Clapham Park Timebank

• A mutual (open) credit system where credit only exists between individuals
• Exchanges take place between individuals initially set up by a central hub
• Facillitates acts of neighbourliness between individuals

Practice

• Time bank often established as a project within a 'host organisation'
• When an individual joins the bank they are asked to list the skills they can share and the skills they would like to receive
• Exchanges are co-ordinated and recorded by a broker
• Type of exchanges is governed by skills available within the membership
• Projedct is evaluated by number of time bank members, number of exchanges taking place

Factors for Success

• Supportive host with organisation-wide understanding of time banking
• Funding for a time bank brokeer and project manager
• Core group of local supporters
• Visible location (e.g. shop front)
• Clear definition and understanding of project area (geographically & operationally)
• Links to local community sector

Potential Problems

• Essential to avoid over-reliance on the broker by members when setting up exchanges and activities. Broker encourages set-up of 'kitchen cabinet' of members to run activities.
• Important to ensure that the time bank is embedded within the organisation and able to extend/improve existing activites as well as developing new ones.
• Important to have sufficient resources to manage the adminstration of 1-to-1 exchanges.

Examples from London

• Rushey Green Time Bank: launched in 2000 this project is housed within a doctor's surgery, although it is an independent registered charity.

# posted by Clapham Park TimeBank @ 11:11 PM