| Many people find they stuggle because of M.E. whereby one cannot fulfill all the jobs they once could around the home etc. Also transport can be a real issue, which can leave many of us housebound. A possible answer to this is the Local Exchange and Trading System called BETS. BETS works in such a way that members offer their 'skills' or 'services' for currency they use called 'bridges'. Members are from all walks of life, some may offer professional services, others may be just able to give a helping hand with weeding and DIY. Many M.E. sufferers have skills they can trade with too. Pet sitting, computer skills, jam making & other food and cooking, music, languages, art & craft tuitions are but a small few of the services any M.E. sufferers may be capable of offering. In return for bridges one has earned, one may request the help from other members with gardening, DIY, complementary therapies and transport as well as a host of other things. An example list is available below of what current members are trading with each other at present, using BETS. If there is anything that is not on the BETS list that you can do, then they are more than happy to add new items to suit your skills and abilities. Border's Exchange & Trading System. 'BETS' BETS is part of the Local Exchange and Trading System that runs all over the UK and the World in fact. This one is open to people within the North Northumberland and Eastern Borders areas. BETS is totally free to join. BETS is a free scheme and on joining members are placed on a 'directory' along with other members, which details all member's contact information and 'skills'. New members are issued with a directory, contact list and a cheque book, along with a detailed explaination of how BETS works. On joining members are issued with 270 'bridges' (the currency BETS uses instead of money). 20 of these 'bridges' are put into the System Account as a joining fee. This is used to pay for the work needed to keep the system running. Therefore new members start their BETS experience with 250 bridges which they are free to spend with other BETS members. As members trade, they accumulate 'bridges' or spend them as and when they wish. You may even want to save up for a particulary big job! A regular newsletter is issued providing details of recently offered trades and also details dates for the BETS Trade Fairs which are held monthly at the Berwick Volunteer Forum in BerwicK-Upon-Tweed, where members bring along 'stuff' to trade. For further details please contact:Gaby Stewart tel:01289303745 email Gabystewart66@yahoo.co.uk or Geoffrey Apps tel: 07752452830 Example of BETS Category List.This is an example list, as BETS is continually updating and adding new members with new things to offer. The actual directory that BETS provides members has all the costs (bridges) and charges for materials etc or petrol in the case of transport, which must be paid for seperately. The list also details who is offering each service/skill. 1.Accommodation:
House sitting
Bed & Breakfast.
Lodging.
For share~
~house/cottage
~apartment.
To let~
~bed-sit
~storage-space
~garage.
~workshop.
~studio.
~office.
~apartment.
~house/cottage.
For hire~
~large room
~caravan.
Advice~
~mortgages.
~self-build.
~buying abraod.
~letting advice.
~homelessness.
~renting.
Home information pack
Property valuations.
Property marketing.
Property photograhy.
Location maps.
| 2 Animals & Pets: Pet sitting.
Cat boarding.
Dog boarding.
Animal exercise.
Farm sitting.
Dog training.
Dog walking.
Dog grooming.
Horse care sharing.
Horse and cart for hire.
Horse grooming.
Advice on beekeeping.
Unusual pets.
Pet transport.
Lift to the vet.
Bereavement counselling.
Books on pet keeping.
Equipment hire.
Taxidermy.
Bedding supply.
| 3. Arts & Crafts:
Artists model.
Mural painting
Photography -
~Family group.
~pets.
~wedding.
~house/garden.
~car/motorbike.
~event.
~favourite scene.
~portrait.
Illustration/painting.
Stained glas.s
Pottery.
Wooden toys.
Furniture restoration.
Upholstery.
Cabinet making.
Garments ~
~design.
~making.
~alterations.
~ repairs.
Mounting pictures.
Framing pictures.
Curtain making.
Jewellery design.
Leatherwork~
~design.
~making.
~repairs.
Candle amking.
Basket making.
Basket materials.
Hire of equipment.~
~sewing machine.
~woodwork tools.
~drill.
Use of~
~woodwork sjop.
~darkroom.
~kiln.
| 4.Building & Home:
Architectural drawings~
~house extensions.
~new build.
~conversions.
Carpentry~
~design.
~make
~fitted furniture.
~repairs.
Wood cut to lengths.
Electrician~
~repairs.
~maintenance.
~servicing.
~emergency calls.
General labouring.
Specialist skills~
~plastering.
~flooring.
~roofing.
~pointing.
~painting and decorating.
~stone masonry.
~bricklaying.
~landscaping.
Heating advice.
Insulation advice.
Equipment hire~
~cement mixer.
~scaffolding.
~digger.
~trailer.
~ladder.
Interior design~
~design.
~sourcing.
~installation. | 5.Business. Graphic design~ ~logos. ~leaflets. ~brochures. ~posters. ~stationary. ~business cards. Photography~ ~products. ~staff. ~premises. Bookeeping. Accountancy. Marketing. Computer services~ ~supply. ~installations. ~upgrades. ~tuition. ~programming. ~data entry. Copy writing. Report writing. CV writing. Copy editing. Proof reading. Mailing/distribution. Video production. Grant applications. Translation services. Business advice~ ~tax issues. ~copywright. ~insurance. ~banking. ~law. | 6. Domestic & Family. Curtain cleaning. Energy surveying. Installations~ ~draft excluders. ~roof insulation. ~flat-pack units. ~shelf units. ~stereo systems. ~Tv & DVD systems. General cleaning. Spring cleaning. Cooker/oven cleaning. Window cleaning. Ironing. Laundrey. Shopping. Collections/deliveries. House moving~ ~packing. ~scheduling. ~transportation. ~clearing lofts/garages. ~minding premises. Child minding. Help with outdoors. Firewood. general repairs. Odd jobs. Dog walking. Pet sitting. Plant sitting. House sitting. Waiting for workmen. Decorating. Wallpapering. | 7. Entertainment. Theatre~ ~costumes. ~props. ~scenery. Musical Instruments~ ~making. ~repairing. ~tuning. Catering for parties. Post-party clean-up. Storytelling. Discotheque. Musical performance. Dance performance. Puppet theatre. Children's entertainer. TV/video/DVD~ ~TV serial recording. ~editing. radio~ ~serial recording. ~digital reception. ~analogue reception. Audio~ ~recording. ~editing. ~transcription. ~system set-up. Organising~ ~special events. ~theatre visits. ~outings/trips. ~group walks/rides. Theatre tickets online. Stilt walking. Illisionist. For hire~ ~marquee. ~public address system. ~barbeque. ~costumes. | 8. Food & Cooking. Jam making. Wine making. Cake baking~ ~wedding. ~birthday. ~anniversary. ~party. Honey supply. Organic fruit & veg. Fruit picking. fruit freezing. Goat's milk. Free-range eggs. catering~ ~wedding. ~birthday. ~anniversary. ~dinner party. Hire of equipment~ ~jam kettle. ~pressure cooker. ~large platters. ~silverware. ~catering equipment. Linch packs. Shopping. Collection/deliveries. Frozen food/meals. Diietary advice~ ~nutrition. ~vegetarian. ~vegan. ~hay diet. ~elimination. Pre-prepared meanls. Cookery service. Recipe sharing. | 9. Health & Personal. Therapies~ ~acupuncture. ~alexander technique. ~massage. ~reflexology. ~hydrotherapy. ~physiotherapy. ~shiatsu. ~aromatherapy. ~meditation. ~bach flower. ~relaxation. ~dance. ~art. manicure. Pedicure. Hair cutting/styling. Counselling. Co-counselling. Yoga. Addiction counselling. Financial advice. Personal development. Careers advice. Personal budgeting. Benefits advice. Benefits applications. Form filling. gender issues advice. Sexuality issues advice. Dream interpretation. Palm reading. Star charts. Assertiveness training. Tarot/card reading. I-ching reading. Provide a listening ear. Stress management. Letter writing. Personal colour scheme. make-up advice. Beauty treatments. | 10. Horticulture. Organic fruit & veg. Digging. General labouring. Fencing & gates. Patio laying. Weeding. General maintenance. Landscaping. Soil analysis. Watering. irrigation systems. Plant sitting. Tree surgery. Pruning. Chainsawing. Log splitting & stacking. Hire of equipment~ ~rotavator. ~lawn mower. ~hedge trimmer. ~chainsaw. ~unusual tools. ~shredders. Shed design. Shed erection. Greenhouse design. Greenhouse erection. Tree planting. Manure supply. Composting advice. Composting waste. Pot plants. Seeds, seedlings & bulbs. Barbeque design. Barbeque installation. Hedge laying. Gang working. | 11. Transport. Audio installation. GPS system installation. Personal travel plans. Travel plan advice. Car sharing. Taxi [lifts] Collections/deliveries. Van for hire. Car & trailer for hire. Car, trailer + person. Removals. Regular lifts. 4X4 adventure trips. Car mainenance. Car repair. Car cleaning. Welding. Pool vehicle. Bicycle maintenance. Bicycle repair. Advice~ ~bicycle riding. ~carbon footprint. Bicycle trailer for hire. Holiday travel advice. Route planning. Travel tickets online. Sag wagon for walkers. Luggage transfer. Meet rail arrivals. Meet air arrivals. Horse & cart for hire. Hire of suitcases. | 12. Tuition. Music~ ~playing instruments. ~theory. ~song writing. Languages~ ~vocational. ~get by on holiday. Art~ ~drawing. ~painting. ~photography. Craft~ ~pottery. ~jewellery. ~stained glass. ~basket making. ~leatherwork. ~candle making. ~sewing. ~silk-screen printing. Sport~ ~water sport. ~cysling. ~horse riding. ~ball games. ~athletics. Computer~ ~word processing. ~databases. ~spreadsheets. ~web design. ~internet surfing. ~emailing. ~photo editing. Examination~ ~GCSE. ~Alevel. ~IB. ~music. Special needs. DIY projects. Car maintenance. Bicycle maintenance. Sewing/dressmaking. Chess. Dance. |
We hope this is of help to you and that you gain something from this wonderful trading scheme. M.E. Recovery Group : Scottish Charity Number-SC 034122.
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