I’ve found ‘My Thing’

Sometimes Timebank is just a chapter in someone’s journey, a place where someone can rest a while and work out what adventure they next want to begin.

N came along to a timebank session because her social presciber ‘told her to’ – she didn’t really know what the group was all about or why it might be something that might benefit her. Simply that’s what the social prescriber said and so ‘that’s what I thought I’d better do’.

N is 73, and had recently moved house, not out of choice but more out of financial necessity. But, not only had she moved house but also moved areas too. The house had since turned out to be more run down that she had realised and described herself as ‘in a bad way in terms of my mental health’.

N stayed for the afternoon, drank a cuppa and chatted to the others there. She started to tell them ‘her story’ – they listened and offered advice.

A month passed and N came back – she wanted to tell the group how grateful she was, how chatting to complete strangers had changed things somehow. That afternoon she got chatting to Mike who offered to help her with her house problems – sharing his building knowledge and supporting her in her dealings with builders.

Six months on and N’s house is now nearly how she wants it, a few bumps along the way with unforeseen problems. But Mike was there to support her and things got sorted.

N still pops into the group for a cuppa and has helped another timebank member to frame some art prints and photographs.

TBSW also persuaded N to come along to Plympton repair cafe and for the last 2 months N has volunteered her sewing and leatherwork skills there.

For N life feels very different than how things were ‘that afternoon’ and she is welcoming the opportunity to help others when she can. Timebank has been a stepping stone on that journey.

‘I’ll never forget that afternoon when a room full of strangers just sat and listened and offered me their support and advice, it meant so much. I love that I’m now involved in the repair cafe – I’ve found ‘my thing!’