Clapham Park Timebank

• A mutual (open) credit system where credit exists between agencies
• Used to facilitate exchanges between organisations for mutual benefit and enhance use of scarce or under utilised resources

Practice

• Time bank can be established within an existing 'hub' or to set up a new network of organisations (may be based around a geographical area or a specific skill/activity)
• When an organisation joins the bank they list the resources and servies they have available and the type of help they would like to receive
• Exchanges are recorded by a 'broker' or network co-ordinator
• Type of exhanges are governed by what is available within the membership but likely to be both resources (e.g. an underused minibus) and skills (e.g. help with writing a funding proposal)

Factors for Success

• Supportive network of organisations with understanding of time banking
• Funding for a time bank co-ordinator, or lead organisation
• Particularly useful when organisations have underused resources
• Core group of local orgainsations with a variety of resources and needs
• Strong local community sector with a history of working together previously

Potential Problems

• Requires membership to be a range of organisations and resources in order to meet a variety of needs
• All organisations need to give and receive

Examples from London

Potentially: VAL's Health & Social Care Network

# posted by Clapham Park TimeBank @ 11:58 PM