keen to build up a network . There is a variety of roles , from marshals to time keepers , funnel manager to barcode scanners and many more .”
GOODGYM GoodGym is a community of runners that combine exercise with helping local communities . As part of their group runs , members support isolated older people and undertake manual tasks . They run there , fix a problem , and run back again .
Since starting in August last year ,
Ealing ‘ goodgymmers ’ have visited a variety of venues as part of their weekly runs , including painting inside sheltered housing accommodation , moving steelpan drums at a parish church and creating artwork in Hanwell Community Centre .
Ealing Goodgym member , Lisa Rattray , said : “ Goodgym is all about doing good while getting fit and also having fun . It is amazing seeing how fast a group of us can help out a community organisation , be it by painting a room , mulching a chicken coop or helping at an edible garden . It is a great feeling knowing that we are helping out vulnerable people and making whatever small difference we can to the local community . Everyone is welcome , so get involved .”
FIND BUBBLE
Ward forums See p46 for list of meetings n www . dosomethinggood . org . uk n www . twitter . com / ealingbubble n www . facebook . com / ealingbubble
around ealing Spring 2017 43