Residents in Penhill and Taw Hill will now be able to turn their spare time into shared time following the launch of Swindon's first Time Banks. Good at gardening but need help to shorten some curtains? Through your local Time Bank you can swap your gardening skills for someone else's sewing skills and maybe make some new friends along the way.
Like any other bank, the Time Banks take deposits and allow withdrawals, but unlike ordinary banks, the currency is time not money. Bank members deposit an hour in the bank by doing a good deed for another member, and then withdraw an hour when they need a service. There will be Time Bank group events where members can come together to socialise or do something useful together. Local residents can find out more and become members of their local Time Bank by contacting Carol or Lou by phone or email (see below) or by coming along to one of our regular events. We will be at Penhill Community Cafe from 9:00-12:00 on 12th August and 9th September.
Time Banks have been around in the UK since 1998 with over 100 already up and running. The One Swindon partnership has provided the funding to set up these first two Time Banks in Swindon. The Time Banks will help bring local residents together and make new relationships through helping each other out. The Time Banks were successfully launched with much interest on 15th July at the Penhill Community Cafe and on 19th July at the Tawny Owl pub. Each Time Bank now has its first members and both are set to grow.
Louise Hallett, Volunteer Centre Swindon, "It was great to see Taw Hill residents coming along to the launch, there is a huge amount of enthusiasm already. We are really excited to be involved in setting up the Time Bank project and look forward to working with the local community to develop Time Bank opportunities".
Justin Tomlinson MP, "This is a real opportunity for the local community to come together, so hopefully lots of fellow local residents will sign up and share!"
For more information and to join in, contact Carol or Lou on 01793 420557 or timebankswindon@gmail.com or find "Time Bank Swindon" on Facebook
