Time-banking: A tool for “building” community - increasing trust and wellbeing through active citizenship in our neighbourhoods.

Time-banking is a way for people and organisations to share their skills, knowledge and resources with others within their communities.

It is a community development tool, a flexible, mutual form of volunteering which uses time as currency. Time-banking can be adapted for use within a variety of settings such as health, education, childcare, networking and voluntary organisations and self help groups.

Every hour of time given providing a service for someone in the community will be credited and can then be spent getting help in return.

We are creating social networks by supporting the exchanging of skills.
Amateur poets get performance skills training whilst enjoying a picnic in the park.

Hexagon Housing Association supports local residents to do it for themselves.
My Time Your Time members paid in time credits for musicians, singers, dance tutors, caterers and party planners, all of whom came from within their local community.

We treat people as assets – We support the positive actions people can and want to do for their community.

We are re-defining work – regardless of the task, everyone’s time is valued equally – we value whatever it takes to make neighbourhoods safe and vibrant.

We reciprocate – we require that everyone gives something back ensuring all in our society have the opportunity to be involved in their community.

We support the development of social networks – these require ongoing investments of social capital generated by trust, reciprocity and civic engagement.