Carmarthenshire People First
Time Bank Project
Who are we and what do we do? • Carmarthenshire People First is an Advocacy and Training organisation for adults with a learning disability across Carmarthenshire. "Advocacy is taking action to help people say what they want, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain services they need. Advocates and advocacy schemes work in partnership with the people they support and take their side. Advocacy promotes social inclusion, equality and social justice�.
What is Time Banking?
What is Time Banking? • Time Banking is a volunteering scheme with a difference! • Time Banking encourages people to come together to donate their skills and time in exchange for time credits. • It is a proven way of harnessing the skills and time of the people in any given area. • For every hour that one person spends sharing a skill a time credit is earned. • Time credits can be used to access help from a fellow member or to access community events, group activities, training courses, access to local services and more.
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Why Time Banking? Time banking is a proven way of building and sustaining local communities by:• Recognising that we all have skills to share. • Bringing different people and groups together and valuing them equally. • Providing opportunities for members to build their confidence and prove their skills. • Using local knowledge and resources to make communities healthier, safer and STRONGER! • It’s all about PEOPLE POWER!
10 Steps to Time Banking! 1. Have a Time Bank Champion who will look after the time credits system within your team. 2. Explain Time Banking and Time Credits to members of your team/ organisation. 3. Make a list of your group’s strengths. 4. Look for your first earning and spending activities and create a Time Credits Menu. 5. Develop a membership joining form and sign people up.
6. Design and print your own time credit. 7. Get going! Hold a time banking day/party. 8. Do the paperwork (Time Credits Log, database, Membership Forms etc). 9. Evaluate (How did it go? Are the time credits ‘ticking the boxes’ and helping your organisation to achieve goals). 10. Flourish! Create more opportunities for earn and spend by building partnerships outside of the organisation. Be sure to involve your members in every aspect of time credit use.
What are the benefits of Time Banking? • Time Banking brings people together under one large umbrella of activities. It is a way for people to come together, to learn new skills and to help each other. • Encourages active citizenship. • Builds social capital. • Promotes partnership working. • Strengthens community relationships. • Promotes equality. • Builds the skill base within any given community. • Improves confidence levels and self esteem.
Any questions?
Contact Details:Carmarthenshire People First Email: sarah@carmarthenshirepeoplefirst.co.uk Mobile: 07973864322 16 Spilman Street, Carmarthen, SA31 3JS Office: 01267 234635