Timebanking

Oban Timebank is continuing to grow and form partnerships with many local organisations.Hello fellow Time Bankers and those that are interested in joining us!

 What have we done so far in 2011?

We started off the year with a bang! Or shall we say a jolly good get together to celebrate the European Year of Volunteering at our Ready Steady Give It a Go Event.  At this event we had a Zumba session, craft sessions and took part in using a bike to make individual smoothies. Yum! All those who took part enjoyed the day.

New Staff Member

We had a new member of Staff join us in the office in May. A very a big welcome to Senga Cakebread! She has already been busy during the Oban 200 Bicentennial Events with myself and other Timebank volunteers. The Ganavan Family Fun Day saw Senga in her element especially when the police horses made their appearance! At our stall Timebank volunteers were encouraging local children to be very creative whist decorating cupcakes – a very yummy exercise indeed! If that wasn’t enough some very decorative nail painting took place as well. Over 3000 attended the day at Ganavan and it was great to see so many people enjoying the day, even the rain stayed away until pack up time.

During the Oban200 Bicentennial Celebrations many events took place in which Timebank individuals took part.  On the Tuesday a parade of townspeople took place marching past a very important visitor to the town. Did you see our AVA banner in the parade? On the Thursday the Oban Community Sensory Garden had a Garden Party and again the rain stayed away and let everyone enjoy the beautiful gardens and surroundings. Let’s not forget the many cakes and scones prepared by community members including those in Timebank. Thank you to Ann and Nan for preparing the scones.

The Big Strip took place on the Saturday and somewhere amongst the participants were Timebank members. If you can spot yourself you are doing well!

      Of course apart from all these events Timebank members have been carrying on doing the everyday things for each other that mean so much. Cooking meals, gardening, giving lifts, being a mentor and companion are every much as important as taking part in events and get togethers. One very active Timebank member recently moved house (lucky for us she is not moving that far away!) and she had help from old and young Timebank members. She sent in this photo of what she calls the Dream Team!   Thanks for that Sue and Jasmine’s plant is still doing nicely!

It’s been a busy first half of the year what will the next half bring …..? ???

Timebank has been running in Oban since March 2009 and we now have  over 90 individuals 0f all ages and abilities and 13 organisations registered with us. click here to view Lynnside Community Garden. We have a Timebank member helping with minute taking for Lynnside, if you want to get involved with the gardening side of things let me know. This September Lynnside will be starting the groundwork and they would love as many hands as possible to help out.

Oban Community Sensory Garden has also joined Timebank and our volunteers have already helped out at several events during the year. www.argyllcommunities.org/ocsg/ If you would like to help out please let me know, as little or as much as you can manage it all adds up!

LORN also joined us in 2010 and has been busy with the local markets every fortnight.  Highly recommended!  There are plenty of opportunities for anyone wanting to become involved in market gardening and helping out during the local markets. If you want to become involved please let me know.  Webpage for Local Origins Rural Network

Dunollie Preservation Trust became a Timebank Organisation this year and they have been very busy getting their 1745 house ready. For more info have a look at their webpage and if you want to get involved let me know. www.dunollie.org

Our newest organisation to join is Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network www.ssacn.org  They are keen to encourage volunteers in sea angling and shark tagging. Something you would like to get your teeth into? Again contact me if you want to get involved.

      As more individuals and organisations join more opportunities are opened up for everyone to have their needs and wants met. Don’t forget to let me or Senga know if your needs and wants change during the year. And don’t forget to let us know if you have done any exchanges so that we can update your records.

If you think you can help you CAN help.

If you want any more information give me a call or pop into one of our drop ins.

Hope you decide to join Timebanking!

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