Streetbank

Big Lunch Bounty

Fri, 11 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Along with a wonderful group of neighbours, you’re organising a Big Lunch. The invites are done, the food is in hand, Judy from next door is running a raffle and Brian from number 44 has agreed to be the children’s entertainer.

The Time for Transition is Now

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

What do Streetbank, Move Your Money UK and the Big Lunch all have in common?

If nothing else, they are all taking part in the Festival of Transition on 20th June, coordinated by the new economics foundation (nef).

Your Square Mile

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Your Square Mile is a citizens’ mutual open to anyone in the UK over the age of 16, which gives inspiration, practical advice and tools to anyone seeking to make change in their local community.

Last year YSM worked with 16 of the toughest neighbourhoods in the UK to inspire change.

Residents of Glyncoch in Wales were supported in securing the final funding needed to build a new Community Centre by crowd-sourcing. It’s a project that will transform an ex-mining community that has seen three generations of unemployment blight many families. Services range from employment advice to health services and sports and activities for all generations. See the news story here.

Say NO to junking

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Dear Streeties,

We occasionally have reports about the ‘junking’ of Streetbank emails and we really need your help to change this. The messaging system is the lifeblood of Streetbank, it’s what links Streeties together and it's what makes Streetbank work.

If you can do the following 4 things it will make a big difference.

The January Sales Right Up Your Street

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Streetbank gives consumers easy access to essential household items

As British Shoppers set new records at the sales spending £4.3bn in just two days, savvy consumers are looking for new ways to shop.

With the recession starting to hit households hard, heading to the high street to pick up household items that might only get used a few times is no longer a sensible or sustainable option for many consumers.

All change please!

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:00:00 GMT

If you are feeling disoriented please accept our apologies! Streetbank has a new homepage! So what have we changed? In short a lot. We’ve created a mini profile so you can add items and a photo more easily, we’ve made it easier to see what your neighbours have been adding and beefed up the neighbourhood notices.

Do you like the changes? Or will this prove to be as controversial as the new look facebook (admittedly on a slightly smaller scale)....?

Cheers,

Sam and the Streetbank Team

Top 5 Community Tips

Fri, 20 May 2011 12:00:00 GMT

1. Smile and do kind things for strangers.

Whether you open doors for people, or offer your seat to someone, research shows that you’re likely to get an even bigger kick out of it than the person who’s now in your seat. Remarkable. What’s more, random acts of kindness are contagious which means they should make your community a nicer place to live in.

Three quick questions

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 12:00:00 GMT

We are always thinking of how to improve Streetbank and we would really value your views on three things:

1/ In the weekly newsletter how do you think we should refer to a member of the streetbank community - streetbee, streetbanker, streetbank member or something totally different?

2/ We recently changed the weekly newsletter to show every new notices and things that has been added over the last two weeks so that everything gets two showings. Do you think that the weekly newsletters should show one week or two weeks of news?

3/ What one thing would you add to Streetbank to make it better?

Big thanks,

Sam (posted 18th February)

Streetbank just got bigger

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 12:00:00 GMT

A few weeks ago we said we would make a change that would enable you to widen your Streetbank Community. You can now do this - just click on the "change your radius" link at the top of the page and you will be able to increase from 1 mile to 5 miles or even 10 miles. You will only be able to see other people who have also made this change so its possible, if you are the first in your area to do it, that it won't make any difference - at least not at first.... but give it a few weeks and as others cotton on you should see your community increasing at a much faster rate which means more skills and things. We would suggest you only do this if you are in an area where there are not many (less than 50 people) in your square mile or if you are feeling very sociable. We say this as we think community works best at the most local level!

Why buy when you can rent?

Sat, 13 Nov 2010 12:00:00 GMT

"Why buy when you can rent?" asked The Economist magazine in October. In an article describing what you should do when you are green, broke but connected they suggest renting. They observe a reversal of a 50 year trend in which laundromats have been closing down as people buy their own washing machines and a world in which Radio Rentals is no more. There is a move towards "consumer philandering" where you can rent a different item every day. So Zipcar allows you to drive a BMW one day and a Volvo the next. Or "Bag Borrow or Steal" a website which allows you to rent a handbag for the night. We are hoping that in 2011 The Economist will be asking "Why rent when you can borrow!?" and talking with the same excitement about consumer philanthropy. After all according to Mark Levine in the New York Times "Sharing is clean, crisp, urbane, postmodern" while "owning is dull, selfish, timid, backward."

30 Seconds

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:00:00 GMT

We would love 30 seconds of your time – it will make a big difference. We would love it if you could connect your Facebook account with your Streetbank account by clicking here. It means that whenever you add an item to Streetbank it will automatically get posted on your Facebook Wall. This will really help us get word out about Streetbank and the more people know about Streetbank, the bigger and more vibrant Streetbank will become and the more things and skills you and your fellow Streetbankers will enjoy.

The Street Party Vibe

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 12:00:00 GMT

How many street parties have you been to? Until recently my experience on that score was about 1. I was six, it was Charles and Diana’s wedding - if that helps to place me! It was very hot and thus the cheese on cocktail sticks was very smelly. That’s about all I remember.

The Big Debate

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:00:00 GMT

“That great project in your community – go and lead it. The waste in government – go and find it. The new school in your neighbourhood – go and demand it. The beat meeting on your street – sign up. The neighbourhood group – join up. That business you always dreamed of – start up… Society is not a spectator sport. “

How you like them apples?

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:00:00 GMT

It’s the middle of apple season in Britain right now. If you’ve got a tree, chances are you’ve got more than you can eat - or maybe a neighbour or a friend has a tree that’s just loaded with fruit that’s going to go uneaten. Get those apples on Streetbank! Someone somewhere nearby doesn’t have an apple tree, and wishes they did.

Streetbank is expanding!

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Over the next few weeks we're going to be doing something behind the scenes that will allow you to widen your Streetbank community to 10 miles if you want to. You will only be able to see other "10 milers" so those of you living in less busy areas can have a few more friends. Those of you living in the busiest areas will probably prefer to stick with your 1 mile area and will remain visible only to other "1 milers" but if you are feeling especially sociable you can see who else has clicked the 10 mile button. Anyway, you've been asking for something like this and we think we've finally worked out how it can be done! And done in a way that continues to encourage community at the most local level at the same time as making Streetbank work in less busy areas. Let us know if you have any comments. We'll keep you posted.

An attitude of gratitude

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:00:00 GMT

When we explain Streetbank to friends they often think of it as a swapping site. A place of I-scratch-your-back-you-scratch-mine. So when we say actually it is really about no strings attached help , they look surprised but usually say something along the lines of “so let me get this right, all you get is a warm feeling inside.... hmmm... I’m not sure it will work but that is nice”. Generally, though we hear that the receiver of the help is grateful and just occasionally does something grateful in response.

Jump in a skip

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:00:00 GMT

"My friend John can’t resist a skip. He is simply incapable of walking past one, at any time of day or night, without peering over the side. Inevitably, he ends up in it, and goes home with a plank, a half tin of paint, or a length of wire. Last week I met him in the street with a discarded computer tower under one arm. He had found it on the kerb, and it’s now in a collection of computers to be refurbished.

Streetbank = Happiness

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:00:00 GMT

The highly regarded think tank, New Economics Foundation have written to us to explain why Streetbank makes us happier - here's what they have to say: How is it Streetbank claims that using its service will make us happier? We benefit from Streetbank by consuming less stuff, putting existing stuff to good use and keeping it from landfill, but the added bonus is that we incidentally engage with two of the 'Five Ways to Wellbeing'.

Your Streetbank Stories

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:00:00 GMT

We'd love to hear your Streetbank stories! We're beginning to get some press coverage (click on Press tab at the bottom for more details) such as in the Daily Candy, the Hammersmith and Fulham News and next week the Big Issue....

Why Streetbank?

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:00:00 GMT

We’ve called this website “Streetbank” and we’ve come in for a bit of flak. People say to us “the “street” bit we get but why “bank”.... banks are about money and no money changes hands”. But we say, banks are first and foremost about lending.

Your BIG questions

Thu, 13 May 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Thanks so much for so many great thoughts. A few themes seem to be emerging here: 1/ A lot of you have said that you would like to browse what is on offer by neighbours that live beyond a mile away. You would be able to see more stuff, it would be great for people living in rural areas or places where Streetbank was yet to take off and it would be an easy change for us to make.

We would love your views...

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT

We need your help! We're constantly thinking about how we can make Streetbank better... So, we would be really grateful if you could tell us what you like, what you don't like and what features we haven't thought of yet.

Roll out the Bunting

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT

The weather forecast here in London is sunshine for the next ten days – promising a glorious Easter and hopefully a magical Royal Wedding. These two events will be bringing communities together across the UK. We think neighbours will be more open, less puzzled by a cheery smile, more disarmed by a comment about the unseasonally warm weather or an exclamation of “Happy Easter!” So if you are passing a neighbour in the street why not take the opportunity to say “hello” or if you haven’t met them before introduce yourself – we think this is the season when you’ll get the warmest response. Have you got to know anyone living in your street and if so, how did it happen?

The Big Party - How was it for you?!

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Thanks so much to those of you who were able to join in with the Streetbank Launch Party last Thursday. Over 150 of you participated in an evening of Higgidy Pie eating, skill swapping, unicycling, giving and receiving, tie colouring and little cupcakes.

New Streetbank

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Streetbank has a new layout. But don’t be confused! We have changed things a bit – the old home page with the borrowing, giving away and skills tabs still exists – just now it is called “things” though let us know if you can think of a better name. And from now on this will be the front page – a mixture of blogs with contributions from us, from you and from other people who have thought about community, simple living and living a full life.

Great Big Streetbank Party!

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Streetbank is having a PARTY! Come and celebrate the launch of Streetbank and meet some of the local Streetbank community at St Paul's Church, Hammersmith on Thurs 15th April from 6.15 - 9pm, all welcome.

Risk Aversion

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT

In the last few years society has come over all risk averse. It’s a bit nuts because all the signs are that we are physically safer than ever before. But physical risk aversion is one thing. Social risk aversion is another and it is arguably worse. We are almost at the point where we won’t say "hello" in the street in case they are a psychopath.

Affluenza

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Is affluence such a good thing? At Streetbank, we’re beginning to wonder. Certainly, economic growth means more money for hospitals and schools and generally that means better services. Personally, I like the idea of getting richer – and most of us think of money and happiness being pretty closely linked. But the link is increasingly being questioned. Oliver James in his book Affluenza argues that our efforts to get rich are driven by a desire to do better than the Jones’s but this leaves us stressed out when we succeed and miserable when we don’t.

Newsletters and bugs

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT

We're doing some complicated things behind the scenes which will make Streetbank faster and ensure that very few messages forwarded to your email get junked. (If you have sent a message recently and received no response please don't give up on humanity it is more likely to be that the message was junked - or possibly junked on the way back to you by your email system). The new system is up and running in part so this should now not happen but there are a few bugs that we are ironing out. Funny bits of code appearing in strange places if you dig a bit. Also the Wednesday newsletter is not yet working. It didn't come out last Wednesday and it won't come out this Wednesday. Apologies. In the meantime, thanks for your patience.

Sam - Tuesday 8th March

Sustainable Living Show

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT

We received a call from Philippa, earlier in the week, whose day job is to organise "UK AWARE" a sustainable living event held at Kensington Olympia on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th March. Philippa is working flat out but had time to share the vision and invite us to come along. As a streetbee you get half price tickets (a snip at £3.50) to the exhibition by visiting www.ukaware.com and using "STREETBANK" in the promotional code box when booking your ticket. It will bring together a bunch of really interesting organisations offering cars, computers, fashion, food, eco-tourism and energy saving advice as well as seminars and workshops on all aspects of a low impact lifestyle. Hopefully see you there!

A Good Gift

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:00:00 GMT

We have been reflecting on what makes for the best present on Christmas day. Is it usually the most expensive one? Is it the one that precisely matches what we asked for? We agreed that usually the present that means the most to us is the one that has been given most thought, where a need or want has been spotted, where a sacrifice of time has been made and where creativity has been used. To that end, it might just be worth looking on Streetbank at what your neighbours are giving away. There just might be something that a limited budget couldn't normally afford but that would give someone you love much pleasure. A good gift is not so much in the cost but more in the creativity and the care.