countdown to the Olympics .. lend your kit!

In just 30 days, we will open our doors to share our capital with visitors from across the UK and the world. Many of us watching the Olympics this summer may feel inspired to try out a new sport, but prevented by entry costs, lack of access to equipment, or lack of confidence or motivation.

Handing the baton to local people by encouraging them to share their under-utilised sports equipment, time and passion, Ecomodo hopes to help jump the cost prohibitive hurdles for anyone wanting to try something new.

From hockey to handball; basketball to boxing; there are 26 different sports that make up the Olympics and for most of these activities, people need stuff. Much of this kit already exists collecting dust in the homes, sheds, attics and cupboards of other local people – it just needs to be made visible and available to share.

Ecomodo members have already listed a number of items that people can borrow to try a new sport, including bikes, badminton rackets, weights and kayaks. But it’s not just equipment they’ve added. People have listed themselves as running partners and there are a few places to play too – including community centres and a field.

So if it’s a little motivation you need or you want to rekindle your passion – share your time or sporting expertise with someone new. And if you have access to a place to play – add that too!

So as the fervour builds to the start of The Games and beyond, we will celebrate different sports with different items you can lend. Share your “Goods For The Games” and to get inspired follow #GoodsForTheGames & #GFTGames on Twitter and join us on Facebook.

And if you’re lacking in the sports equipment department – don’t worry – there are lots of other goods you could lend for The Games, to support those living locally to you.

During the games London will be bursting at the seams. Londoners will need access to all sorts of the resources to host friends, family and visitors. They will need: air beds, highchairs, car booster seats, spare fridge, tent, garden space for a tent or a spare room > more

And across the UK, parties of all types will take place in streets, village halls and gardens as friends and communities come together to watch and celebrate the games. They will need: gazebos, generators, games, chocolate fountain, a venue, multimedia projectors or a just helping hand > more

So if you’ve got stuff to help someone try out a new sport; host visitors or have a party : join the marketplace of good returns at Ecomodo.com and share your Goods for the Games!

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it’s national sharing day ..

Kick-started by The People Who Share, to coincide with A Good Week, National Sharing Day on June 20th will see a host of organisations from around the UK coming together to celebrate sharing in all sorts of different ways.

On the day, Ecomodo will be participating with a number of activities including the launch of BT’s workplace lending circle at Adastral Park, in Ipswich.

We will also be following events on Twitter and Facebook – so keep an eye out for #NationalSharingDay.

If you’d like to celebrate National Sharing day, but are not sure where to start; we’ve put together a handy list of ideas, and services to join, to inspire you to start sharing.

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Here are 5 ways to start sharing with ecomodo.com

1. Lend a ladder: Ladders, drills and tents are the most borrowed items on Ecomodo. Got one? Why not add it to Ecomodo to lend and choose to lend for free, a fee or for charity.

2. Start sharing at your workplace: Be inspired by BT and start a lending circle at your workplace too. It’s quick and easy to do and brings heaps of benefits to your staff and your organisation. Find out more.

3. Find out what your friends are hiding  in their closet: Everyone who joins Ecomodo automatically gets a friends’ lending circle. So sign up, invite some friends and start sharing. Simple.

4. Share something unusual: As well as the everyday, there are many unusual things to borrow on Ecomodo (goods: a unicycle, periscope, iPads, ballroom dress & shoes; spaces: a kiln, Garden Space for beehive; skills: how to cook a fish stew). What could you lend that’s extraordinary?

5. Pop up a poster: Inspire others to start sharing. Print out our lovely new poster and pin it up at your workplace, local library, school, community centre or favourite cafe.

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Here are 5 other great ways to share ..

1. Give someone a lift: Share a spare seat in your car with GoCarShare, Liftshare and BlaBlaCar. Find a journey you need to take with CompareAndShare.

2. Borrow a car: Lend your own car to a neighbour on Whipcar or join a car sharing scheme such as Zipcar or City Car Club.

3. Give stuff away: Got stuff you don’t need anymore? Pass it on to someone who does, with Freegle, Ditto or the London Reuse Network.

4. Share your passion: Passionate about something? Share it. Great sites are ProjectDirt and Horsesmouth.

5. Swap a Shallot: Got too many carrots and not enough potatoes? Share your home grown on Lourish and FruitShare.

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We’ve always knew that sharing could make you happy and now it’s been confirmed in a fantastic new report from Co-operatives UK.

“We are a nation that knows how good sharing feels. 7 out of 10 people in the UK say that sharing makes us feel better about ourselves, 8 out of 10 say that sharing makes them happy.”  Borrowed from The great sharing economy | Co-operatives UK | 2011

Be happy, start sharing! Join the marketplace of good returns at ecomodo.com

.. And even if you’re not sure what to lend or borrow, sign up to keep updated about new items to borrow and wanted ads near you.

lets keep the jubilee spirit alive ..

Over the last 4 days, I have been amazed to see how the people of our wonderful country have come together in a host of extraordinary ways to celebrate 60 years of Her Majesty the Queen’s reign. Overwhelmed by the occasion I, myself, was brought to tears listening to The Commonwealth band signing the Jubilee song outside Buckingham Palace on Monday night.

From parties to pageants; beacons to song; celebrations for the Diamond Jubilee have taken place across the length and breath of Britain, as neighbours, friends and strangers have all joined together with a renewed sense of pride and strength for our communities and country.

So how can we keep this jubilant spirit alive?

Sixty years ago, when our Queen took the throne, we too lived in austere times. Back then, to get things done people relied on their neighbours for help and knew who up their street had some long ladders to borrow, or who could help fix a leaky tap. Ecomodo.com wants to help revive this altruistic attitude by simply bringing people back together to share.

It’s simple to get started ..

1. Sign up to Ecomodo.com. It’s free to join!

2. Think of anything you can lend- it may be a drill, ladders or even a chocolate fountain. Perhaps you have a skill to share or just some time to help a neighbour out. If you’re not sure what to lend then get inspired or browse items to lend.

3. Add your items to Ecomodo or post a wanted ad for something you would like to borrow and we will automatically other members in your local area know about your new listings. If you’re not sure what to lend or borrow – sign up to keep updated on what’s locally available to you.

4. Invite you neighbours, friends and work colleagues to join Ecomodo and even start a Lending circle.

Find out more about Ecomodo, how it works and join us on Facebook.

Image borrowed from the Daily Telegraph