The Timebank South West neighbourhood Time Bank for Stonehouse, Plymouth. Swap time and skills with others in a group where everyone's time and skills are valued equally.
An enjoyable afternoon this week for our first Wednesday Time Bank session at Union Corner: sitting drinking tea and chatting in the garden; welcoming visitors; hearing some great ideas; planning events; and even some time for gardening. Why not call in and see us next Wednesday?
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Lots of familiar faces, but a new committee voted in at our agm on 7th May. Pete Davey, who has done so much for Stonehouse Time Bank with his work on 100 Homes, is our new chair, Jacky Clift will be secretary and Barbara Hampson treasurer (until someone else is available to take on the role). The committee is Anne Bate, Mary Toon, Sally Stopperton and Judith Dalton. Along with steering group members not mentioned abovee have a really strong team to take us forward. And of course we have wonderful members getting involved in swaps and events.
New faces too – Jemma came along and her son has lots of great ideasfor Time Banking.
Our next event is the Big Lunch on Sunday 12th June, 12 – 3. Food – free barbeque and bring and share lunch – the Ukulele band will be joining us again; soft play and games; local groups interested in supporting – Stonehouse Action, the Children’s Centre and Plymouth School of Crative Arts; and with sponsorship from Plymouth Community Homes and Devon and Conrwall Housing it should be a good afternoon. It will be at Union Corner where the garden has just been cleared and is looking ready for a fun event.
Don’t forget to let us know of any swaps you need. We have someone looking to help out by walking a dog. Help need with building a garden and painting a hallway. Contact barbara@timebanksw.org.
AGM
Our agm will be held on Saturday 7th May from 1 – 1.30 at Union Corner, 96 Union Street. There will be a bring and share lunch before – from 12 – 1 pm – and it will be followed by the creation of a new Stonehouse Time Bank newsletter (ideas, photos and articles welcome). I hope you can join us
MARCH
On March 6th we joined the Seeds n Feeds project and some of the congregation from the Catholic Cathedral and local residents to ‘Clean for the Queen’. 20 bags of litter were collected from streets around Melbourne Place. The streets we visited looked so much better afterwards. Followed by well-deserved homemade squash soup at the Foyer.
Do you know of any other areas that could do with a clean-up?
On 16th March we hosted the Timebank SW network event and welcomed members from other Time Banks in Plymouth at Union Corner. Great to see new faces, hear stories about Time Bank experiences from members and brokers and have lots of offers of help. Union Corner looked great.
FUTURE EVENTS
We are waiting to use Union Corner. Work there is progressing nicely with the new fence being put up. When the building work is finished we are hoping to have a Time Bank afternoon each week. Several people have come forward to help, there will be plenty to do in the garden and we will be able to tell visitors about Time Bank and Union Corner.
This year the Big Lunch is on Sunday 12th June. We’ll be looking for musicians (hope the Ukulele Bank can play again), people to bring food, to decorate and help set up on the day, play games, have a stall, do an activity and just come along and eat, chat and enjoy the fun.
In July we will combine the popular picnicking and litter picking activities on a visit to Devil’s Point.
September brings the fabulous Union Street Party and we have been asked to repeat the train trip to the Bere Ferrer’s Apple Fest in October. Can we squeeze in a couple of croquet matches too?
If you have further ideas for events, activities and sessions, or would like to help out in any way do let us know. We are also keen to try to work in other venues and with other groups.
100 HOMES
We have applied to the People’s Health Trust for funding for our 100 Homes project. If successful we will be holding an event soon to celebrate and talk about plans for the future. We will be looking for members to tell stories, record stories, learn new skills and help with events etc etc. If unsuccessful we are still keen to carry on and will see what we can do for the time being without much money. Check out the stories on the lively Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/100HomesProjectStoneHouse/?fref=ts
Do you have a story of a Stonehouse home to tell?
SWAPS
Recent swaps have included planting living willow, changing high light bulbs, more litter picking, cake baking and sorting out piles of clothes and helping at Union Corner. Thanks to those that helped.
Devon and Cornwall Housing are looking for volunteers to help with cookery sessions. Do you have cookery skills to share or would you like to lend a hand?
There’s follow up work to be done on the willow we have planted if you would like to try weaving on it. An old stone garden wall is in need of repair and there’s always help needed with gardening, litter picking and trips to the tip.
If you want to take your Time Banking further you could think about becoming a broker and help organise swaps, use your computer skills, join us in steering group meetings or become one of the officers on the committee.
TIME BANK SOUTH WEST ANNUAL CONFERENCE
This will be on Wednesday May 18th (National Volunteering Week) at the Council House, Plymouth City Centre (next to the old Civic Centre) 9.30 – 10.00 registration and 10.00 – 3.00pm conference.
Here are some Time Bank events happening in Stonehouse over the next few weeks:
THERE WILL BE SOMEONE AT THE SHOP WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY THIS WEEK (17TH, 19TH, 20TH FEBRUARY) IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CALL IN.
Great news! The structure for the shop front, funded by lat year’s Crowdfunder, has arrived at Union Corner! This means that Stonehouse Action will need lots of hep over the next few weeks putting up cladding, painting, making things for the garden, sweeping up and making cups of tea etc, etc. It shouldn’t be too long now before the building is ready for community use – come along and help make this happen!
There will be a special day on Monday February 29th for activities and for people to come along and see how things are progressing. Please get in touch if you would like to help before then.
Just received these photos taken by Gin from the January litter pick. Great to be reminded of how much people enjoyed Time Bank that day despite dreadful weather, a room undergoing building work and a not very pleasant task.
Doesn’t look good for a litter pick but we will be at Union Corner from 10 am this morning and we can venture out if it’s clear enough, lots of time for coffee if not.
Hope to see you later.
We will start from Union Corner at 10 am this Saturday (9th Jan) with litter picking in the local streets. Litter pickers, gloves and bags provided. We will post here if we need to cancel because of bad weather.
Then whatever the weather, we will be at Union Corner at 12 o’clock for hot soup. Other contributions to a bring and share lunch welcome.
Afterwards we will continue until 3 o’clock. Unfortunately the Plymouth Energy Community, who were going to share energy saving tips and Mariana from Ocean Corner with her marine debris crafts, can’t be with us this month.
Instead we will make boxes and bags to make out of junk and there will be swaps to arrange.
Hope you can make it – pop in anytime.
Stonehouse Time Bank 