When Kemi, 30, moved to Gypsy Hill she felt lonely and didn’t know how to get to know people in her local area. Her GP referred her to the Paxton Green Time Bank and now she struggles to find the time to meet up with all her friends.
“I visited my GP because I wanted to lose weight. I mentioned that I like walking but because I had recently moved to the area I didn’t have any friends to walk with me. My doctor referred me to the Paxton Green Time Bank, which is run from the surgery. He thought it might help me to find some local people interested in walking with me.
“At first I was sceptical. I was confused by what a time bank is and nervous about walking into a room full of strangers. But I decided to go along to the drop-in session that runs from 1-3pm every Monday at the surgery to find out more. As soon as I arrived I got talking to another new member who had only joined the week before. She put my mind at rest by explaining exactly how time banking works.
“It sounds complicated, but it’s easy once you get going. When you first join you fill out a form that lists the skills you can offer and those that you want in return. The time bank time broker links you up with other members who you can help or who can help you.
“Every time you help someone you earn time credits and every time someone helps you you spend those credits. You record everything on your timesheet and at the end of the month the time brokers add it all up. They tell you if you're in credit and can ‘buy’ more skills, or if you're in debt and need to start building up your credits again.
“When I first joined I lacked confidence and didn’t think I had anything to offer that someone else would want. But the time bank has taught me that everyone has skills someone else can benefit from, whether it's sharing something you like doing or offering to go to the shops for someone who can’t get out.
“One man in our time bank had broken his back and been in hospital for months. He felt he had nothing to offer. When I asked him how he had amused himself while he was in bed recovering he said he had taught himself how to play lots of board games. Now he runs a games night every Friday for time bank members.
“It was a real boost to my confidence when I discovered I had so much to offer. I have helped one member apply for her dream job. I organised food for a social evening and shared my recipes when everyone said how much they loved it. I have helped to set up events to promote the time bank and I also walk regularly with members I met at the first drop-in session.
“Through walking I made new friends who became my weight-loss helpers. Thanks to their support I have lost two stone since joining the time bank. I have also done a voice-coaching course with a lady in the time bank who was training to become a voice coach. She taught me how to sing and do public speaking. I have also had French lessons and learnt relaxation techniques and it hasn’t cost me a penny.
“Thanks to the skills I’ve learnt through time bank I have now decided to train as a primary school teacher. I start my PGCE next year. I have already done work experience with local youth groups and organised a placement in a local school through contacts made at the time bank.
“The time bank has changed my life. It has helped me get to know people I would never have met before, of all ages and from all different backgrounds. The time bank has allowed me to reconnect with my community.
“I grew up on a housing estate where everyone looked out for each other and before I joined time bank I thought that sense of community was lost forever. Now I realise it’s still there and time banking connects local people so we can help each other out.”
