National Time Bank Network:
Intervention 4. - Issue Papers
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National Time Bank Network:
Intervention 4.
1. THE INTERVENTION
A brief description of the
Intervention (content, length and frequency)
Time banks are based on the concept of people using their time as money. They build
credits for time they put into voluntary activities in providing health or social care and
other worthwhile work in their communities. Everybody’s time is equally valued.
Communities which are “cash-poor, time rich”, are able to trade their time
providing each other with valuable services - like care for elders and family support.
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These schemes offer a means to reduce inequalities in health because they encourage
everyone to become a giver of time and in this way empower individuals with a feeling of
self-worth. They provide communities with a means of trading services which they are
denied by the conventional economy, and they enable more health and social care to be
provided to the most socially disadvantaged people who experience the worst health.
Who took the initiative? (type of organisation,
local/regional/national, public/private)
The initiative is based on the “Time dollar” concept developed in the USA; by
Edgar Cahn. The UK New Economics Foundation and Fair Shares are jointly supporting the
development of the National Time Bank Network - an initiative to create 120 time banks, as
part of the government’s Active Communities programme by 2003. The initiative builds
on the success of five pilot schemes:
Rushey Green Group Practice, London
Borough of Lewisham
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Time bank generates low level support and self help groups for older patients, in
particular those with multiple care needs,
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Initial consultation established that both older people and younger parents were
isolated and in need of practical support - which they could provide for each other.
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Typical exchanges are small errands, meal sharing, home DIY and telephone befriending
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Time bank is also being used to power patient support groups as well as regenerate the
practice garden.
Healing
Gardens, Slough
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Older people exchange their overgrown gardens and food growing expertise with New Deal
trainees who maintain and grow food for their local Age Concern Day Centres
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Provides regular exercise and increased safety for older people
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Grows confidence and mutual trust
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Links into Healthy Living programme of workshops and events.
Better
Government for Older People, Newcastle
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Using time bank to re-build social as well as physical fabric (skills exchange between
children and older people as well as park-tidy scheme)
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Time bank located in local primary school in Benwell
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Provides focus for parental involvement as well as involvement of wider community - older
people, faith groups and businesses.
Fair Shares,
Gloucestershire
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Works through local neighbourhood networks
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Intergenerational care critical to their growth and success across rural communities.
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Seven time banks up and running in rural and urban settings.
Skill Swap,
London
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Piloted in learning centres - schools, colleges
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Uses time bank to facilitate informal learning and mentoring within as well as between
peer groups
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In one option participants earn re-cycled computers
Who are the providers of the
activities? (e.g. health workers, community workers, volunteers,
doctor(s), nurse(s), other professionals)
National Time Bank Network is organised jointly by New Economics Foundation and time bank
pioneers Fair Shares. Each local time bank has a broker who facilitates time exchanges and
keeps track of members time accounts. However the major contributors are the participants
themselves.
Target group
Anyone who wishes to be involved - but it particularly benefits people with time to give
and little income to get the services they need. Benefits accrue to all the individuals
involved as providers and recipients of services.
How does the intervention meet the
specific needs of people with disabilities?
Particularly benefit in schemes like Fair Shares and Rushey Green time bank. They are able
to secure caring, shopping, sitting and other support services they may need and also able
to offer services themselves which may be telephone, email based or other
supportive/advocacy services on behalf of people with similar problems.
How does the intervention meet the
specific needs of women?
As disenfranchised and disempowered people and people on whom falls a major burden of
caring and housework, women are potentially strong beneficiaries.
The Rushey Green project particularly helps young parents. Fair Shares and Skill Swap also
help young adults.
How does the intervention meet the
specific needs of young people?
Young people are potential service providers and as beneficiaries. Time banks provide an
opportunity for inter-generational work - young and old working together to overcome
prejudices about each other (especially Fair Shares, Gloucester, Newcastle and Skill
Swap).
How does the intervention meet the
specific needs of older people?
Older people are beneficiaries as service providers and recipients of services (all
schemes, especially Newcastle and Slough) through home DIY services, telephone support and
help with small errands. Time banks provide an opportunity for inter-generational work
with old and young working together to overcome prejudices about each other (especially
Fair Shares, Newcastle and Skill Swap).
Number of participants
450 time bank participants
Setting or context (community,
school, workplace, home, health care system etc.)
Any settings are possible. Existing schemes have used healthcare settings (Rushey Green
surgery) community centres, ( Fair Shares) and in schools and colleges (Skill Swap). No
workplace, school or community centre is inappropriate for setting up a time bank.
Brief description of the
objectives of the intervention (including strategies, methods etc.)
To engage people in providing and receiving services paid for using time credits.
To ensure thriving exchange, measured by numbers of transactions and time money trading
through each time bank.
To improve health, quality of life and participation for the members of the time bank.
A brief description of the
Intervention (content, length and frequency)
Time banks are based on the concept of people using their time as money. They build
credits for time they put into voluntary activities in providing health or social care and
other worthwhile work in their communities. Everybody’s time is equally valued.
Communities which are “cash-poor, time rich”, are able to trade their time
providing each other with valuable services - like care for elders and family support.
These schemes offer a means to reduce inequalities in health because they encourage
everyone to become a giver of time and in this way empower individuals with a feeling of
self-worth. They provide communities with a means of trading services which they are
denied by the conventional economy, and they enable more health and social care to be
provided to the most socially disadvantaged people who experience the worst health.
2. THE EVALUATION OF THE INTERVENTION
Brief description of the
objectives of the evaluation
Rushey Green
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To measure health benefits for participants - in terms of self-perception of their own
health and well-being; their involvement in and use of social networks and their access to
preventative as opposed to emergency health care.
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To measure possible real money savings for health service - in terms of appointments
with GP,
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Admissions to A & E.
National Time
Bank Network
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To document range and diversity of time bank activity across the UK.
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To find out who is involved and how many hours are being given and received.
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To explore how participation through the time bank impacts on service provision and
delivery.
Research design (e.g.
Randomised Control Trial/Community Intervention Trial)
Rushey Green:
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Prospective descriptive audit of activities.
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Standardised participant questionnaires (using control group).
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Participant focus groups to measure development of social networks.
National Time
Bank Network:
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Questionnaires tracking local time bank development (opportunities, challenges,
learning).
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Summary of total number of participants, types of people involved, hours earned/spent
etc.
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More-detailed case studies across different sectors (health, education etc).
Outcome (about the effects,
about the process)
Evaluations began in early 2000. So far the intervention can be judged successful on three
levels:
Promoting social inclusion by engaging the skills, talents and time of people most often
defined by their needs rather than their assets (frail elderly, people with disabilities)
and builds confidence in the process.
Creates helping networks and builds trust by connecting isolated people and valuing the
time and skills they have to give.
Helps develop more inclusive, responsive community-based services by measuring and
rewarding the contribution of service users on the basis of co-production.
Is the intervention transferable?
Time banks are in operation in North America, in the United Kingdom and in Japan.
Does the intervention contribute
to policy development?
Time banks provide government and local agencies (both statutory and voluntary) with the
opportunity to secure the ongoing participation of communities in the design, provision
and delivery of local services. This participation is vital in securing successful
community regeneratioon and in terms of tackling health inequalities.
Personal appreciation.
