BWCE Fund supports Time Bank Plus to give time and spirit to Twerton

Earlier this year the BWCE Fund gave a £5000 grant to Time Bank Plus in Twerton towards the cost of a project worker for the ‘Borrow It’ Library of Things, to help them offer a more comprehensive range of resources and opportunities to local people on low incomes. BWCE volunteer Helen Turnbull went to meet Viv Talbot and Nicky Green to find out what they do and how they have used the grant.

Time Bank Plus is a small charity based in Twerton with the principles of exchange, involvement and kindness at its heart. The organisation, although still affiliated to Timebanking UK, became an independent charity in 2008, initially led by Sarah Bird and now managed by Viv Talbot. The charity is supported by hundreds of members, promoting reciprocity and well-being in the community, and has received funding from Medlock Trust, Roper Family Charitable Trust, Quartet Community Foundation, Wessex Water, and Postcode Local Trust.

Spanning from a lunch club, a gardening team, an allotment, guided walks, a guitar group, a creative writing group, an art group, this charity encourages their participants to contribute in ways that suit them. From their office on Twerton High Street, Time Bank Plus have created a ‘Borrow It’ library of things that can be borrowed free of charge for short or occasionally longer term uses. This collection encompasses a wide range of DIY tools, musical instruments, cooking utensils, camping equipment and gardening equipment – beneficial for people needing equipment for occasional use. This service allows local people in Twerton and surrounding areas to save money by making better use of resources.

Recently, Time Bank Plus has expanded. Bath & West Community Energy granted £5,000 from its community fund towards the cost of a project worker to manage the library of things. Subsequently, Nicky Green joined Time Bank Plus in April this year, aiming to update the library and expand the resources and opportunities available to the community.

As storage space at the Timebank centre was limited, Timebank Plus have been able to rent a nearby container to accommodate the growing library. With the kind help from RED Construction South West, a local company, shelves have been installed into the unit to organise the collection. This has made a huge difference to the library, allowing more room for wish list items.

Additionally, RED Construction South West have donated a drill and impact drive to the Borrow It Library as well as paint and paint brushes to repaint the office kitchen and toilet. It is these acts of generosity which are at the heart of the charity. Members of the community noted that Time Bank Plus is a “lovely, friendly bunch of people who give a real sense of community to the area.”

The volunteering aspect has been undeniably beneficial to the community as one volunteer said,

“It makes a big difference to my general well-being, as I’m not well enough to work and it’s difficult to find things to join and ways to interact with people, so I feel better in myself by volunteering.”

Time Bank Plus are open for members to join and volunteers to get involved in whatever way they are able. Donations of items to the library are welcome. They are also looking to run more drop-in workshop sessions, as well as other activities.

To learn more, please them contact on:
01225 442813
timebankplus@gmail.com

Time Bank Centre
86 High Street
Twerton
BA2 1DE