Instead of going nowehere on treadmills a charity is bringing runners to those in need.

GoodGym Haringey will be launching an initiative combining a love for running, or a desire to get fit, with the chance to help older people and community groups.

Each week a group of runners will set off from Tottenham Green Pools & Fitness in Philip Lane, Tottenham, to run to a community centre or project and help out before running back.

The scheme is already running in eight other London boroughs and manager of the Haringey project Ed Field sees it as a way to run with purpose.

Mr Field said: “This is a really quick and easy way for people who are thinking about running or who want to run to do something different.

“A lot of people spend their time running nowhere on treadmills or around parks so why not spend that time helping older people as well and giving something back to your area?”

The charity also operates a coaching system with older people where a runner will visit them once a week as part of their exercise routine and the older person takes on a coaching role, pushing them to run harder.

Many people who take up the scheme are novices of a younger age than typically volunteer for schemes to befriend and help the elderly.

Mr Field thinks that the mix of youth, experience and exercise is mutually beneficial for all.

He said: “It’s a great way to get fit and around half of our runners are complete novices making it a really fun, easy and social way into sport as well as helping others.”

The first group run will set off from Tottenham Green Pools & Fitness on Wednesday July 22 and are in the process of selecting which community project they’ll be first getting to grips with.