RESIDENTS in Crewkerne are getting together to offer their skills and help each other by joining the time banking volunteering scheme.

A group of volunteers launched the idea, coordinated by a national charity called Time Banking UK, to exchange skills without money changing hands.

With time banking, people do what they love, when they want to, and get a little help when they need it, the charity’s website explains.

For every hour they spend helping someone, they earn an hour back from their time bank.

Matt Day, who lives near Ilminster, is one of the coordinators and works for the NHS.

He said that one of the GPs at Crewkerne Health Centre heard about time banking at a conference and they both thought it could be a good idea for their community.

Matt said: “The Crewekrne Timebank started in February. The time bank is a way for people to make new connections and help other people.

“Basically, you give one hour of your time doing something you like for somebody else and you get a time credit in return. Then you can use the time credit when you need it.

Chard & Ilminster News: A volunteer helping another member of Crewkerne Timebank with some curtainsA volunteer helping another member of Crewkerne Timebank with some curtains (Image: Contributed)

“One of our members put up some curtains and he got a time credit he can use it when he needs something, and I can match him up with one of the members.

“The time bank is informal reciprocal volunteering and we are looking for new members. We are looking to get 20/30 members, we have 10 now, but 15 more are interested.

“It took a long time for us to get it up and running but we are getting support from Timebank UK.

“People using the time bank are not only making new connections but they are not spending money during this cost-of-living crisis.

“The timebank can offer help with shopping, pet-sitting, DIY, garden jobs, and more, in Crewkerne and surrounding villages.”

For more information, email crewkernetimebank@gmail.com or call or text 07944 965564.