25 Jun Want to make new friends? Have time to spare? Then Timebanking may be for you

Do you want to make new friends? Do you have time to spare? Then joining the Timebank may be for you.

Timebanking is a way of using your time and skills to benefit others. You can earn a Timebank credit for every hour you give which you can then spend with others on the Timebank. Joining the Timebank is easy and free, no money changes hands. All skills have the same worth, a befriender earns the same number of credits as a gardener or a handyman. Alongside offering your skills you can make new friends, people you perhaps would not have met otherwise.

One longstanding Timebank member(T), has been visiting a lady (J) in her home. She lives nearby so T can walk there. J is bedridden and sees very few people apart from carers. To begin with it was particularly difficult because conversation was very one sided, just single words if she was lucky, so the visits were quite short. However, T persevered and gradually over time it became easier. T visited once a week and took photos of her grandchildren and talked about what they were doing. This sparked an interest and every visit J wanted to know more about the grandchildren’s doings and conversation became less one sided. Now when T arrives, she gets the biggest smile, and the visits are about 40 minutes long or more. J looks forwards to the visits, she interacts and responds and answers questions in a limited way. T says it made her day when J told her she now has a friend.

Can you join the Timebank and change someone’s life?

Recently we have been contacting all our Timebank members; some have been on the register for years and never put an offer or request on to the Timebank so have never been contacted. Its interesting because some people who have got back to me talk about why they can no longer offer. But the Timebank is not just for people who can offer something, it’s also about what you might need yourself. Perhaps as time has passed you are not as fit as you were and struggle with your shopping or even getting out and socialising. Please get in touch and through the Timebank perhaps we can help you.

One of my regular venues is the Steam café in Torbay Road. They have a wonderful discovery centre behind the café and have special things happening over the holidays.

Robots are coming! Over the summer holidays at STEAM Discovery Centre, Torbay Road, build a robot and Lego robot wars battles with friends and family.

Follow their Facebook page and mention your favourite Community Builder for a 10% discount

Just round the corner from the café is the Paignton Community Sheds. It’s in what was the old toilet block, unrecognisable as that now! They make all kinds of things from recycled materials. One of my Timebankers was delighted with a bee box which she is waiting to have put on her garden fence by another of our Timebankers. They welcome people to join them who would like to socialise and have time on their hands…they meet on Monday evenings from 6pm to 9pm and Thursday mornings from 10am to 2pm.If you want to join the Timebank as well you can earn time credits by attending.

To find out more about the Timebank contact me, my details are below or come to one of my regular drop ins where I can give you more information or help you join.

• At Paignton library on the first Monday in the Month 10.30 till 1.00
• At Torquay library on the third Tuesday in the Month 10.00 till 12.30
• At the Steam Café in Torbay Road, Paignton on the first Tuesday in the Month from 10.30
• At the Crafty Fox in Foxhole on the second Tuesday in the Month from 10.30
• At the Baptist Church in Preston on the First Thursday in the Month from 10.30
• At the Coffee Lounge in Preston every Thursday from 2.00 till 4.00
• At Centrepiece in Paignton on the first Friday in the Month from 1.30
• At the Bright Bean café in Preston most Wednesdays from 2.00

My contact details are: phone 07703715236 or email [email protected]

“We have what we need, when we share what we have.”