Open Your Account at the Bank of Time
You may think the Bank of Time would be a science-fiction creation, straight out of Doctor Who or Back to the Future. But think again – it’s very much a real world idea! Even though it might not be a real place, you can still withdraw some time and deposit it back later by doing something great to help others. Those in the voluntary sector have known about the Bank of Time since it was established in the 1990s by Edgar S. Cahn. The concept, known as Timebanking, has been around for nearly 20 years. We don’t want to be stuck in the land before time, so JVN, along with the Board of Deputies and the London Jewish Cultural Centre, is now hosting its very own Timebanking event on Sunday 16th February.
The idea is simple enough – experts in a whole variety of fields will deliver a series of hour-long sessions throughout the day, from 11am-5pm. The crash-course topics on offer include Sushi Rock and Roll, Cyber Security, DIY, Balloonology and Website Design, and there are 24 sessions on offer in total – all of which are FUN and FREE to attend. For each session you will receive a stamp on your individual Timebanking card. This means you have ‘withdrawn’ an hour from the Bank of Time. You will then receive a list of interesting, local volunteering opportunities from JVN, allowing you to ‘repay’ that time in a beneficial way. You learn a new skill, and make a pledge to use your existing skills to help others.
If you can spare an hour or two on the 16th, why not come along to Ivy House and see what interests you? The sessions are family friendly, but if your kids can’t bear to be seen with you, LJCC Fusion is on hand to run Pop-Art and Graffiti workshops for children up to the age of 14. There will also be a crèche with fully licensed staff for the under-5s.
There are 300 Time Banks in the UK, with over 25,000 participants who have given and received over a million hours of support. So come along; you never know what you might learn, and the time you give in return could make a huge difference to somebody’s life. To register your place, click here to e-mail Raisa. With their great opportunities for investment, incredible rates of interest and no queuing whatsoever, you’d be a fool not to open your very own account with the Bank of Time – we’ll be sure to give you a great reference!
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