York TimeBank
Fair Shares for Acomb
December 2014 Newsletter (Number 20)
A Welcome Wintery Word from the Chair -
Hello Timebankers - here we are again in the Festive Season. I hope you are all well,
organised and ready for the big event.
Recently we have make a connection with the Gateway Centre on Front Street in
Acomb - a place where lots of community projects are on - going and where people are full
of commitment - and ideas - to help those struggling to cope with difficult personal
circumstances or to survive in the current economic climate.
Tash and I feel that Timebank could play a very positive role in supplementing the
services they offer, or becoming involved as volunteers in projects that are already up and
running.The centre has a bank of volunteers of their own, but on the day we visited they
were struggling as two people who had been due to help out hadn't made it because of
illness.
Could you be on 'standby ' to jump in at short notice? Would you like to become
involved with chatting to centre users and seeing if our members could help them in any
way? There is a 'Hope' club that meets at the centre every Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m. where
users of the foodbank, debt counselling service, the job club, etc. are all invited for
conversation, snacks and drinks and just to socialise together. If you were to go along - and
you would be very welcome - you could meet some of the people in the community needing
support and help, and see if any of our member's skills could be used to give them a hand.
Please see more information about The Gateway Centre
(www.gatewaychurch.co.uk) and contact admin (office@gatewaychurch.co.uk), if you feel
you could become involved in a very worthwhile venture.
Wishing you Season's greetings and a happy,
healthy2015.
Jan
A Quick Word about the new emails going out
You may have noticed that you are all getting very strange emails from the new software
that we have moved to recently. Please bear with us as we try to iron out some of the
problems we are encountering with it. We will send out more information about how this
new system will benefit you are members in the near future.
New Members
Welcome to new member Jo!!
Jo is trained in administration to PA level as well as being a qualified cycling instructor (road
safety). She's also a professional child minder and so baby-sitting is firmly in her remit!
Jo would like to hear from any Timebank members who are able to offer her young children
some grand-parental wisdom. If you can offer your time and be a surrogate grandparent for
two young children (under 10 years old), please get in touch with us!
Jo would also be grateful for any support, as and when she needs it with simple DIY tasks in
the home - she'd love to learn how things are done e.g.: putting up blinds etc. as well as
simple care repairs and sewing/dressmaking so in the future she can tackle these better
herself.
Connecting with Other Timebanks in the Region
Tash and Lucy went to the first Timebank Regional Network Meeting for Yorkshire
and the Humberside in early December held in Leeds. It was great to catch up with the
contacts we'd made at the National Conference in Manchester in November and as usual we
left feeling well motivated and inspired to help grow and sustain our own Timebank. The
next one is potentially being held and hosted by us in York, which is very exciting!
As well as the potential to work with the Food Bank in Acomb, we're currently
hoping to gain funding for some specific projects that will help us raise money and get us
noticed e.g.: Ebay shop.
Lidgett Grove
The cogs are continually working in the development of Lidgett Grove as a
Community Hub which is all very interesting - let's hope that Timebank continues to be a
part of that and can help make it happen! It would become an even better, fantastic space
for the community and with community-based, social groups like Timebank as a core group
supporting it, it all makes sense.
Community Groups
We've already been invited to a few meetings and events run by the Council, CAB
etc. which helps promote community groups and support those in the community that have
the greatest need e.g.: putting them in touch with each other!
In Acomb at the Gateway Centre open to the whole community to make them aware of
advice and info services resources in the city.
TIMES/DATES 10-2.30 15th December and then again on 19th January.
In town (?) City of York Council Staff Volunteering Fair
TIMES/DATE Thursday 22nd January 2015, 11:30-13:30
If you are interested in helping man a stall at any of these events, for any part and be an
ambassador for Timebank, please let us know as soon as possible so we can be sure of
booking a space. If we don't have people to help we can't be there and without Timebank
members helping to spread the word, we can't grow in the community and keeping doing all
the good stuff.
Exchanges
We especially appreciate everyone's probably really busy at the moment, but it's
nice to know that people still have time to exchange during the festive period.
Current exchanges that have been going on recently Dawn and Rachalle have helped promote Andreas Craft Fair
Dave has helped Jenny with some DIY around the home
Ken is still managing the project of fixing Dawn's bike
Jane is going to help Viv prune her fruit trees
If you have anything that you need help with or you have any skills to share, please let us
know.
Factual Stuff
The Flora Bit - a bit of floral indulgence or a productive fork in the dirt....
There's still plenty to do outdoors in the Winter months, if you keep yourself wrapped up,
for example:
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Harvest leeks, parsnips, winter cabbage, sprouts and remaining root crops
Take hardwood cuttings now
Reduce watering of houseplants
Check any stored fruit regularly for mouse invasion!
(www.rhs.org.uk/advice/in-month/december)
The Fauna Bit - your dose of (sometimes) cute and cuddly....
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On Christmas Eve apparently all animals can speak...However, it's unwise to test this
and be reminded that even if they ask for a bite of the Christmas cake, it's best not
to give it to them!
Ensure your pets remain safe this Christmas - check out a few hints and
tips to make sure your furry friends have a jolly festive time too:
www.vets4pets.com/news-events/latest-news/xmaspetcare
The Random Bit - oddities, facts, celebration days etc....
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December used to be the tenth Roman month, so gets its name from the word for
ten in Latin, which is 'decimus'.
Again, if you're feeling in the Roman mood, enjoy the Lord of Misrule festivities - or
Saturnalia that it was founded on - on December 17th. This feel-good festival of
drinking, gambling and all-round merriment, where people's roles were overturned,
went from a day's event, to seven days, to almost three months of mayhem!
In December 1642 Sir Isaac Newton was born.
A Christmas pudding should be made of 13 ingredients to represent Jesus and His
Disciples and should be stirred by every member of the family using a wooden spoon
from East to West in honour of the Three Wise Men.
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In December 1903 the Wright Brothers made their first flight.
Local Goings-On
Keep an eye out for the exciting new Acomb Village website launch this month! It's cooperative group promoting Acomb and its people: businesses, residents and community
groups; they're already on Facebook and Twitter.
Remember there's also the fantastic and up-to-date Acomb Alive online for up to date news
and community events going on. Acomb Alive is the campaign to get business flourishing in
the Acomb area and has seen the launch of an Acomb Traders Association.
As usual, there's tons of stuff going on in York at this time of year, with lots more to look
forward to in January 2015 and beyond!
Wishing everyone the very best wishes for over Christmas and New Year from the
Timebank team. :)