By Ruth Tshoukas, Paignton Timebank Broker

Have time on your hands? Do you enjoy meeting people? Then the Timebank is for you.

There are groups of people all over Torbay who want to give their time to benefit others. The Timebank has been going for a number of years and gradually more and more people are signing up.

It works like this: you give an hour of your time to someone else, it may be physically helping by doing a bit of shopping or gardening, or by simply keeping someone company at home or going for a walk with them.

For every hour you give, you can earn a time credit and when you’ve collected enough, you can spend them yourself on something you might need. Many people say they don’t need anything; that’s fine too, you don’t have to spend your credits, you can donate them to someone else.

One of our Timebankers has a very busy time, as she runs the ‘Devon Dumplings’, which is a friendship group at the Conservative club in Paignton every Tuesday morning at 10.30am. They have regular speakers and have a good social time. To find out more about the Devon Dumplings contact Teresa on 01803 554703.

Teresa also supports ‘Versus Arthritis’, which takes place once a month at the Livermead House Hotel on a Monday evening at 7pm. The next one will be on April 11. If you are interested and need transport, contact Teresa. You can be picked up from your home and taken back to your home for just £8. As well as all this, Teresa comes to the Timebank meeting in Preston every week and supports her neighbours.

If you are in need of gentle exercise, as well as meeting a new group of people, we have a seated yoga group at the Conservative club in Preston every Thursday morning at 11am. For more information, get in touch with me or come to one of our Timebank meetings.

If you would like to join the Timebank go to www.torbaytogether.org.uk and register. Once registered, you need to join the Timebank which is a separate form to fill in. For more information, if you live in the Paignton area, contact me at ruthtshoukas@torbaycdt.org.uk or phone: 07703 715236.

If you live in the Torquay area, contact sandraharper@torbaycdt.org.uk or phone 07966 743125