North Edinburgh Sings Together – the choir formed by members of North Edinburgh Time Bank – will be rehearsing on Thursday mornings from 10am – 12 noon at North Edinburgh Arts and they need a pianist to accompany them.
Can you help, or perhaps you know someone who can? Get in touch!
You’ll recall that North Edinburgh Time Bank was launched at North Edinburgh Arts Centre recently. Volunteer Centre Edinburgh has just posted a short video of the event – click on the link below:
North Edinburgh Time Bank was launched at North Edinburgh Arts Centre last week. North Edinburgh’s Time Bank Broker Julie Smith gave a comprehensive explanantion of time banks – what they are, how they work and who they’re for – and we’re delighted to include Julie’s presentation in full below:
Welcome to the launch of North Edinburgh Timebank, and thank you everyone for coming along. I know that for some of you – Gena, Kate, Caroline, Cathy, Stuart and others who are or were involved in the steering group – this moment has been a long time coming! But thanks to all your stalwart work, some funding form the Council’s health inequalities fund and the management of the volunteer centre – we’re finally here. I’m sure you will earn golden time credits for your efforts!
And I hope it demonstrates the fact that your faith in timebanking was not in vain, as we have most of the timebank members here tonight – who are the real testament to the project. They understood and were excited by the idea of timebanking and happy to contribute to its success. So, what is it about timebanking that connects with people?
Very simply, it gives value to the time we spend with others. And a timebank is a tool to organise the exchange of people’s time. One hour of helping people equals one time credit.
It’s an idea developed by an American called Edgar Cahn who worked in the civil rights movement in the USA and who with his wife set up a legal centre to work with people who couldn’t afford access to the law. He saw all the work that people did, caring for older people and children, helping out in the community, making their neighbourhoods thriving places to be, fighting injustice and inequality as the ‘core economy’. This wasn’t work that people got paid for, but think of what would happen if this work wasn’t done…..it’s hard to imagine.
It wasn’t valued in the same way as paid work was, it didn’t contribute to GDP, and it didn’t confer status on people. But it was vital. The market economy doesn’t value all the capabilities people had and depends on competition, not co-operation.
The ideas behind timebanking challenge those ideas. It sees people as assets and encourages people to define themselves through their relations with other people. It encourages people to get together with other folk in their community to create a sense of belonging and to make a difference.
It’s a cliché that no-one ever lies on their deathbed wishing they had spent more time in the office. Think about what you spend your time doing, and the things you enjoy and the things that make you feel good about yourself. I will bet that most of the stuff you enjoy is about being with other people, whether it’s having a cup of coffee with a mate, or reading a story to your grandchild. It might be helping out at the local lunch club, or organising a holiday club for children. Things that make a difference to you, to others and to the community.
It is the relationships we create that sustain us and give us meaning and purpose.
I think most of us most of the time are only too happy to feel of use. We want to make a difference, we want to be helpful. And if we can help out, we will. And how would you feel if there was a neighbour who needed a hand, but felt they couldn’t ask you?
But how do you feel about asking for help? Can you sometimes feel you’re imposing on people, that you’re being a burden or you don’t know anyone well enough to ask for help? Do you worry people wouldn’t want to help? And does it make you feel useless when you can’t do something for yourself?
We are often told that it’s important that we stand on our own two feet and to be dependent on others is in some way a sign of failure. That needing support is being part of the ‘dependency culture’.
But we none of us can exist without each other. And these thoughts can come about because it can be difficult to trust people when we may live quite isolated lives. It can be difficult to meet people; if you’ve had a bit of a bad time for whatever reason it can be especially difficult to try to make friends. If getting our and about is difficult, if you’ve recently arrived in the area – all these things can make us quite nervous about meeting people.
So sometimes we can think two contradictory things at once: that it’s good to help folk our AND I don’t like to ask for help. We don’t like to feel helpless or useless. And too often if we are ill or old or young or don’t speak the language or don’t feel we fit in – we’re made to feel useless. But the principles behind time banking means everyone is valued, everyone can contribute and everyone can get something back.
Timebanking doesn’t just work on an individual level – it works to build communities. I think we all have a notion of what a thriving community is. It’s where people look out for each other, share good times with each other, care for each other, and stand up for folk who need support. We want to make a difference, to be there for folk when they need us and to trust that others will be there for us.
The trust that is woven between people when there is mutual respect, when we can give and receive help and support is what creates that thriving community we all want to be part of.
And this is where timebanking comes in. This is a way of recognizing and giving value to the time we spend with other people. (We spend time, we save time, now we can bank it!). It gives time a value, but not a price. It is based on a few core values that capture just what we’ve been discussing, namely:
PEOPLE ARE ASSETS –
The starting point for all Time Banks is the recognition that people are the real wealth in any community. Every individual can contribute to the well being of the local community through giving their time, sharing their skills and providing practical support.
REDEFINING WORK –
Activities such as bringing up children, caring for people who are marginalised, keeping communities safe and fighting social injustice have to be recognised, rewarded and counted as valuable work which contributes to a healthy society for us to live in.
RECIPROCITY –
Giving and receiving are the simplest and most fundamental ways of
building trust between people. They are the basic building blocks to positive social relationships and healthy communities.
BUILDING SOCIAL CAPITAL –
Belonging to a mutually supportive and secure social network brings more meaning to our lives and new opportunities to rebuild our trust in one another.
In summing up, I’ll quote Edgar Cahn from his book No More Throw Away People:
‘In communities where people feel safe only by staying behind locked doors, everyone knows the gossip and hears the bad things. But few know the good things about their neighbors, the talent and the capacity – until time banking uncovers what vast untapped capacity there is in each of us, far beyond what most people know about us. Timebanking unleashes that capacity.’
To find out more about time banking visit www.edinburghtimebank.org.uk
Parliamentarians Malcolm Chisholm and Mark Lazarowicz and Councillor Vicki Redpath were among the guests at the launch of North Edinburgh Time Bank at North Edinburgh Arts Centre on Thursday (11 October). Highlight of the evening was North Edinburgh Time Bank’s very own choir, the Timebank Temptations, who entertained visitors with a very impressive a cappella ‘Lean on Me’!
The event was an opportunity to find out all about time banks – how they started, what they are and how they work – and North Edinburgh Time Broker Julie Smith (pictured below)put forward a strong argument for signing up.
Time banks make it easy to lend a hand to friends and neighbours. If you need help with a small job – or if you can offer help to someone else – join a Time Bank! A time bank means you can earn time credits for the things you do to help others in your community. If you can help someone weed their garden, or do their shopping or if you need a hand with wee jobs around the house – then join the time bank!
The time bank will help you to arrange it all, it’s free to use and there’s no money involved – for every hour you spend helping someone you are given a one hour time credit, which you can then ‘bank’ for yourself or donate to someone else to use. It’s simple, really – and you don’t have to sing to sign up!
For more information about North Edinburgh Time Bank contact time broker Julie Smith on 07807 002 591 or email north.timebank@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk
There are two more local Time Banks – Inverleith Time Bank broker is Anne Brown who can be contacted by email at anne.brown@ea.edin.sch.uk or telephone 332 6316, and your contact at sunny Leith Time Bank is Senga Armstrong. She can be found at sengatimebank@btconnect.com or telephone 553 2559.
For more general information about Time Banks visit www.edinburghtimebank.org.uk
North Edinburgh’s Womens International Group are delighted with the success of last week’s Health Day – the first of it’s kind organised by the womens’ group based at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre. Over forty women of all ages took part in a full day of events and activities in Royston Wardieburn – and while they may not all have gone home a lot healthier, they definitely went home happier!
From registration and refreshments at 10am it was a packed programme – Jane Jones gave a talk about ‘What Affects Our Health?’, there was Zumba and aerobics in the sports hall, pamper sessions and gentle exercise; all before lunch time!
A short presentation by local women got the afternoon activities underway, and this was followed by talk on Breast Awareness by Lynda Luke of the Breast Screening Service. Julie Smith gave a presentation on North Edinburgh Time Bank and Roberta Blaikie gave a brief contribution about North Edinburgh Credit Union. The final hour of the day was dedicated to social activities and fundraising for McMillan Cancer Trust in the cafe community room, with a nearly new stall and raffle.
Women’s International Group (WIG) said: ‘We would like to thank the following organisations for their support : Community Learning and Development, Royston Wardieburn Centre Management Committee, Pilton Health Project, North Edinburgh Arts, Telford College students, the Breast Screening Service, McMillan Cancer Trust, North Edinburgh Time Bank, North Edinburgh Credit Union and Stepping Stones. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the individuals who have given up their time or who have contributed to the raffle or nearly new stall and the local businesses who have made donations.’
Thanks to Community Learning and Development worker Lynne McCabe for the following Health Day pictures:
North Edinburgh Time Bank will be launched in song by the Time Bank’s very own choir at North Edinburgh Arts Centre this Thursday evening – and everyone’s invited!
Time banking is a scheme where people earn time credits for every hour they spend helping someone in their community. People sign up and offer whatever skill, knowledge and experience they have – from doing DIY to teaching guitar – and in return they get help for what they need from other members. The North Edinburgh Time Bank has been up and running since May 2012 and has 13 members to date.
Julie Smith, the time bank broker who co-ordinates the project explained: “It’s a simple idea which people really get into. We don’t all have cash, but we all do have time – and what we do with that time can be extremely valuable to others and our communities. Time Banking uses time as a means of exchange instead of money. So, for every hour you spend say, helping someone move house, you get the equivalent in time credits. Which you can then exchange for a favour from someone else – or donate to someone else who might need a hand. Timebanking says, look, we all need someone to do wee things for us at different times in our lives. And we all want to be useful and help other folk out. This scheme lets people be useful and puts them in touch with folk who can help them when needed.”
One of the first people to join was local mum Karma Lennon, who said: “It’s not always easy to get to know folk, especially if you’re new in the area. A time bank is a way of folk getting to know their neighbours – of trusting the people around you. I got help with my garden – we discovered a hawthorn tree growing in it which I didn’t know was there!”
Jan Moore is another timebank member, and also the volunteer administrative worker with North Edinburgh Time Bank. She says: “It’s really easy to feel useless because you’re not in a job that pays well, or you’re looking after people, or you’ve been ill yourself. You can feel you’ve got nothing to offer. Time Bank is brilliant because it clearly says everyone has something to offer. If you can offer company to someone for an hour, help someone fill in a form – be a good listener – we are all valuable to our communities. And we’ve formed a timebank choir to get the message out there in song – so come along to the launch and hear our anthem!”
How can you resist?
Thursday October 11
6pm – 8pm
North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court Edinburgh
And as the great Sir Cliff Richard himself may just have sung: ‘Congratulations!’
A time bank lets people earn time credits for the time they spend helping others in their community. It acknowledges that everyone has something to contribute to their neighbourhood and encourages people to share their skills and experiences with others.
Come along, be entertained, find out more and enjoy some food at
Launch of North Edinburgh Time Bank
Thursday 11 October
6 – 8pm
North Edinburgh Arts Centre
15a Pennywell Court
Everyone welcome – for further information email North Edinburgh Time Bank Broker Julie Smith at north.timebank@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk
Can you lend a hand to someone in your community? Do you need a helping hand every now and then? If so, you’re a perfect recruit to North Edinburgh’s growing team of Time Bank members! Julie Smith recently took up a new post as Timebroker with North Edinburgh Time Bank, and she explains what it’s all about:
What is Time Banking?
Its’ a really simple idea designed to support people who help others and to offer support ro those that need it. For every hour you spend doing something for somebody, you get a time credit. You can then use that to get an hour of somebody else’s time to help you.
Isn’t that just being a good neighbour?
Yes it is! But we’ve all seen our communities change over time. We don’t all know our neighbours now, or where to go to ask for a favour. A time bank is a way of getting to know each other in the community, in order to give and receive help from each other.
What kind of help is on offer?
All sorts of different services are on offer – depending on the individual members involved. It can be anything from giving someone a lift to an appointment, to teaching them how to play guitar. It can be offering a bit of company to someone who is isolated, or doing the garden for someone who’s broken their arm … anything really, except babysitting and personal care.
I don’t have any skills to offer
Yes, you do! TIme Banking recognises all the talents, experiences and knowledge people have. You might be a good listener and available to be company for someone for an hour or so. You might be able to help them so their garden, or put up shelves. maybe you’re good at knitting or you can give folk a lift to an appointment. Everyone has something to offer.
How Does It Work?
You become a member of North Edinburgh Time Bank. Contact Julie Smith, your local Time Bank Broker – details below.
You can then start offering help to folk and receiving your time credits. You can ‘cash’ your credits in when you want to use someone else’s skills or knowledge.
Who’s in charge of the bank?
The TIme Bank Broker keeps a record of what you’ve done and keeps you informed of all the time credits you have. The Broker also organises social events so the members of the Time Bank can get to know each other.
How much time do I have to give?
As much or as little as you want. You decide what you want to offer and if you see if you’re available when someone wants your service. It may only be a couple of hours a month – or more or less. It’s really up to you – you’re in control and you can get involved as much – or as little – as you like, As a member, you can come to all the social events too!
Isn’t this just volunteering?
Time Banking is NOT volunteering of charity. It is all about the members offering their skills, abilities and expertise to help others to a level that you can expect from a friend or neighbour. You do not need to be an expert – on anything!
Who Can Join?
Everyone is welcome, as long as you’re 18 or over. Everyone is treated equally – everyone’s time is worth exactly the same and everyone has something worthwhile to contribute.
Interested, or want to find out more?
Contact Jule Smith on 07807 002 591, email north.timebank@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk
You can visit the website at www.edinburghtimebank.org or call in to North Edinburgh Arts cafe on Wednesdays from 10.30 – 11.30am
