The Kindness of Strangers

Here in Braunston we're setting up a Timebank. 

 

The idea is that Braunston has its own mini volunteer-economy based on time.  You volunteer your time, skills and energy and take advantage of the time skills and energy of other people in return. For every hour that you give you earn an hour of someone else’s time - which you can use, keep in the bank until you need it or donate to someone who you think needs it more than you. 

The brilliant thing is that everyone’s time is worth the same whether you are offering computing help, form-filling, gardening or cooking and there is nobody who need simply receive “charity” without putting something back in to the scheme.

I think it will strengthen the ties that bind us together. After all, many of us are already sharing our time and skills to support the people and places local to us. Some run clubs and events, share meals, give lifts…. Two local residents have just helped a group of young people restore the abandoned BMX track at Braunston Playing Field.

And then there’s the paediatric nurse who gives up his free time to hold baby weigh-ins at Braunston Toddler Club (itself run by volunteers) after cuts hit local health visitors. 

And if you call an ambulance, the first person on the scene could well be a Community First Responder, a local volunteer who has been given training by the East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Meanwhile Adam Simmonds, our Police and Crime Commissioner, is recruiting 1,000 volunteers to "fight crime and create a visible presence" as part of a special constabulary.

I visited Daventry Foodbank last week. In 2010 they helped 100 people from across the district.  Last year it was over 500, and they are expecting that figure to rise considerably in 2013. The foodbank is run by volunteers and dependent on donations of food. 

If you’re after advice on books, or a kids’ storytime session at Daventry Library you’ll rely on volunteers: cuts have left only a handful of professional staff.

It seems to me that here is a big difference between getting involved in your local community and replacing vital public services with volunteers. Is a society reliant on the kindness of strangers safe or sustainable? Will we end up patching up our own potholes?

Braunston Youth Club will fold soon unless adult volunteers come forward to help. The area youth worker has offered her support but as she has the entire district to cover, her role is limited.

So, I’m joining BraunstonTimebank. But I’m also fighting for our local public services – our ambulance station, our PCSOs, our libraries, hospitals and youth services. I hope you will too.