Greetings from Time Bank Plus
As Lockdown restrictions continue to ease, we are able to offer a number of opportunities for people to get involved and meet safely with others this summer. We are also able to welcome a maximum of 2 people at a time in the Time Bank office during opening hours (Tuesdays 2 – 6pm & Wednesdays 10am – 12). We ask that people wear a mask inside, observe social distancing and use hand sanitiser when they enter and leave the office.
Our Annual General Meeting will take place by Zoom starting at 2pm on Tuesday 8th September. We hope that holding this meeting online will help to encourage many of you to attend. Here’s the Zoom invite:
Meeting ID: 710 589 6091
Passcode: 888061
Feelgood Walks
These walks are taking place every week on alternate Tuesdays and Wednesdays. They are gentle walks, suitable for all levels of fitness. We practise social distancing and there is a maximum of 6 people per walk in accordance with current guidance.
The dates this month are:
Tues 4th August 12.30 – 1.30
Weds 12th August 2.30 – 3.30
Tues 18th Aug 12.30 – 1.30
Weds 26th August 2.30 – 3.30
We will also consider providing one-to-one or 3-person walks for people who feel they need to build up more gradually to walking in a larger group.
Booking is essential as places are limited – please email us at least 2 days in advance at timebankplus@gmail.com to book your place. You will need to provide a phone number (preferably mobile) where we can contact you to discuss your requirements.
We’d also love to hear from anyone who’d like to volunteer to assist or lead a walk.
Sustainable Gardening & Food Growing
Our gardening team is now up and running and we are able to take on a small number of suitable gardening jobs on Tuesday mornings. Gardening is a great way to meet others in a safe, outdoor environment and to learn useful skills. Please get in touch if you’d like to help out.
Our allotment at Bath City Farm is also available for additional volunteers to help with food growing.
Guitar Group
The Guitar Group are now meeting up outdoors in Twerton every fortnight on a Wednesday lunchtime, and have space for a couple of new members. Please get in touch if you’d be interested in joining or assisting with this friendly, self-run, beginner-level group
Southside Food Co-op
The Food Co-op provides boxes of fresh, locally grown veg every week (or fortnightly if preferred) on Wednesdays, and delivers them to your home. This is available to anyone living in South or West Bath (eg Twerton, Whiteway, Odd Down, Oldfield Park, Newbridge & Lower Weston).
The quality of veg is fantastic at this time of year – it’s all freshly picked and is grown mostly on the edge of Bath near Solsbury Hill. The price, for those people on a lowish income (below £18,000 pa for a single person, £25,000 for a couple or £30,000 for a family), is £4.50 for a small box, £5.50 for a medium box and £7 for a large box. For those who are better off, we charge £6 for a small box, £7 for a medium box and £9 for a large box. All these prices include the cost of delivery. We trust people to let us know and won’t be asking anyone for evidence of income!
We use any income raised to provide veggies to those in urgent need.
Please email timebankplus@gmail.com to let us know if you’d like to order a veggie box and please provide a phone number for us to contact you. We will need at least 2 days’ notice. Payment needs to be in advance by bank transfer or direct debit.
Borrow It
The Borrow It Library of Things is open on Tuesday afternoons from 2 – 6pm and Wednesday mornings from 10am – 12noon. Please ring beforehand on 01225 442813 or email timebankplus@gmail.com to let us know what you’d like to borrow, so we can prepare it and sanitise it. Just knock on our shopfront door and we will pass the item to you. Click here for more info and our catalogue of things: http://timebankplus.co.uk/wp/?page_id=586
Online groups
We are continuing to run a number of online Zoom groups. All groups except Knit & Natter are held on a weekly basis. If you’d like to join, please email us and we’ll send you a Zoom invite. Help is available if needed with setting up and using Zoom (see below).
Mondays (fortnightly)
12 - 1pm Knit & Natter Group. Please note the new meeting time for this group, which was formerly on Wednesdays. Get out your wool and knitting needles or crochet hook, make a cup of tea and sit down for a friendly online session with a small group of others. Expert advice is available if needed. The next 3 sessions will be on 3rd August, 17th August & 31st August.
Tuesdays
2 – 3pm Time Bank Social Café, Games & Quizzes. This is an opportunity to meet up socially on Zoom for a chat and to play games, The Friday games group has now been incorporated into this session.
Thursdays
2 – 3pm Creative Writing Group. This is a very friendly and supportive group of people who are writing and sharing short pieces of prose or poetry. There is a different topic each week and we have an online forum where members of the group can post up their writings. Alternatively, a member of the group is willing to offer advice on people’s writing, if they’d prefer not to post it on the forum.
Internet Support
Our helpful IT volunteer is offering individual advice and support with internet problems, downloading or using apps. If you are struggling with Zoom or other IT problems, just email us with your phone number and he will talk you through the issues you are having.
WhatsApp Groups
The Time Bank WhatApp group helps people to stay connected, share information, exchange ideas or ask for help. Please email us with your mobile number if you would like to join.
Our WhatsApp Foraging Group is a space where people can swap info and tips on edible plants and wild foods, exchange recipes and get ideas and inspiration. Please email with your mobile number for the joining link.
Keeping in touch
In addition to the above activities, we are continuing to keep in touch with our members and offer regular or occasional phone calls to anyone who’d like a friendly, supportive chat. This can be particularly helpful to those people who don’t have a smartphone or internet, such as members of our Lunch Club .
We’d also really like to hear your thoughts on what other opportunities, groups or activities you’d like us to run.
Volunteering opportunities
We are currently looking for assistance with gardening & food growing, driving for the Food Co-op, running Zoom groups and helping with walks or other outdoor activities. Please get in touch if you can help.
Free Training Opportunities
These free training courses are now held online via Zoom and can be attended by any member of Time Bank Plus. Upcoming topics are: Mental Health & Wellbeing (3 sessions); Safeguarding; Boundaries; First Aid.
Please follow this link for further details:
Helpline 0300 247 0050
Finally, here is a B&NES Helpline number which you can ring for access to:
- Volunteer support such as collecting shopping and prescriptions and offering regular supportive phone chats
- Money and benefits advice services and housing issues
- Up to date info on food delivery services throughout B&NES
- Food Banks and food & meal deliveries to elderly and vulnerable people
- Services for the most vulnerable, carers, domestic abuse and other family issues
0300 247 0050
The helpline is open 7 days a week from 9am to 5pm.
Please note: for medical advice you need to ring 111.
Take care and keep well, from Time Bank Plus
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