It is diversity that enriches a time bank and makes it what it is.
Evidence of this is shown through the skills, cultures, nationality and experiences that are brought to the time bank.
At Clapham Park time bank we have a vast array of skills and talents as well as a very diverse membership. We have members from Ecuador, Africa, Caribbean, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Rwanda and Asia to name but a few of the nationalities on board.
These members come with a wide selection of skills.
How do we as a time bank achieve working with diversity?
We do this Maintaining an open mind one day is never the same as the other. We need to be adaptable and flexible. We learn our most valuable lessons from our members it is these people that bring the colour to the time bank.
One of our time bank mottos is “To respect and protect” this means that each member not only respects each other but also protects that which is already in place.
Listening plays a big part of empathy, how can we help a member achieve maximum potential we have to put our selves into their shoes, know where they are coming from, know what they can offer, what they need and know what they want to achieve through the time bank.
How do we show our appreciation to members? We do this through rewarding our members not only with time credits but also gift vouchers, tickets to events, museums, and attractions ie the London eye and special award ceremonies.
Valuing what the member is bringing to the time bank encouraging self worth and raising esteem levels. We encourage each person to be supportive to each other.
Working with diversity anything is possible
Working with diversity presents an opportunity to challenge our own prejudices.
How can we Challenge our own prejudices?
By listening, learning, communicating, understanding and building bridges, not burning them.
How do we show our appreciation to members? We do this through rewarding our members not only with time credits but also with tickets to events, museums, and attractions ie the London eye and special award ceremonies.
By placing a Value on each member and what the member is bringing to the time bank encourages self worth and increases levels of self esteem We encourage each person to be supportive to each other.
EXAMPLES OF PREJUDICE
My assumption that all police are the same they love harassing and arresting black boys, they love sterio typing them and it is there main aim to get all black boys DNA regardless. I had to challenge my assumptions by doing something about it and let them hear my voice. I went down to the police station to make a complaint about the behaviour of the police to cut a long story short I learnt that not all police are the same, that there was someone in the police that will listen and do something about my complaint. I got a positive reaction that changed my assumptions about the police and restored some of my faith in them.
One example is about my Colleague. Members were making irrational assumptions about my colleague, assuming that she was loaded and posh just because she speaks with a posh voice and drives a nice car. They think that she doesn’t understand them and what it is like living in an inner London estate. How wrong they are, they haven’t asked or bothered to find out any background. If they did they would have heard her story and realised that it was not as they thought. They have no idea what my colleagues life is like or what she is going through, appearances can be deceptive.
Another thing about diversity is this we tend to concentrate on the ‘’Black White etc then digress into religion, culture, wealth, and class.
What about sexuality, a time bank member suddenly found out about a friend who gay/lesbian. This member came into one the women’s projects and started to tell the group about her friend. She said that her friend was very upset because, after telling her friend that she was gay the friend turned round and said to her that she thinks it is just a lifestyle, that it was dirty and disgusting. This caused uproar in the group and a very hot discussion with lots of arguing, however, positivty came from this. Some of the member’s awareness was raised, it encouraged debate, it challenged the views and prejudices of some in a controlled environment. It also highlighted the group dynamics and was a very interesting afternoon, a definite learning curve. This situation is still not quite resolved although there is a lot more understanding on all sides
EVERY ONE
How do we include every one?
We make sure that the community know that we are there and what we are about. We are constantly involved in our outreach work that allows us to be out and about in the community.
As a time bank we have to be creative in how we recruit members, for instance through events, coffee mornings, dance, poetry, alternative health activities, word of mouth and getting members to use their creative skills designing posters.
Everyone has a skill our part is to motivate them to use that skill and inspire them to share it with others.
Everyone has a right to good quality of life. If we can all live with diversity value our differences and share the common bond then we can make that positive difference together.
“The more clearly we see the reality of the world, the better we are to deal with the world. The less clearly we see the reality of the world ~ the more our minds are befuddled by falsehood, misperceptions and illusions ~ the less able we will be to determine correct courses of action and make wise decisions”
(Quote from “The world less travelled”)
1. Respecting diversity and individuality …Prizing people. To hold positive regard.
2. Supporting individual needs…Personalising the needs and offers. To be aware and focused on needs of TB Members
Staying non-judgemental. To look at personal constructs, where the person is coming from
3. Understanding and valuing the individual. To appreciate the dimensions of our members. To show them that hey are valued.
4. Caring in a down to earth and practical way
5. To be available within reason.
6. Members deserve the best we can give
7. Time banking can only work when we let go of prejudice and assumptions.
8. Keep an open mind, open minds are great tools to learning
9. Be yourself and stay positive
This Article was written and Presented by Roz McCarthy~Henriques 5th MAY 2006 and may not be used in any capacity without express permission of the author. The author may be contacted at Roz.McCarthy@slam.nhs.uk or via our website http://www.claphamparktimebank.bravehost.com
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
The Day We Went To Brighton
THE DAY WE WENT TO BRIGHTON
14-07-06
We were invited by Brighton Housing Trust to come and do a presentation of Timebanking. So eleven of us all traipsed of to Kings Cross and boarded a train to Brighton.
We arrived in time for the session to begin. BHT held a meeting of all residents, tenants and other people who use their services in 2005, at that time it was agreed that a further event would be held in 2006 this was where we came in.
Don one of our timebank members talked about how one year on with the project he had developed gardening projects involving the youth of the area and had started a mens club. His advice was “have a go and see what people give you back”.
Karen brought up the East London timebank as an example of volunteering leading to employment. The youth of the area cleaned up their estate and turned it into a full time business.
Gary Wilson was interested in getting advice on how to set up a timebank.
Cyther another of our members said “I got into time bank to facilitate a poetry session”. Part of the Share your skills and get some thing back.
Erica one more of our timebank members said “ I did not know anyone in my area. And through time bank which is just down the road. I now can walk down the road and raise my head to say hello to lots of people. I feel I have a support network, new friends, and feel useful”.
Other usefull resources discussed were developing the newsletter which they already have (communication) get people involved.
Creating a service directory, talk sessions, Nef documentary and voluntary projects.
The afternoon went very well and the BHT showed lots of interest in setting up their own version of a timebank.
Afterwards we spent a few hours on the beach where 2 of our brokers reverted to childhood and threw each other in the sea.
Luckily they had some dry clothes with them although one of them decided to teach us how to recycle a plastic bag by converting it into a pair of knickers. The moral of this story is never forget how to be a child.
After a meal of fish and chips (well you cant go to Brighton and not have any) we returned to London happy and exhausted.
14-07-06
We were invited by Brighton Housing Trust to come and do a presentation of Timebanking. So eleven of us all traipsed of to Kings Cross and boarded a train to Brighton.
We arrived in time for the session to begin. BHT held a meeting of all residents, tenants and other people who use their services in 2005, at that time it was agreed that a further event would be held in 2006 this was where we came in.
Don one of our timebank members talked about how one year on with the project he had developed gardening projects involving the youth of the area and had started a mens club. His advice was “have a go and see what people give you back”.
Karen brought up the East London timebank as an example of volunteering leading to employment. The youth of the area cleaned up their estate and turned it into a full time business.
Gary Wilson was interested in getting advice on how to set up a timebank.
Cyther another of our members said “I got into time bank to facilitate a poetry session”. Part of the Share your skills and get some thing back.
Erica one more of our timebank members said “ I did not know anyone in my area. And through time bank which is just down the road. I now can walk down the road and raise my head to say hello to lots of people. I feel I have a support network, new friends, and feel useful”.
Other usefull resources discussed were developing the newsletter which they already have (communication) get people involved.
Creating a service directory, talk sessions, Nef documentary and voluntary projects.
The afternoon went very well and the BHT showed lots of interest in setting up their own version of a timebank.
Afterwards we spent a few hours on the beach where 2 of our brokers reverted to childhood and threw each other in the sea.
Luckily they had some dry clothes with them although one of them decided to teach us how to recycle a plastic bag by converting it into a pair of knickers. The moral of this story is never forget how to be a child.
After a meal of fish and chips (well you cant go to Brighton and not have any) we returned to London happy and exhausted.
ANTI – GUN CRIME CAMPAIGN - ‘DIGGING AND KICKING FOR RESULTS’
Clapham Park Time Bank is a volunteer skills exchange organisation promoting mental well being and reducing isolation in Clapham Park and surrounding areas. We have recently been awarded a substantial amount of funding by the Home Office to challenge gun crime in the area and are using this to support projects that are being managed by two Clapham Park Time Bank members.
We would like to celebrate the fantastic voluntary work that is being carried out by Donald Cain and Femi Awokiyesi. Both men are shining beacons in the community. They are husbands and fathers juggling full time and volunteering work, using life experience and personal skills to care and support disengaged youth in the Clapham Park area. Their work is a reflection of their status as exemplary male role models and we feel it is important to highlight this, specifically at a time when a lack of black male role models is seen as a significant factor in the problems facing young black men in the UK.
Both Donald and Femi’s efforts are primarily motivated by a genuine concern for neighbourhood youths. They want to change the negative cycle of young people’s descent into crime. Both men have developed trusting relationships with the local youth and are highly aware of the temptations these children face daily. They strongly believe and are determined that the children of Clapham Park should not face hopeless futures. According to Donald Cain, “They are just misguided and need a positive focus at a crucial time in their lives. We feel that by getting involved in our projects local youth can develop important life tools, such as communication skills that can be transferred to other areas like employment, higher education and relationships”.
By publicizing their work in your newspaper we hope that others will be inspired to get involved in community activities and realize the impact volunteering has in raising the community spirit in Clapham Park and surrounding areas.
Project Summaries:
Le Jardin - Donald Cain (Project Manager)
· Community volunteer garden project – Assisting people who can no longer maintain their garden due to reasons such as physical and mental health, time constraints, and age.
· Teaching youth landscape design skills
· Teaching the benefits of produce growing
· Breaking the barriers of mistrust and building working relationships between the elderly and local youth.
“One of the main goals of Le Jardin is respect. By learning to appreciate nature the youths can learn to appreciate their surroundings, meaning that in the end they develop a respect for their community. I believe that youths who live in inner city estates should have access to the beauty of gardens and participate in their upkeep. By doing so, they develop a general level of respect for the environment and their neighborhood.”
– Donald Cain
South East Elite Football Club – Femi Awokiyesi (Project Manager)
· The club aims to promote and challenge the potential of young people in such a way that their energy, creativity and imagination are positively channeled into a community-based activity (football).
· Encourages the involvement of impoverished youth from single-parent families, youth with low self-esteem and little responsibility for themselves, young offenders, youth excluded from mainstream activities, and children from low-income families.
· Teaches self discipline, offers structure and develops team-building skills through sport.
· Encourages young people to become physically active and I improve their general fitness levels.
“I looked around and saw what was becoming of the youth in my area. Increasing concerns were raised about their general safety on the streets, which was down to boredom and general lack of facilities for extracurricular activities for young people in the area, which in turn leads the youth into crime, violence and vandalism.
This concern made a colleague, Pele Adeyemi, and I start a football team within our borough. Our primary aim was to give youth the something to do that would require some commitment and therefore keep them out of mischief, crime and vandalism when they are not at school. Secondly, by starting when they are young, it may give them a sense of responsibility and belonging much earlier in life.” - Femi Awokiyesi
We would like to celebrate the fantastic voluntary work that is being carried out by Donald Cain and Femi Awokiyesi. Both men are shining beacons in the community. They are husbands and fathers juggling full time and volunteering work, using life experience and personal skills to care and support disengaged youth in the Clapham Park area. Their work is a reflection of their status as exemplary male role models and we feel it is important to highlight this, specifically at a time when a lack of black male role models is seen as a significant factor in the problems facing young black men in the UK.
Both Donald and Femi’s efforts are primarily motivated by a genuine concern for neighbourhood youths. They want to change the negative cycle of young people’s descent into crime. Both men have developed trusting relationships with the local youth and are highly aware of the temptations these children face daily. They strongly believe and are determined that the children of Clapham Park should not face hopeless futures. According to Donald Cain, “They are just misguided and need a positive focus at a crucial time in their lives. We feel that by getting involved in our projects local youth can develop important life tools, such as communication skills that can be transferred to other areas like employment, higher education and relationships”.
By publicizing their work in your newspaper we hope that others will be inspired to get involved in community activities and realize the impact volunteering has in raising the community spirit in Clapham Park and surrounding areas.
Project Summaries:
Le Jardin - Donald Cain (Project Manager)
· Community volunteer garden project – Assisting people who can no longer maintain their garden due to reasons such as physical and mental health, time constraints, and age.
· Teaching youth landscape design skills
· Teaching the benefits of produce growing
· Breaking the barriers of mistrust and building working relationships between the elderly and local youth.
“One of the main goals of Le Jardin is respect. By learning to appreciate nature the youths can learn to appreciate their surroundings, meaning that in the end they develop a respect for their community. I believe that youths who live in inner city estates should have access to the beauty of gardens and participate in their upkeep. By doing so, they develop a general level of respect for the environment and their neighborhood.”
– Donald Cain
South East Elite Football Club – Femi Awokiyesi (Project Manager)
· The club aims to promote and challenge the potential of young people in such a way that their energy, creativity and imagination are positively channeled into a community-based activity (football).
· Encourages the involvement of impoverished youth from single-parent families, youth with low self-esteem and little responsibility for themselves, young offenders, youth excluded from mainstream activities, and children from low-income families.
· Teaches self discipline, offers structure and develops team-building skills through sport.
· Encourages young people to become physically active and I improve their general fitness levels.
“I looked around and saw what was becoming of the youth in my area. Increasing concerns were raised about their general safety on the streets, which was down to boredom and general lack of facilities for extracurricular activities for young people in the area, which in turn leads the youth into crime, violence and vandalism.
This concern made a colleague, Pele Adeyemi, and I start a football team within our borough. Our primary aim was to give youth the something to do that would require some commitment and therefore keep them out of mischief, crime and vandalism when they are not at school. Secondly, by starting when they are young, it may give them a sense of responsibility and belonging much earlier in life.” - Femi Awokiyesi
Report on CP Festival
1st July 2006
Venue Agnes Riley Park
Shared Marquee
Table and chairs provided by Clapham Park Project
7 Clapham Park Time Bank members represented the time bank.
They set up the table with information, banners, and tombola.
Time 1.30 / 5.30pm
Information Leaflets about the time bank were given out during the day’s events.
Erica furnished the stall with tombola gifts all made from recycled items. These included gift in a bottle, gift bags, activity boxes, teddies, dolls and cosmetics.
Gift in a bottle was made by using empty mineral water bottles, cutting out a back panel, filling with goodies and sticking the back back with a time bank card covering the slit in the back of the bottle.
Gift bags were made from collecting the paper bags from the recycling centre and filled with small paper items and things to make.
Activity boxes were made from using recycled square containers into these boxes were put pieces of leather, buttons, picture cards glitter and various coloured card.
The teddies, dolls and cosmetics were also picked from the recycling centre Work & Play in Tooting South London.
The day went very well and the time bank members shared the responsibilities and activities. 6 TB Members earned 35 credits between them for leafleting, belly dancing and running the tombola stall.
One of our members won a raffle prize. Eysen won second prize (Digital radio) from the festival raffle.
The belly dancing group put on a wonderful show at the end of the day
And last but not least The Tom bola stall made a grand total of £ 140.00
Venue Agnes Riley Park
Shared Marquee
Table and chairs provided by Clapham Park Project
7 Clapham Park Time Bank members represented the time bank.
They set up the table with information, banners, and tombola.
Time 1.30 / 5.30pm
Information Leaflets about the time bank were given out during the day’s events.
Erica furnished the stall with tombola gifts all made from recycled items. These included gift in a bottle, gift bags, activity boxes, teddies, dolls and cosmetics.
Gift in a bottle was made by using empty mineral water bottles, cutting out a back panel, filling with goodies and sticking the back back with a time bank card covering the slit in the back of the bottle.
Gift bags were made from collecting the paper bags from the recycling centre and filled with small paper items and things to make.
Activity boxes were made from using recycled square containers into these boxes were put pieces of leather, buttons, picture cards glitter and various coloured card.
The teddies, dolls and cosmetics were also picked from the recycling centre Work & Play in Tooting South London.
The day went very well and the time bank members shared the responsibilities and activities. 6 TB Members earned 35 credits between them for leafleting, belly dancing and running the tombola stall.
One of our members won a raffle prize. Eysen won second prize (Digital radio) from the festival raffle.
The belly dancing group put on a wonderful show at the end of the day
And last but not least The Tom bola stall made a grand total of £ 140.00
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