Welcome to the Timebank Plus March Newsletter
Spring is in the air – it's a time for new beginnings, growth, development and getting outside in nature. It's a great time to get involved with one of our groups and projects, or better still to help start up a new one. What have you always wanted to have a go at? Playing the guitar? Creative writing? Gardening? Food growing? Or something else? Or are you simply looking for an opportunity to get to know more people in your local community? Whichever it is, we at Timebank Plus will do our best to help you make it happen.
Afternoon Jazz Club
This is a fantastic opportunity for people who would like to join a community jazz club, playing in the gypsy jazz swing style (like Django Reinhardt or Stephane Grappelli). You will need to play an instrument such as clarinet, sax, violin, double bass, flute or accordion and be able to play a simple melody by ear, aiming towards some improvisation. The group is led by long-time Time Bank member and guitarist, Angie, and is taking place in Twerton on alternate Thursday afternoons from 12.30 – 3.30pm. Please get in touch if you are interested.
Timebank Gardening Team, Tuesdays 10.00 to 12.30
The TB+ Gardening Team go out each Tuesday morning from 10.00 to 12.30 to help Time Bank members who are in need of gardening assistance. Training and supervision are provided by the Gardening Team Leader, Jennifer. The Gardening Team members work at their own pace alongside others, doing basic garden jobs. It’s a great opportunity to learn new skills and meet other people whilst doing something useful and worthwhile in the local community.
We are currently able to take on some new gardens so do get in touch if you would like some help from the Gardening Team. Please note that, due to limited capacity, this offer is limited to people who have participated in one or more of our groups or projects.
Time Bank Community Allotment & Garden
Now is the time to get seed sowing and veg growing. Our allotment is a beautiful plot on Bath City Farm, where participants can grow fruit, veggies, herbs and flowers and take a share of the produce. It’s a chance to get out in nature, connect with others, learn and share skills and enjoy some delicious home grown food. We currently have space for more people to join the allotment group.
We also help to maintain a wildlife friendly community garden site just around the corner from the Time Bank. We would love to hear from anyone interested in helping to look after this little patch of land, plant some more herbs and flowers and help keep it beautiful, productive and litter-free.
FeelGood Walks, Tuesdays 12:30 to 1:30
FeelGood Walks are a great opportunity to get out in nature, explore our local green spaces, meet other people and get a bit fitter. These walks are suitable for people of all levels of fitness and we will make sure that we go at a pace which is comfortable for you. Well behaved dogs are welcome on the walks. We leave from the Time Bank office at 86 High St, Twerton at 12.30 prompt. Contact us for further info or just turn up and join us.
Creative Writing for Everyone, Thursdays 10:30 to 11:30 (online via Zoom)
The Creative Writing Group is a small, friendly group of people who meet up online each week to practise and improve our creative writing skills. Some of us have never written before and others are more experienced. Our aim is for these sessions to be fun and to unleash our creative flow. Each week we do a short writing exercise during the session and then take a look at short stories or poems which members of the group have posted up during the week. If you are interested in joining the group, please email us for the Zoom link and the link to the Writing Forum.
One of the group members has put together some of the writings from members of the group in a new quarterly magazine called ‘Manifest.’ Here is a link to the first edition: http://timebankplus.co.uk/wp/the-final-manifest Anyone interested in contributing a piece of their writing to this is also most welcome.
Bath Guitar Group, Thursdays 10:30 to 12.00
The guitar sessions are a lot of fun, with a good size group and expert guidance from Nick, the tutor. The group is suitable for beginners as well as more experienced players and there are occasional opportunities to perform. Music is emailed to members via Dropbox, so that you have the opportunity to print it out and practise at home.
Due to the number of new group members, the Guitar Group is temporarily closed to new people. However you are welcome to join the waiting list and we will let you know when spaces become available again. To register for this group please email timebankplus@gmail.com or call the office on 01225 442813.
Twerton Lunch Club, Wednesdays 11.30 to 2.00
Our very friendly and welcoming lunch club meets every Wednesday from 11.30 – 2.00 in Twerton. It costs just £6 for a freshly cooked, hot 2-course meal. We also have a varied programme of activities, including quizzes, games, musical entertainment, speakers, raffles and more. If you or someone you know might like to join us, just pop into the office, give us a ring on 01225 442813 or send an email to timebankplus@gmail.com – your first meal will be free of charge.
‘Borrow It’ Library of Things
Our ‘Borrow It’ Library of Things offers a fantastic opportunity to access occasional-use items free of charge. This year we will be updating and expanding our stock of equipment in accordance with what people would most like to borrow. Please let us know your needs so that we can update our wish list accordingly.
We already have a wide range of tools (eg drills & sanders), gardening equipment (including both hand tools and electrical tools), camping gear (eg tents & sleeping bags), crafts equipment (eg sewing machines), equipment for events (eg gazebo & urn), home maintenance items (eg carpet cleaner), catering equipment, musical instruments and more. You can view the full catalogue on our website at www.timebankplus.co.uk.
Everything has been donated by local people and can be borrowed free of charge. What better way to save money, reduce the need for storage space and help reduce waste? Borrow It is open whenever the Time Bank office is open. It may be best to ring us beforehand on 01225 442813 to make sure there will be someone available to help you.
We are looking for 1 or 2 volunteers with good practical skills to help check the equipment and tools and perhaps make some small repairs where needed.
Community Sharing Space
We are opening up the Timebank centre to small groups of local people who would like to do an activity together. It could be sewing, card making, music, a book group, knitting, board games, or simply having a friendly chat over coffee and biscuits. Each group needs to have a named co-ordinator and everyone will need to register with the Time Bank. If you have a suggestion for a group, or a skill you’d like to share, please do get in touch and we’ll try and help make it happen.
As a Timebank, we encourage our participants to offer their time & skills to others, as and when it’s possible for them to do so.
Volunteers are currently needed for the following projects:
* Handyperson needed to put up shelves and do small repairs and other practical jobs at the Timebank office and/or to help check and repair items in the Borrow It Library of Things.
* We would love to hear from people interested in assisting with gardening or food growing.
* We are looking for people who would like to join our Management Committee. Some local knowledge or experience of community-based organisations would be ideal.
* Volunteer needed to help clean the Time Bank office once a fortnight.
Timebank Opening Hours
We are currently open to the public at the following times:
Tuesday 10 - 4
Wednesday 10 – 4
Once our new staff members have started, we expect to be open on one or more additional days of the week.
Keeping in touch
Ring us on 01225 442813 or email us at timebankplus@gmail.com You can also find us on Facebook here or pop in to the office and say hello during our opening hours. We look forward to hearing from you.