The Time Exchange is a community time bank and drop-in centre located in the West End of Newcastle upon Tyne. Local residents are supported to exchange time and skills with each other.
For every hour of time that is volunteered members earn a time credit, which can be used to access skills and services offered by other members. Members have offered various practical skills (shopping, sewing, cooking, gardening, home repairs, car lifts, interpreting, proofreading, help with CVs and job applications etc), and assisted local community groups.
The project office is open 5 days a week and local residents can access advice, guidance and support. The staff team provide information on Health, Housing and Welfare Rights, Advocacy as well as signposting to other organisations and statutory agencies.
The Time Exchange also runs gardening activities enabling members to gain credits and learn gardening skills by working on a local community garden and supporting local environmental improvements.
What we'll deliver:
- Daily exchanges of skills and services
- Weekly maintenance of local street planters
- Time Exchange members provided with 1-1 support
- Creating a stronger sense of community
Why it's a great idea:
Through the facilitation of skills exchanges, the Time Exchange will build on the skills of local residents, enabling them to be active in improving both their own health and wellbeing, and the wellbeing of others. Increasing the confidence of members through skills sharing, and connecting people to their local community, helping to create a stronger sense of community and reducing isolation and exclusion.
We will provide individual support appointments, helping people take control over their own health and wellbeing, encouraging positive and lasting changes in residents’ lives.
Our environmental work enables individuals to learn about growing in their own outdoor space helping their own wellbeing. The street planter maintenance brings much needed colour to the local area, at the same time instilling pride in the community by encouraging individuals to "adopt a planter" close to their home.
Steps to get it done:
- 200 Skills Exchanges
- 50 Environmental Improvements
- 20 Community Events & Activities
Whilst Covid 19 remains a risk, we want to continue proactively reaching out to isolated members, delivering shopping, check-in phone calls and doorstep visits.
We will risk assess what exchanges can safely continue so the community can support themselves (recent examples include dog walking,collecting prescriptions, proof reading, CV/job application help, sewing, gardening).
