Hello Timebank members and friends!
This issue of the Timebank South west newsletter is packed full of good news and positivity, just what we need right now.
We are welcoming new members to our Timebank 'family', welcoming artistic input from a media arts student, working on some exciting ways to keep our Plan It, Cook It, Share It project going for the winter, being thankful for keeping our members connected and much more!
Something I have recently seen online really resonated and so I thought I would share it with you ...
Helping one person might not change the whole world,
but it could change the world for one person.
We, as Timebank members, know as well as anyone just what it feels like to give and receive time. It really does make a difference.
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* COVID Update
* New Faces for Timebank
* Media Arts Student
* Cooking Project Update
* Borrow Don't Buy
Mayflower Museum Visit
* Mayflower Trail
* Mayflower 400 Settlement Project
* Exchanges
* Infinity Loos for Moments
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* Tony's Short Story
* All Ways Apples
* Honicknowle Comnet Xmas Appeal
* Warm Clothing Appeal
* British Red Cross News
* The Unity Project
* Food Plymouth Food Access
* Plymouth River Keepers
* Big News from NUDGE!
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New National Restrictions from 5 November
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Below is some information from Gov.UK regarding the new restrictions in place as of tomorrow.
Stay at home, you must not leave or be outside of your home except for specific purposes. These include:
You can leave home for work purposes, or to provide voluntary or charitable services, where you cannot do this from home.
You can leave home to buy things at shops which are open, for instance for food and medicine, or to collect any items - including food or drink - ordered through click-and-collect or as a takeaway, to obtain or deposit money, or to access critical public services.
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Fulfilling legal obligations
You may also leave home to fulfil legal obligations, or to carry out activities related to buying, selling, letting or renting a property.
You can leave home for education (formal provision, rather than extracurricular classes such as music or drama tuition), training, registered childcare and children’s activities that are necessary to allow parents/carers to work, seek work, or undertake education or training. Parents can still take their children to school, and people can continue existing arrangements for contact between parents and children where they live apart.
You can leave home to visit people in your support bubble, or to provide informal childcare for children 13 and under as part of a childcare bubble, to provide care for vulnerable people, to provide emergency assistance, attend a support group (of up to 15 people), or receive respite care. People can also exercise outdoors or visit an outdoor public place.
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Medical reasons, harm and compassionate visits
You can leave home for any medical reason, including to get a COVID-19 test, appointments and emergencies, to visit someone who is giving birth or dying, to avoid or escape risk of injury or harm (such as domestic abuse), to visit someone in a care home (if permitted under care home guidance), hospice, hospital, to accompany them to a medical appointment, or to go to the vets (or other animal welfare services).
You can leave home to attend a place of worship for individual prayer, a funeral or a related event for someone who has died, to visit a burial ground or a remembrance garden, or to attend a deathbed wedding. A full list of what is allowed can be found in the regulations.
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For Timebank South West this means we will no longer be able to host our socially distanced meetings. However, we will move back to our 'Virtual' meetings be it Facetime or Zoom, we will be there at our regular meeting times for each area:
Mondays:
11 -1 pm North Prospect Facetime with Sally
11 am Efford Zoom chat with Zoe
Tuesdays:
10 -11 Devonport Facetime, 11-12 noon Zoom chat with Zoe
11 -1 pm Barne Barton Facetime chat with Liza
Wednesdays:
11 - 12:30 pm Whitleigh Facetime with Sally
3-4 pm Stonehouse Zoom chat with Zoe
Fridays: 10 -12 noon Honicknowle Facetime chat with Sally
Please get in touch with your local Timebank Outreach worker to find out more about how to join in with our virtual meetings.
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New Faces for Timebank South West!
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We are pleased to introduce and welcome Kimberley Partridge our new
Communications and Administration Worker who joins our small but dedicated staff team.
Kimberley will be contacting many of you over the coming months to update any changes to your contact details and letting you know how many credit hours you have saved, to encourage you to use them. In our recent survey most people said they joined timebank to share their skills with others to help their community. In this unusual and challenging time, it is more important than ever that we all help each other by sharing our skills and using our credit hours to ask for help when needed or when we want to learn something new.
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“Hello, my name is Kimberley Partridge, and I am Timebank South West’s new Communications and
Administration Worker. My workdays are Monday and Wednesday, and I am looking forward to contacting timebank members and helping the outreach team to arrange skill swaps.
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I will also be growing the awareness and brand of Timebank South West and supporting the team with administration duties. I am excited to get stuck into a
new challenging role and help this rewarding charity grow even more. On a more personal note my children and I enjoy cooking and baking, so we are looking forward to learning a few tricks from the Plan It, Cook It, Share It
project on its return”.
To contact me about Timebanking my email is kimberley@timebanksw.org or please call me on Monday or Wednesday 01752 875930
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Welcoming new
Timebank Trustees
We are delighted to welcome two new Trustees Ryan and Tom to Timebank South West’s Board of Trustees. Together they bring a wealth of knowledge, skills, and experience to the role and it is great to have two new additions bringing fresh ideas and renewed energy.
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Rheinallt Wyn Huws (Ryan)
“I was brought up in Snowdonia, North Wales, so I am a country boy at heart. I learnt English as a second language at school and then went on to acquire a Hons Degree in Social Theory and Social Institutions at Bangor University, North Wales. I then studied Social Work (CQSW) as a postgraduate at Cardiff University.
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Throughout the years I have campaigned on various social justice issues but mainly on gay rights. I have lived in Plymouth for over 20 years and enjoy its proximity to the sea and the moors. Whilst at Plymouth Community Homes.
I am a keen gardener and have an interest in photography. I’m increasingly interested in environmental issues and the wellbeing of green and blue areas and its wildlife”.
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Tom Cox
“I am a national award winning project/ programme manager, with experience of leading
high-profile activity across the public and cultural sectors including the city’s Mayflower
400 programme.
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I’m passionate about my community and have volunteered for a range of great
organisations over the last 15 years, including the National Appropriate Adult Network, Circles South-West, Plymouth Youth Offending Team and Plymouth Citizens Advise Bureau, where I currently sit as Vice-Chair of the Board.
I am currently undertaking an MBA with Exeter University, and have a Degree in Social Policy. In my spare time I love reading and sports and am a particularly keen footballer and squash player.”
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Media Arts / Timebank Collaboration #2
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We are also really pleased to have been successful in our pitch to work with another Media Arts student this year. Last year saw Cameron create our wonderful Timebank Video so keep your eyes peeled for what delights we have in store this year from Danielle! Here is little bit of what she says about herself:
Hi there I am Danielle, a third year Media Arts student at The University of Plymouth. I am currently completing a collaborative module, for this I am working alongside Timebank South West to freshen up their advertisement and marketing. I will be looking at renewing leaflets, posters and taking new photographs to create a marketing pack to promote Timebank South West and the work they do. I look forward to meeting some of you at your sessions when we are able to get together again to take some photo's of you in action.
Outside of University I enjoy walks, baking and try my hand at anything creative.
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Plan It, Cook It, Share It - Update
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There was a glimmer of hope that we would be able to re start our Plan It Cook It Share It project this month, however, the latest lockdown has put a hold on it yet again. Chris remains furloughed but eager to get back into the kitchen as soon as regulations allow.
If face-to-face sessions do not recommence in December we have some exciting ideas for you to keep on cooking from home with the possibility of virtual cooking sessions, cook - along's with Chris and the chance to have your cooking queries answered visually!
Watch this space ...
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Borrow Don't Buy - Tech for Timebank
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We have recently had donations of tech from Borrow Don't Buy a wonderful organisation in Plymouth providing a library of 'things'. You can borrow anything from a sander to a projector!
The tech we have received is for members who do not have the means to get online or keep in touch with others. If you need a mobile phone or a tablet please contact your local Timebank Outreach worker to find out more.
One of our members has received a tablet which has been a real lifeline for her to be able to keep up to date with her emails and more importantly her house sale and house hunting!
Two other members have received laptops, one to be able to work from home and the other to provide her son with the ability to complete his online school homework. We are so pleased to have received these generous donations as are the members.
Thank you Borrow Don't Buy!
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The third week of October was a week for visits to the Mayflower Museum. Timebank members have recently been thinking a lot about what we can do together to entertain ourselves during what would usually be our 2 hour ‘socials’. Having exhausted our walks and tiring of zoom chats, we began to think of new things to do. Here in Plymouth we have a wonderful place in history regarding the sailing of the Mayflower to the New World.
We recently found out about the Mayflower Museum, which is homed above the Tourist Information shop, Southside Street, the Barbican and decided we would like to go and have a look around to find out a little more about the journey for the people on board.
Monday morning saw four members of Efford Timebank join me on the tour, and on Wednesday I had three members from Stonehouse Timebank come along.
It was lovely to take in the view from the outside balcony on such a lovely sunny afternoon, looking across the sound and out towards Mount Batten (picture top left). This lead into a room where we could watch a virtual reality video of what it would have been like walking through the Barbican and getting on to the Mayflower itself!
We then went down to the second floor where we were surrounded by information on the ship, it’s passengers and their arrival in America. There were also interactive games where we could find out about what items you would have taken on board with you (picture bottom left) as well as what jobs the crew members had and what tools they would need to do it. And Robert was most impressed at playing helmsman and steering the ship! (picture top right).
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In order for us to keep our wonderful memories in one place we have created a FLICKR profile, this is a website where we have a photo gallery of all the pictures you have shared with us visit our FLICKR photo gallery here. and see the pictures you have shared with us so far!
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Plymouth Mayflower Trail
Did you know that Plymouth now has a set of historic trails in and around some of the really interesting parts of the city? The Mayflower Trail - set around the Barbican is designed to be as accessible as possible...given the challenges of cobbled streets and tight corners. If you are interested in history, please give it a go!
The trails are currently available on an App - a hard copy will be available soon. The link to the Mayflower Trail is here . If you do visit the Barbican and follow the trail - please contact Christina to provide feedback.
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Major Mayflower 400 Commemoration Native American project goes digital
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Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, ‘Settlement’ - originally scheduled as a month-long artist encampment in Central Park, Plymouth as part Mayflower 400 commemorations will now become a digital based programme. Featuring art, performance, discussion and social interaction from 29 key artists Indigenous to North America and the Pacific, Settlement will launch online from 13 October 2020.
The Settlement website will showcase creative works that question the impacts of colonisation on a wide number of tribal nations who continue to thrive despite the long-term effects of this history and will respond to the previously untold side of the Mayflower’s history.
Running for 28 weeks across the winter, Settlement will also offer open artist submissions. Through the lens of the artist, Settlement facilitates an honest representation of complex living Indigenous cultures and allows the artists complete control to explore the effects of the colonisation on North America from a Native American perspective.
The first platform of its kind to hand over creative expression, Settlement has been developed by concept artist Cannupa Hanska Luger and Plymouth based CIC The Conscious Sisters.
The multi-disciplinary arts program sees artists investigate and interpret their lives as the survivors of colonialism and encourage a greater understanding of the contemporary Native American experience.
Cannupa Hanska Luger, Settlement concept artist, says: “With Settlement moving into an online digital occupation we share diverse, evolving and present experiences of our Indigenous communities from North America and into the Pacific. Through innovative media approaches of idea sharing, our art practices can reach a global audience. This digital occupation is a space to map our stories, on our terms in a landscape unhindered by borders.”
The first open submission that will launch alongside the Settlement platform is the ‘Each/Other’ project to be exhibited at Denver Art Museum from May 23-August 22, 2021. The public are asked to embroider a message onto a bandana which artists Cannupa Hanska Luger and Marie Watt will incorporate into a large scale sculpture for the Each/Other exhibition at the Denver Art Museum.
The Each/Other project asks what would the world look like if, as humans, we thought of ourselves as companion species? Can acts of creative collaboration help heal broken bonds with the environment and each other? Artists Cannupa Hanska Luger and Marie Watt invite the public to consider questions while contributing to the physical manifestation of a large-scale sculptural installation.
Through national and international participation, the artwork will become a temporary monument to collective relationships and collaborative handwork, bringing audiences into a tactile encounter with critically relevant issues of protection, shelter, reciprocity, sustenance, exchange, power, action, stewardship, wildness, kinship, vulnerability, and ferocity.
Discover more about Each/Other in this artist film featuring Cannupa Hanska Luger and Marie Watt
Settlement is supported by Arts Council England through National Lottery Project Grants and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport through the Cultural Development Fund and through the American organization, A Blade of Grass.
Discover ‘Settlement’ online. For full information click here.
Artists:
STTLMNT features the work of Dayna Danger, Demian DinéYazhi ́, Raven Chacon & Candice Hopkins, Cannupa Hanska Luger, Laura Ortman, Sonya Kelliher-Combs, Tania Willard, Emily Johnson, Jeremy Dennis, Yatika Starr Fields, Sterlin Harjo, Marie Watt, Eric-Paul Riege, Tania Larsson, Raven Halfmoon, Elisa Lorraine Harkins, Haley Greenfeather English, Katherine Paul, Christine Howard Sandoval, Santiago X, Nicholas Galanin, Nanibah & Autumn Chacon, Rory Wakemup, Dakota Camacho, Jade Begay & Stina Hamlin, Razelle Benally, Kathy Whitman, Ian Kuali'i, Dylan McLaughlin
*Each/Other Credits
Image credit: Cannupa Hanska Luger and Marie Watt
More information about the project, artists & exhibition: www.denverartmuseum.org/exhibitions/each-other, www.cannupahanska.com/eachother, www.c3initiative.org, www.mariewattstudio.com
Image description: Video of artists Cannupa Hanska Luger & Marie Watt outdoors in a cedar forest demonstrating each step of the above listed instructions for public participation. Filmed at Camp Colton, OR during a c3:core residency by Barbara Soulé of Native Arts & Cultures Foundation. Edited by Razelle Benally of Red Brigade Films.
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Opportunities to exchange
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Infinity Loops for Moments
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In the first few months of this year, Timebank Outreach worker and member Zoe had been in touch with Moment Café. Moments is a Dementia friendly cafe in Plymouth where you can go to enjoy a coffee, cake or meal surrounded by memorable décor, items and furniture dating back to the 30’s and 40’s.
Zoe contacted Moments after fellow Timebank member, Barbara, mentioned that they were looking for crochet infinity loops to give to people living with dementia. They are a colourful and textured ring with a twist so that they can never be un-twisted, providing a safe and interesting distraction for those with restless fingers.
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Efford Timebank member Tony has been studying GSCE Enlish as a mature student, he has really enjoyed updating his knowledge and writing skills.
Part of the course was to use greater depth in writing and so Tony has decided to write a couple of short stories to put his new found skills to the test.
Tony has asked that I share a story with you so that you may enjoy it, and possibly be inspired to have a go yourself!
Overview: A walk through around 700 years English history from Acorn to mighty oak, the names of characters are all real people from history.
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All Ways Apples - On Tour 2020!
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You may recall during the last 18 months Efford Timebank members have had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer with Tess Wilmot of All Ways Apples to help plant fruit trees in Efford Community Orchard and then later in the year go back to harvest, juice and taste the very same fruit they planted!
These activities have been going on around Plymouth for sometime, usually in bigger groups with greater audiences and ending in one big celebration at the All Ways Apples Festival at Devonport Guildhall. This year Tess had to work a little differently, she was not going to be defeated by the big C and so she found creative and innovative ways to bring All Ways Apples to the people!
This was achieved through an extended tour of Plymouth and it's numerous community orchards, hosting micro community events with managed numbers of volunteers and participants making social distancing easy and still building community groups knowledge and skills bank.
We were very lucky to be a part of one of the micro events and the members who partook in the activities thoroughly enjoyed themselves, I was fascinated to see the apple pulping and juicing process up close. Hat's off to Tess and Dave Curnow of Friends of Ham Woods for their continued engagement throughout what has been a challenging year for all.
Take a look at the wonderful film created by Russ Floyd below to find out more.
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Honicknowle Comnet Christmas Appeal
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Warm clothing call out for
Union Corner
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This Christmas we are trying to put together some special items to go to families in need. We are hoping to add some toys and/ or festive treats to our Foodbank to provide a little extra for our service users this year. These items do need to be new, it does not matter how big/ small anything you can give will be greatly appreciated by the children and their families. We appreciate this is a HUGE ask especially in these times and are aware people support others already so appreciate it's not something we can all do.
Items can be collected from your door so if you would like to donate a gift please contact Jo
Thank You.
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As you may know, the soup kitchen runs from Union Corner Monday - Thursday providing delicious hot soup for those who need it, as well as food there is the chance for the service users to access free clothing and at the moment they are running low. If you have any warm winter clothing, male or female, that you would like to donate, please get in touch with Sally and she can collect them from you and deliver to Union Corner. They would also be very thankful for hats, gloves, scarves etc, anything to help keep people arm in the colder months.
Are you a keen knitter? Maybe you would like to knit some hats and gloves to donate? All donations welcome.
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Support from the British Red Cross
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The British Red Cross are committed to delivering help to those who need it most. Over the last few months, the number of people at risk of feeling lonely or isolated has increased – in some groups at a disproportionate rate – as connections with friends and family may have shifted or changed in light of restrictions.
They have recently launched our new Tackling Loneliness Digitally program funded by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It particularly focusses on reaching young people, people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, the digitally excluded, refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants, people at risk of loneliness due to health issues and older people.
They have some exciting new online resources to help empower people who may be feeling lonely, and provide them with tools to build confidence, reach out to others and look to the future.
Please share these resources with your networks. All of their resources are free and can be found at www.redcross.org.uk/loneliness-resources. Anyone wishing to be notified when they have new resources live on their website can sign up for updates here.
Plus, their new Loneliness Digital Classroom is now open for booking, where participants can explore how it might feel to be lonely or isolated and learn skills to help others who may be experiencing loneliness. There are two sessions available, one for children and young people aged 10-19 and one for adults aged 19+.
Sessions can be booked by emailing RedCrossEducation@redcross.org.uk or calling 0344 412 2734.
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Food Plymouth
Food Access
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The Unity Project (TUP) are a charity that helps people who have ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ (NRPF), and we think that you might know people that we can help.
As you may already know, NRPF means that people cannot access basic support such as Child Benefit or Universal Credit. This means that many people, often single-parent families with young children, do not have enough income to afford basic housing or food at all during times of unemployment and crisis, or when doing low-paid work.
Some people can apply to have the NRPF condition removed.
All our advice is completely free, we support people with ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ (NRPF) to make an application to remove this restriction. People can make this application themselves. There is information about this application on our website here or their flyer here .
If you know anybody that needs further support with the application, they can contact us via our webform, or at: info@unity-project.org.uk We can provide interpreters if needed.
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Food Plymouth is the City's recognised Local Food Partnership, a 'central connecting hub' for all food related matters in the City.
The Food Plymouth partnership and network is facilitated and resourced by Food Plymouth CIC
One of Food Plymouth's recent projects has been on Food Equality and Lisa Howard, the lead on this project, has shared a new Food Access Guide that they have worked on.
It is an online resource to help people who need help to access food. This can be either financially or through not being able to get out to do shopping.
The guide asks a few simple questions and then signposts the user to the most appropriate services
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Please take a look at the guide if you feel it could be something that could help you, especially over the coming weeks.
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Did you know there is a conservation project working to protect and restore the streams at the ends of your roads and bottom of your gardens?
Plymouth River Keepers, created by environmental charity Westcountry Rivers Trust, has funding to help water habitats locally and wants residents to guide the work they do.
The project is initially focusing on eight neighbourhoods in North-West Plymouth. The aims are to improve the water quality and surrounding habitats of the streams for wildlife and the people who live in the area, alongside a program of community engagement and events. In addition, we have funding to spend with the community and we will be asking for their input on what they would like us to spend this money on. Some of our activities have been delayed by the Covid-19 situation unfortunately but we are planning on starting our face-to-face events in 2021, depending on restrictions.
You can read more about the opportunities to help wildlife, water quality and related community spaces here.
Alternatively, if you know someone who isn't online but would like to know more, call 01579 372140 and ask for a Plymouth River Keeper team member to call you back.
There will be plenty of ways to take part to help shape the project – get involved today.
We look forward to welcoming Plymouth River Keepers as our newest organisational members soon!
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And last but by no means least, we have some super exciting news from Nudge Community Builders, along with Eat Work Art _, they have purchased The Millennium building on Union Street!!
Take a look at this short film to find out more about this exciting new venture.
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Stay safe and well
From your Timebank Team - Liza, Sally, Zoe and Chris
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