A time bank can be many different things.  But at its heart is the idea of people coming together to support eachother - without money changing hands.  

People have come together to form time banks to achieve many different things.  A good time bank recognises that everyone has got something to offer - and that we all have other needs too.  A time bank can be a way of joining these two things up - so that we be of use to other people - and get back something that's of value to us.  All without money changing hands.

But how do they work in practice?  How could time banking make a difference in Leeds?  And, if you want to explore setting a time bank up, what do you do next?

We'll try to answer these questions at this lively, informal get-together. We also want to bring together any people who are interested in setting up a time bank, to share ideas and to build a bit of momentum behind the idea of finding different ways to encourage locally-based, useful mutual support.

This is what we'll do:

• Mick Ward from Leeds City Council Adult Social Care will talk about why the Council is interested in encouraging informal ways that people in Leeds can support each other in small but important ways.  
• We'll hear first hand experience of setting up and running a time bank from Tris Dyson from Just Add Spice - a  form of timebanking which first started in Wales where local people support each other - and are rewarded with time credits which can then be exchanged for trips, activities and leisure services.  
• We'll then pass things over to you:  we'll use an open space format to allow you to set the agenda of the small group discussions.
  Do you want to discuss - and build support for - an idea that you've got?  Or maybe you want to explore a particular challenge that you'll think we'll face in making timebanks work in Leeds?  This is your chance - tell people what you want to talk about - and then have the discussion.  Or, of course, you can join in someone else's discussion.    
• Finally, we'll come back as a group to see if there's enthusiasm for exploring this more - and we'll discuss what to do next.

So, if you're keen to find out more about time banks - and how they could make a difference in Leeds - please join us.  You can sign up by clicking on the Book Your Free Place link above.  

If you want to talk with us please give us a call on 0113 318 8685.

Please arrive any time after 130pm for a prompt start at 2pm.  We'll be finished by 430pm.

You can watch a short video of Dr Edgar Cahn - the founder of Time Banking - talking about why he's so passionate about this way that people in communities around the world are making a big difference to each other, by clicking on the link below:

Interview with Dr Edgar Cahn from NESTA UK on Vimeo.