February 2010

By Anneleise Hall

Time Banking is transforming New Zealand communities one hour at a time.

Based on the core value of reciprocity, Time Banking is also getting health, social service and other organisations excited about its potential to create more effective and meaningful partnerships with the community.

Time Banking is a way of exchanging skills in a community that uses time as the measurement tool, not money.

More than just a trading system, it is a way of building relationships and trust and for people to have their needs met from within their community. It also encourages local networking and enables people to benefit from non-market skills and talent.

Time Banking recognises that every person is valuable in a community and has something to offer

Project Lyttelton piloted New Zealand's first Time Bank and it is so successful that over 10% of households in that community are now members - in just three years of operation.

Time Banking brings a richness to people's lives. They meet new people, build strong relationships in the community and are valued for what they offer. The idea has caught on and now many other communities are in the process of starting their own Time Banks.

The basic principle of Time Bank is very simple: 1=1. That is one hour of your time is equal to an hour of another person's time. Members are able to offer services or request them, and are able to spend or gain their time credits with any other member of the network.

Members may offer anything that involves time, a hobby, professional skill, a passion or skills that help to make up the estimated 40% of non-market economy work that holds our communities together, such as cooking, caring, raising children, working bees, listening or civic participation. It creates opportunities for the elderly to share their skills and knowledge and have their needs met from within their community and for those frail or unwell to be supported.

A community chest facility enables people to donate excess credits to help those unable to offer services. In Lyttelton local groups and schools are members and many choose to pay volunteers in time credits. Volunteers may either use their credits or donate them to the community chest, doubling the benefit of their contribution. Any materials or goods required for the trade are accounted for separately either purchased by the receiver or arranged by negotiation with the supplier.

Trades are recorded on special software and members are able to publish offers and requests. People are signed up and supported into trading by a Time Bank co-ordinator who helps people to identify the skills they would like to share and what they would like help with. If the member has access to a computer the co-ordinator will also help the new member set up a profile and learn to use the software.

The co-ordinator will help match people up for trades, offer tips and suggestions and send out newsletters.

Members are required to provide references and may be asked to authorise police checks.

Time Banking was developed in the US by Edgar S Cahn

During a long law career involving many thousands of hours of community service, Cahn recognised that people did not value free services, so began to offer legal hours for an equivalent time commitment from clients towards volunteer activity in their communities.

Not only did this allow people to recognise that what they had to offer was valuable, it also had the flow on effect of significantly enhancing their communities. People were able to get their needs met by helping others.

Time Banking was born.

Cahn believes we need to redefine the concept of ‘work'.

In his book "No More Throw Away People", he states:

"If we accept a market definition of work, there are a few minor omissions worth nothing. Work does not include: raising children, taking care of one's elder parents, keeping one's family functioning, being a good neighbour, or being a good citizen. So work includes everything - except family, community and democracy. Some of us think those things are rather important. If they can't be addressed as work within the market, it is clear we need a larger framework than that supplied by market."

Time Banking recognises and rewards many of these activities and creates strong networks of generosity and support in communities.

When looking at connecting with social services and other organisations Time Bank is a way of creating a reciprocal flow between agencies and those they work with. It empowers and enhances the relationships by the intrinsic recognition that both parties have something valuable to offer each other through the network.

It is a way of enhancing services and capacity while valuing people.

The Community Weaver software is able to list skills on offer and record trades over a range of separate categories effectively measuring social capital and who is being helped how in the community.

Recent research into the thriving Lyttelton Time bank also revealed many "hidden" benefits where members reported making new friends, feeling greater connection to their communities and being willing to accept help more easily.

Project Lyttelton chair Margaret Jefferies discovered Time Banking while at a conference in New York and pulled together a team to pilot the Lyttelton Timebank.

Lyttelton's success story has inspired the creation of Time Banks in Gore, Whakatane and Otaki with many other communities and organisations intending to follow suit.

North and South magazine including Margaret in its annual New Zealander of the year feature with an honourable mention for introducing Time Banking to New Zealand.

Some useful links

Time Banking founder Edgar S Cahn talks about Time Banking: http://timebanks.blogspot.com/2008/02/people-make-change-happen.html

Time Banks website: www.timebanks.org

Lyttelton Timebank: http://www.lyttelton.net.nz/timebank

Timebanking in Youth Justice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud24oU5ju_8

Video about the Rushey Green Timebank (9 minutes): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_nW__d0Yr4