DO GOOD, FEEL GOOD!

Ignoring Everyone & Sitting On the Couch Is Officially

Bad For Your Health!

Helping someone else might just be one of the best things you can do for yourself. New British research suggests that combining exercise with volunteering could be a remarkably effective way to improve mental health, tackle loneliness and bring communities closer together.

We all know that exercise is good for us. And most of us recognise the satisfaction that comes from lending someone a helping hand. But what happens when you combine the two?

According to researchers at King’s College London and the London School of Economics, the answer could be something rather wonderful.

A major study involving more than 2,800 people has found that getting active while helping others is associated with substantial improvements in mental wellbeing, stronger social connections and a greater sense of belonging.

And perhaps the most encouraging discovery? You don’t need to be a fitness fanatic or devote every spare hour to volunteering to experience the benefits.

A Different Kind of Gym

At the heart of the research is GoodGym, a British charity with a refreshingly simple philosophy: why exercise just for the sake of exercising when you could do something useful along the way?

Instead of spending an hour on a treadmill, GoodGym members walk, run or cycle to help people in their communities.

They might deliver essentials to an isolated older person, help maintain a community garden, tidy a local park or lend a hand at a food bank.

The exercise gets their hearts pumping. The volunteering gives that activity a purpose. And the human connections provide something that no gym membership can guarantee.

Since its beginnings, GoodGym has grown into a nationwide community, bringing together thousands of people who want to get fitter while making life a little better for someone else.

The Science Behind Feeling Good

Researchers analysed information from 2,856 people surveyed between February 2023 and March 2024.

They compared individuals actively participating in GoodGym activities with people who had registered but had not yet taken part.

The results were striking.

Regular participants reported significantly better mental health, reduced loneliness and stronger feelings of trust, connection and belonging within their communities.

Even more encouragingly, the positive associations persisted for more than six months after participants had last volunteered.

And the benefits weren’t restricted to a particular age group, income bracket or gender.

Even occasional participation was associated with measurable improvements.

In other words, you don’t necessarily need to run five miles every morning or volunteer three evenings a week.

Sometimes, simply getting involved can make a meaningful difference.

A Little Kindness Goes a Long Way

One of the most interesting aspects of the research is the potential benefit to society as a whole.

Mental ill health is estimated to cost the UK almost £120 billion annually through sickness absence and lost productivity.

With health services facing enormous pressures, researchers believe community programmes combining physical activity with volunteering could provide a relatively inexpensive way to support people’s wellbeing.

Their economic analysis suggested that the wellbeing benefits of GoodGym substantially exceeded the cost of running the programme, with estimates indicating benefits worth at least 40 times its operational costs.

That is a remarkable potential return from something as straightforward as getting people moving and helping their neighbours.

The researchers also highlighted the possibilities for social prescribing, where healthcare professionals encourage suitable patients to participate in community activities alongside conventional care.

Although the study demonstrates strong associations rather than definitive proof of cause and effect, its findings provide compelling grounds for further investigation.

The Best Things in Life Aren’t Always Complicated

Perhaps the loveliest part of this research is that it reminds us how much good can come from ordinary human interaction.

A conversation with someone who lives alone.

An afternoon helping to restore a neglected garden.

A walk across town to deliver something useful.

These might seem like small gestures, but together they can create healthier, happier and more connected communities.

And unlike many wellbeing programmes, GoodGym is free to join, with activities suitable for different fitness levels.

For anyone feeling isolated, looking for motivation to exercise or simply wanting to do something worthwhile, it could offer a welcoming place to start.

You don’t need expensive equipment, an impressive running time or extraordinary athletic ability.

Just a little time, a willingness to help and perhaps a comfortable pair of trainers.

Because sometimes the simplest way to lift your own spirits is to lift someone else’s.

And that really is good news.

Research: Getting Fit by Doing Good: Exercise, Volunteering, and Mental Health at Scale, by Maria Cotofan, Christian Krekel and Ekaterina Oparina, published in Social Science & Medicine (2026).

Find out more: GoodGym