GoodGym Founder, Ivo Gormley Awarded OBE In The King's Birthday Honours
Ivo and GoodGym recognised for services to Social Enterprise
June 30, 2025
Ivo Gormley, GoodGym’s founder and CEO, awarded OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to Social Enterprise.
Our story so far
From a single run in 2007 to visit his older neighbour Terry, Ivo planted the seed that grew into GoodGym, a national movement combining exercise and volunteering across the UK. Upon discovering his award, he stated "I am hugely grateful and proud to be part of the incredible community of people that make GoodGym what it is and who have taught me so much".
This award is a recognition not just of Ivo’s leadership, but of the entire GoodGym community
Ivo has been our CEO since 2013 and has continued to lead from the front, both figuratively and literally, with 481 Good Deeds under his belt running to support community projects and older people. This award is a recognition not just of Ivo’s leadership, but of the entire GoodGym community: all 25,469 of us, working together to create change, with our 400,000th good deed just around the corner.
GoodGym community
Today, GoodGym is active in 65 areas across England and Wales, building stronger, healthier, and more connected communities through purposeful exercise. On the topic of GoodGym's community and it's growth to a national movement helping people get fit and do good, Ivo said "It is a continued joy to be surrounded by people who are committed to getting out there and making positive change happen where they live, and to challenge the norms of what exercise can be, and who it is for".
Jane Ashcroft, Chair of Trustees for GoodGym spoke on her admiration for Ivo, "Those of us who work with Ivo see his deep commitment to community, his creativity in turning the idea of GoodGym into a thriving national movement, and his constant drive to find new ways to grow its impact. It’s fantastic to see that dedication formally recognised with this honour".
The path forward
In challenging times for all of us in the charity sector this sort of recognition is welcome validation and encouragement for us to continue to grow our work.
But there’s more to be done. In closing his statement Ivo suggests "with growing screen time and polarisation, our work which is sometimes messy and difficult, is more important. Real connection and community are worth fighting for and this is encouragement for us to push forward and make more happen, to keep helping to realise ideas of what more sustainable and connected communities might be".
with growing screen time and polarisation, our work which is sometimes messy and difficult, is more important.
Join Ivo and 1000s of GoodGymers getting fit by doing good, find a session near you.