A Timebank for Nairn?

An interactive workshop is taking place on Friday 27th March to explore setting up a Timebank in Nairn. Michaela Goan, a Timebanking UK Trustee, is leading the workshop. Representatives of the Third Sector, NHS Highland, Highland Council, businesses and any others working with or interested in helping clients / service users / other individuals who are isolated in the Nairn area are welcome to come along and get involved. Registration is at 9.15 am and the workshop finishes at 1.00 pm, followed by a friendship lunch. 

Time banking is an exciting way for people to come together in their communities and organisations to share talents and resources in a mutually beneficial way, without the need for money. For every hour participants ‘deposit’ in a Timebank - by giving practical help and support to others - they are able to ‘withdraw’ equivalent support in time when they themselves need something doing. Everyone’s time is equal, so one hour of one person’s time is equal to one hour of anyone else’s time.

Nairn Link Up Highland - which has organised the workshop - is an informal forum of third sector and statutory agencies, volunteers and interested local residents. The forum works co-operatively to explore ways of meeting the needs of client / service user groups. 

Carrie Bates, Nairn Community Connector for Health and Happiness, facilitates Nairn Link Up Highland. “Forum members have identified isolation as a main priority. Time banking is a way for people to come together and help each other. This workshop is the next step in identifying who wants to be involved in creating a local Timebank.” Forum member Roy Anderson, Community Networker (Nairn and Ardersier), Reshaping Care for Older People, explains “A Timebank can help to reduce isolation for people of all ages in a way that works for each individual. It is something everyone can benefit from and I would urge folk to get involved.” 

Aims of the workshop are to introduce the concept of time banking and explain how a Timebank can build social contact / friendship(s), increase confidence and reduce isolation. At the end of the workshop it is hoped that participants will be inspired and some may want to help set up a local Timebank.

If people are inspired to set up a Timebank, a public meeting will be held later on. Timebank will then be introduced to the wider community to seek members willing to ‘deposit’ talents and resources so that other members can ‘withdraw’ practical help / social contact.

For more information or to book a place on this interactive workshop in Nairn, please email Carrie on nairn@healthhappiness.org.uk, phone 01667 404 548 or text 07590 777 996 by Monday 23rd March.