Clapham Park Timebank

• A flat (closed) credit system, with credits originating from the 'bank'
• Initial time audit establishes current level of active community involvement
• Number of credits available is based in time audit and projections for future involvement

Practice

• Members earn credits for active engagement in community activites
• Credits can be cashed in for rewards
• Rewards are themed to compliment focus of work (e.g. a youth project's rewards might be exchanged for residentials or visits to sports events.)
• The awards reinforce the theme of the activity and make it possible for future learning and activity
• Aim is to look at community holistically, not to draw artifical distinctions between community and individual. Therefore a group engaged in communal environmental work would earn credits to be spent on own garden
• Brochures and leaflets are created to advertise the rewards

Factors for Success

• Community group keen to develop greater community working
• Organisations and individuals keen to complete active community audits
• Necessary time and support time available for new groups when developing the approach

Potential Problems

• Organisation may face difficulties in funding 'rewards'
• Project may initially face difficulties in expecting people to 'pay' with credits for activities that were previously free
• Time credits can develop monetary value through comparison with rewards

Examples

Valley Kids, Wales: focus on working with young people to enable them to earn credits from being engaged in generating community improvements through the 'Give and Take' club

# posted by Clapham Park TimeBank @ 9:39 PM