Below is the August 2021 update from Timebank Plus, who are a friendly organisation which offers people in Bath and surrounding areas opportunities for volunteering and involvement in their local community through an exchange of time and services.
We hope the summer is bringing you much-needed opportunities to meet up with family and friends, perhaps get away for a holiday break and generally enjoy getting out and about.
It was wonderful to see so many of you at our Summer Social and to know that despite over a year of Covid-enforced isolation, we can once again get together and make things happen in the local community.
We are still in the planning stages and want to find out what is now most needed, so please do get in touch with your ideas. We have a suggestions board at the office where you can write your wish list, or if you prefer you can fill in our online survey here.
PLEASE NOTE: The Time Bank office in Twerton High St is currently open 2 days a week on Tuesdays 10 – 6 and Wednesdays 10 – 2. You are welcome to drop in during these times or, to make sure we are available, ring us first on 01225 442813.
Borrow It
The Borrow It Library of Things is open on Tuesdays between 10am & 6pm and Wednesdays from 10am to 2pm. We have a wide range of gardening equipment, DIY tools, camping gear, sewing machines, carpet cleaner, kitchen items and more. There is no charge for borrowing items, though donations are always welcome. We also have a wish list of items we are looking for, to add to our collection. Click here for further info and our catalogue of things: http://timebankplus.co.uk/wp/?page_id=586
Lunch Club
Our wonderful Lunch Club meets every Wednesday from 12 – 2pm for a delicious two-course meal and activities like quizzes and a raffle. We are delighted that due to the easing of Covid restrictions, the club has now been able to return to its previous venue at Quebec Community Room, Twerton. If you know an older person in the Twerton area who might like to join the club, please let us know. We are also looking for a volunteer to help with washing up on an occasional basis.
Feelgood Walks
Feelgood Walks are taking place every Tuesday at 12.30pm from the Time Bank office at 86 High Street, Twerton, BA2 1DE.
Walking in nature is a great way to enhance your mood and keep fit and healthy. These are short, easy walks of up to an hour, suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. We vary the walks each week to maintain interest – for example they may be along the river, in the park, through the woods or around the City Farm. We can also offer wildflower and tree ID walks if this is of interest. You will be very welcome to join us.
We would also love to hear from anyone interested in volunteering to lead or assist with the walks; appropriate training is available.
Sustainable Gardening Service
The TB+ gardening team is a small, friendly group which helps local people in need of assistance with their gardens. This project takes place on Tuesday mornings from 10am to 12pm.
Our emphasis is to encourage wildlife-friendly gardening. Whilst we are happy to help keep gardens neat and well-maintained, we are also mindful of the need to work in harmony with nature and provide habitat for the insects, birds and plant-life on which our future depends.
New members are very welcome. Gardening is a great way to keep fit, learn new skills & help others in the local community and the gardening team leader provides expert knowledge and guidance. We would also welcome donations of good quality gardening tools, such as hand tools or an electric mower.
Food Growing on the Allotment
This is an opportunity to join a small number of other volunteers growing food on our lovely allotment at Bath City Farm. Please get in touch for further details.
Southside Food Co-op
The Food Co-op provides boxes of fresh, locally grown vegetables every other Wednesday and delivers them to homes in South and West Bath. The growing season is now in full swing and the produce available currently includes freshly picked courgettes, broccoli, fine beans, cucumber, fennel, peas, runner beans, new potatoes, lettuce, spring greens, cauliflower and more.
The produce is grown mostly on the edge of Bath near Solsbury Hill. The price, for those people on a lowish income (below £18,000 pa for a single person, £25,000 for a couple or £30,000 for a family), is £4.50 for a small box, £5.50 for a medium box and £7 for a large box. For those who are better off, we charge £6 for a small box, £7 for a medium box and £9 for a large box. All these prices include the cost of delivery, or you can save £1 and collect your order from our office. We use any surplus raised to provide veggies to those in urgent need.
Please email timebankplus@gmail.com if you’d like to order a veg box and please provide a phone number for us to contact you. We will need at least 2 days’ notice. Payment needs to be in advance by bank transfer or direct debit. We would also welcome a volunteer to help with packing the veg boxes and a driver to help with deliveries from time to time.
Photography Challenge
The subject this month for our photography challenge is ‘Freedom’. Please send us your photos by email to timebankplus@gmail.com. Your entries will be uploaded onto an Instagram forum.
Community Litter Picks
You are invited to join our volunteer Litter Picker on Tuesday afternoons at 2pm to help keep the Twerton area clean and tidy. Contact us for further details.
Possible New Groups & Activities
We are currently awaiting the result of a funding application for a new Art Group – our previous one was really popular and successful, please let us know if this would be of interest to you.
Other suggestions we have received so far include Guitar Group, Fitness in the Park, Cycling and Singing – please tell us what YOU would like.
Zoom groups
Mondays (monthly)
4.00 – 5.00pm Knit & Natter Zoom Group. Get out your wool and knitting needles or crochet hook, make a cup of tea and sit down for a friendly online session with a small group of others. Expert advice is available if needed. These online sessions will take place once a month for the time being and the next session is on Monday 9th August.
Thursdays (weekly)
10.00 – 11.00am Creative Writing Zoom Group. This is a very friendly and supportive group of people who are writing and sharing short pieces of prose or poetry. There is a different topic each week and we have an online forum where members of the group can post up their writings.
IT Assistance
If you, or others you know, need help with setting up Whatsapp, Zoom or other apps, or with other IT troubleshooting, please let us know and one of our volunteers may be able to help you. We’d also love to hear from anyone with good IT skills who is interested in volunteering to assist others.
Keeping in touch
If you aren’t already in our Whatsapp group, do join us. It’s such a good way to keep in touch with each other, share information or ask for help. Just email timebankplus@gmail.com with your mobile number and we’ll add you to the group. You can also find us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/timebank.plus/
Volunteering opportunities (summary)
We are currently looking for: volunteers to join our Gardening Team; IT support; an occasional washer-up for the Lunch Club; litter pickers; people to help grow food on our allotment; people interested in assisting with our Feelgood Walks; a veg box packer and an occasional driver for our Food Co-op. We are also looking for a Treasurer for our Management Committee. Please get in touch if you can help.
Community Wellbeing Hub 0300 247 0050
The Community Wellbeing Hub is a collaborative service involving 3SG, B&NES Council & Virgin Care. It offers a range of support services such as mental health, returning home from hospital, income, housing and benefits advice, food and medication collections, as well as lifestyle services for help with stopping smoking, getting active or losing weight.
To contact the Community Wellbeing Hub: Phone: 0300 247 0050 Email: CWHBanes@virgincare.co.uk Website: http://communitywellbeinghub.co.uk Text: 07870 868368 Opening hours: Monday–Friday, 9am until 5pm
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