Community Matters: Flying friends, talking time

The Timebank is about exchanging your time and skills with others. It is not a direct swap; you can select an offer from a Timebanker, and there is no requirement to offer something yourself until you want to.

Anyone can join, and all exchanges are equal, be it a handyman or a befriender. You can offer anything that you enjoy doing.

Did you know that joining the Timebank and offering your skills would make new friends while helping someone else? You would meet new people while enriching your own life at the same time. People join and offer something that they like doing. If you like driving, it could be taking someone for a drive; if you like walking, it could be going for a walk.

As well as that, you would ‘earn’ a time credit for every hour you give, which you can ‘spend’ on someone else’s time. You can now also use your time credits for other things, such as a coffee at a local coffee shop or a swim at a local pool. We are gradually adding more offers to choose from, so have a look by putting Torbay Together into your search engine.

At one of my regular venues, the STEAM café in Torbay Road, I met Merlin the Eastern Siberian Eagle Owl. He is 18 years old and comes from Totnes Rare Breeds Farm. Pete comes every Tuesday morning and brings a different owl every week. Come and meet him, and if it’s a week when I am there, perhaps you will also think about joining the Timebank.

As well as exchanging time, we also sometimes have a Big Exchange where you can exchange goods. Bring something along which you no longer want and choose something which you do want to take home. No money changes hands. You can bring anything that can be carried away, apart from electrical goods. And, of course, in good condition. Our next Big Exchange is at Rosegarth, 1 Tor Church Road, TQ2 5UR, from 10.30 to 12.30 on Tuesday, 8th July.

In Preston, we are starting another weekly social group at the Coffee Lounge on the main road just after the lights towards Torquay. This will be from 2.00 until 4.00pm every Thursday starting on Thursday 10th July. Come along and have a cup of tea or coffee and perhaps even a piece of cake. Nina or I will be there to meet you. The popular seated yoga sessions at the conservative club in Preston will have a break in August, with the last session on Thursday 24th July and the first session back on the Thursday 4th September.

If you would like to find out more about the Timebank or just have a chat, come along and find me at one of our regular venues:

• At the Bright Bean Café in Preston opposite Tesco, from 2pm every week on a Wednesday.
• At the Crafty Fox in Foxhole on the last Friday in the month from 10.30 am. 
• At Centrepeace on the first Friday in the month from 2.00 pm.
• At The STEAM café in Torbay Road on the first and second Tuesday of the month from 10.30 am.
• At the community hub in Temperance Street, Torquay, on the first Thursday in the month from 10.00 am.
• At the Baptist church in Preston on the second Thursday in the month from 10.00
• At Torquay library on the third Tuesday in the month from 10.00 am
• At Paignton library on the first Monday in the month from 10.30 am.

Torbay Together is the online platform for the Timebank. (www.devonconnect.org/torbay) You can contact me by email: ruthtshoukas@torbaycdt.org.uk or my work phone: 07703 715236.

WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED WHEN WE SHARE WHAT WE HAVE.