Thursday 14 January 12.30 – 2pm
Pilton Community Health Project
Tag: North Edinburgh Timebank
Super Sara – volunteer extraordinaire!
North Edinburgh Arts was even busier than usual this morning as friends and colleagues got together to congratulate one of their own. JULIE SMITH explains …
Congratulations to Sara Martin on being awarded an Inspiring Volunteer by the City of Edinburgh Council and Volunteer Centre Edinburgh. She is a great example of the many inspiring women North Edinburgh has produced over the years.
She has been active in the area since she moved here 11 years ago. From first attending Buggy Brigades with her daughter, she was a founder member of North Edinburgh Women’s Group. From there she has gone on to give her time to lots of projects in the area: she runs a Rainbows group at Drylaw Church, is an archery instructor in the archery group and a stalwart of West Pilton Park Action Group.
It is as a volunteer for North Edinburgh Timebank that she has truly made her mark. Throwing herself into the singing group – the Timebank Temptations – she has encouraged others to get involved and without her it’s doubtful if we’d ever end up singing the right notes in the right order!
She makes sure everyone is organised and up-to-date with what’s going on and isn’t slow to tell us off if we forget our folders or pencils! Equally, she is hugely encouraging to everyone else involved in all activities.
Without her, the Teddy Bears’ Picnic last month couldn’t have happened, and she is also a stalwart of the Knit and Natter group. It’s been a real privilege to work with her, and I know all her friends in the Timebank want to congratulate her. She has been there for lots of them at various points when they needed a chum – as they have been there to support her. She’s been active in North Edinburgh Fights Back and is a huge champion of the local community. She is a woman of strong opinions and a willingness to muck in wherever and whenever she can.
North Edinburgh is full of people making a difference in innumerable ways to their communities. As carers and cleaners, cooks and comforters, campaigners and confidantes – everyone is needed and valued. I hope Sara will act as an inspiration to others to take that first step and get involved in something they feel passionate about!
If you would like to get involved in North Edinburgh Timebank, or find out more about the activities it organises, contact Julie Smith on 07958540438 or email north.timebank@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk
Community Chat Cafe opens next week
The Community Chat Cafe invites you to share food, language and culture. Join us for our free, friendly, sociable lunches and practice your English – all welcome!
Wednesday 25 February
Wednesday 11 March
Wednesday 25 March
12.30 – 2pm at Pilton Community Health Project, Boswall Parkway
A creche is available but must be booked by calling Rachel: on 07891 525663 or Julie on 07958 540 438.
Community Chat Cafe is organised by the Living in Harmony Group and North Edinburgh Timebank
Monday 19 May is Time to Play
North Edinburgh Time Bank and Speakeasy are organising a fun afternoon of play activities at Inverleith Park on the Monday 19 May school holiday.
Anyone and everyone welcome – meet at midday at North Edinburgh Arts!
Game On on Friday, but do not pass go …
North Edinburgh Timebank is hosting a Community Board Game Afternoon this Friday (21 March) from 3pm -4.30 pm North Edinburgh Arts (after the Treasure Hunt – see previous post)
We need a good selection of games for Friday afternoon. Do you have anything we could borrow just for Friday? We shall return any game loaned to us – with all pieces intact! Ludo, Cluedo, Kerplunk, cards, Happy Families – anything that can be played by adults and children – and doesn’t take 3 weeks to finish (no Monopoly or Risk, thanks!)
If you can help out, drop things in at NEA for Julie or phone/email me to collect.
Julie Smith
North Edinburgh Time Bank Broker
c/o North Edinburgh Arts
15a Pennywell Court
Edinburgh EH4 4TZ
Mob: 07807002591
www.edinburghtimebank.org.uk
Cut the cost of Christmas at Give and Take Day
Try swapping, not buying this Christmas!
Give and Take Day
Royston Wardieburn Community Centre
Saturday 14th December 10am – 1pm
North Edinburgh Timebank and the Women’s International Group are organising a big community swap day.
If you have clothes or toys you no longer need, bring them along and swap them for other ones.
Following the success of the Give and Take Day in the summer, we’re having another one! North Edinburgh Timebank’s Julie Smith said: “It’s a simple idea and really effective. It’s a way of local people supporting each other in a practical way. No-one has a lot of cash, this way we can all share things we have we don’t want, but might be of use to other folk.”
You turn up, hand over what you don’t want, get a ticket and you can exchange that for something you do want. Adult’s clothes, children’s clothes and toys – as long as they’re in good condition, bring them along.
There will be a bouncy castle, tombola stall and refreshments.
For more information, contact Julie on 07807002591.
WANTED: More people to make more noise!
Timebank Temptations start the new term on
Thursday 22 August 10am – 12 at North Edinburgh Arts.
We need more people to join us – your local friendly community singing group!
We sing a huge range of songs and everyone is free to chip in with something they particularly like.
Whether you think you’ve got a great voice or that you sound like a cat being strangled we want you to come along. None of us thought we could do this when we started, but we have a great time. Really brilliant for cheering yourself up when you’re a bit down.
Anyone is welcome any Thursday morning – come along and see for yourself!
Julie Smith
North Edinburgh Time Bank Broker
c/o North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Court
Edinburgh, EH4 4TZ
Mob: 07807002591
Website: www.edinburghtimebank.org.uk
Saturday 10 August: a day of give and take
Attached are details of a Give and Take day organised by North Edinburgh Timebank and Tenants and Residents in Muirhouse. We are having a ‘swish’ (where you swap clothes) and a toy and book swap stall. There will be arts activities in the garden run by NEA and a bike workshop run by My Adventure. We hope to get a knitting group up and running too…
As well as this, we are organising a furniture donation. If people have large items they want to donate, they can get in touch and we can pick them up on the Saturday morning. We are also looking for volunteers to help with the moving and lifting, so if you know any fit, healthy people with a couple of hours to spare …
Julie Smith
North Edinburgh Time Bank Broker
Mob: 07807002591
Website: www.edinburghtimebank.org.uk
For one night only … the fabulous Timebank Temptations!
The Timebank Temptations is the local singing group formed by members of North Edinburgh Timebank.
Fresh from their appearance opening the Volunteer Awards ceremony at the City Chambers last week, they are doing a free show for all their supporters, friends and families tomorrow evening. All welcome!
Friday 14 June at 7pm in North Edinburgh Arts
catch them before they go global!
Mark Lazarowicz praises volunteers
![Mark_Lazarowicz[1]](https://i0.wp.com/nen.press/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/mark_lazarowicz1.jpg?ssl=1)
Mark Lazarowicz MP has expressed support for volunteers working in Edinburgh North and Leith as part of this year’s Volunteers’ Week.
Volunteers’ Week is a UK-wide week to celebrate the work of millions of volunteers who give up their time to help others. You can find out more about UK Volunteers week at http://volunteersweek.org/
Mark said: “Volunteers are crucial to so many organisations in our community. Their work helps make our society a better place, and volunteers themselves also benefit tremendously from the experience – learning new skills, getting back into paid work, improving physical or mental well-being, or simply meeting interesting people and having fun.
“A good example of the importance of volunteers will be seen over the next weekend during the Leith Festival. On Leith Gala Day in particular, on Leith Links from 11 am on Saturday (8 June), hundreds of local volunteers will be showing the work of their organisation to the local community – publicising their work, raising funds, recruiting more volunteers, and generally meeting the public.”
The most popular fields for regular volunteers are sports and exercise; hobbies, recreation, arts and social clubs and religion.
During Volunteers’ Week organisations will be taking the opportunity to recognise the contribution of their volunteers through holding awards ceremonies, recruitment fairs, celebration events, training opportunities and volunteer taster sessions.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of many organisations, and work in communities in organisations such as sports clubs, community groups and museums, as well as public sector bodies, schools and hospitals.
Muirhouse Millennium Centre’s Cathy Ahmed and North Edinburgh TimeBank were among the volunteers recognised at a City Chambers reception hosted by Lord Provost Cllr Donald Wilson last night. Congratulations to you all!
PIC: Vicki Redpath