Time Banking Wales, a Rhondda based charity that encourages people to become active citizens in their community, is celebrating as it has received a grant worth £30,000. The two year grant has been made by the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales through its Community programme.
At its simplest, time banking is the concept of people donating their time to the community in return for "credits" which they can use to access educational, social and cultural events. Time Banking Wales works to apply the concept of time banking to a range of different projects and communities across the South Wales Valleys. The Glyncoch Youth Time Bank is a typical example of a project supported by the charity. Young people have acquired time credits by helping to run a summer festival, contributing to environmental projects, running youth clubs and performing concerts. In return the time bank members have enjoyed a three day out door pursuits weekend, quad biking, ice skating and a trip to Cardiff to see My Fair Lady.
Time Banking Wales is working with government agencies, other charities and communities across Wales to extend the potential of time banking to help people become active citizens. The Lloyds TSB Foundation grant will contribute to salaries of core staff who will deliver the time banking programme. The charity expects to work with over 60 projects in the next three years.
Geoff Thomas, co-ordinator at Time Banking Wales commented on the project, “We encourage people to become active citizens in whatever way suits them. We want people, particularly young people to become more constructive and Time Banking is a fantastic way of achieving that.”
Lloyds TSB Foundation grant manager for Mid and South Wales, Mike Lewis, added, “I have witnessed the success at first hand of a number of local Time Bank schemes, especially those with a focus on targeting marginalised and vulnerable people. The Lloyds TSB Foundation is delighted to be supporting the growth of Time Banking in Wales.”
If you would like any further information about the concept of Time Banking or the projects which Time Banking Wales works with, please contact Geoff Thomas on 01495 712 923 or visit the charity’s website at www.wicc.org.uk
