Jog on the Tyne - Runners on a mission to help

Running is regarded as a solitary sport but not for the members of GoodGym, a not-for-profit organisation encouraging people to combine exercise with doing good in their community.

Newcastle is the latest city to introduce the scheme, which has 47 branches across the country. Volunteers can choose from three different programmes.

There are group runs, which involves working with others doing jobs such as clearing weeds from a community space. If you prefer to volunteer alone, you can take on a “mission”, where members do one-off jobs such as picking something up for an older person. Finally, you can be paired with an isolated older person whom you visit regularly. Since its launch in April, nearly 200 people have signed up and over 731 “good deeds” done around Newcastle. Volunteers undergo a short training programme and those going on one-to-one missions are vetted.

Anji Andrews, 37, left, trainer and running coach for the Newcastle group, said: “We will take on anything that benefits the wider community.”