Laxey Glen will be the centre of a community gathering on Saturday, when an initiative designed to bring people together is re-launched.

An evening of bands, live music, poetry, dancing, food and companionship will take place at the Laxey Pavilion, to help introduce the ’Timebank IOM’ scheme, a community initiative where people are able to pool and offer their time and skills to help out others in their society.

The Timebank scheme, which is a UK-wide idea, is being organised in the island by Valerie Miller and Theresa Clark-Lee, who run Mother T’s, in Laxey. Although the idea has been in existence in the island for more than a year, Val and Theresa have recently launched a Facebook page and have been in the process of designing a website.

Interest in the initiative has also dramatically increased recently, and both Valerie and Theresa thought that they would organise a gathering for people who are interested in the concept.

’We are essentially re-launching the Timebank idea,’ said Valerie. ’With the Facebook page, it has grown exponentially in just a few weeks, and it has become very active. Things are happening and people are being engaged.

’So what we want to do is make sure that something else is going on outside the social media presence. Unless you are on Facebook, there isn’t anything other way to engage in what we are doing.

’I wanted the chance to take it into the real world, and give people the chance to meet face to face.’

The gathering at Laxey will give people, who don’t quite understand the concept of the Timebank, a chance to find out more about it, and also to find out more ways to engage in the scheme.

’It is also a chance for people to be social, and to meet face-to-face,’ said Theresa. ’Any one who is interested can just come and share a nice, relaxed social space, share some food, have a dance, have a drink, sit around the fire and listen to some poetry.’

’Performance wise, we have Si Hurst, a solo guitar player,’ said Valerie.

’Si has been fantastic. He is playing as a performer, giving his time for free, and he is also busy working on developing a high-end website for us.

’Matt Kelly is playing, which is great as he has brand new material. And we also have the Fecktones, which will be quite nice.

’We will also have Abby Poem reading some of her work around the camp fire.

’She is a poet from the North of the island who has been travelling and living around the world. She is back here for a few months, and has been really involved and helpful in the Timebank.

’Something that Abby brings to occasions like these, that is particularly nice, is that she does these mantra style songs, where everyone can join in, which makes a really uplifting feel. She’ll be doing them around the fireside.

’And anyone who wants to bring a guitar, or any musical instrument down and have a play around the fire are more than welcome.’

The Timebank concept is based around people volunteering their time and their skills to others who may need help or assistance.

’It is based on a system of reciprocal exchange, where time is used as currency,’ explained Valerie. ’The term that is used is ’time credits’, where one hour of someone’s time is one credit, and everyone’s hour is as valuable as anyone else’s.

’It’s about people saying "what can I offer? What skills do I have that will be of value to another member of the community?" Anything you get back is a bonus.

’I think that is the attitude to go into timebanking with.’

Theresa revealed that the work to develop the website will allow them to expand the Timebank concept over the coming months, and hopefully be able to include business groups and charitable organisations

’Its about inclusion,’ she said. ’It is about meeting needs, about finding where the gaps and services are and how we, the people, can solve that ourselves, and be empowered through that, by working together.

’You need people looking after people,’ said Valerie. ’Ensuring that nobody is on their own, and that we take responsibility for each other.’

The Timebank gathering takes place from 6.30pm, and is free to enter.

by Mike Wade

twitter:iomnewspapers