Past News
The Big Society
The Coalition Government's "Big Society" Programme is a set of new proposals aiming to create a climate that empowers local people and communities, building a big society that will “take power away from politicians and give it to people”.
Encapsulated in the unique core values of Time Banking, strengthening civic society and building stronger communities is what time banking has been about for over a decade in the UK where there are 195 time banks and new ones emerging. Time banking uses co-production and reciprocity to empower and motivate individuals who are valued as human beings and for having tradable assets that often fall outside the market economy. Everyone’s welcome - It’s for everybody no matter who you are and where you are.
By sharing the time, skills and resources that we all possess, Time Banking provides an infrastructure at grass roots level that fosters the networks that enable people to connect and help one another in their neighbourhood. It also generates stimuli for people to take an interest and ownership of what’s going on around us. There is evidence that it is therefore good for people's mental and physical health and well-being.
So the Big Society Agenda promotes Time banking as a way of releasing ‘Social Capital’ in communities up and down the UK, enabling people to have a real sense of belonging which is a powerful ingredient for getting involved, feeling useful, safe and supported. It's about affirming each other and it's realised when people start to feel good about themselves, about each other and about their locality. The relationships that develop as Time Bankers help each other out and become friends, and as they also get involved in their local community and services, are the natural bedrock of a big society. It’s organic and freewheels wherever it goes as connections lead to other connections in a big space of possibilities - for you and me
It’s useful, very simple, and it’s also fun!
Use our webshop to help the Time Bank.
Exciting news! We're delighted to announce our fundraising webshop. When shopping online, you can access over 100 leading retailers using our webshop. Every time you use our webshop when shopping online, you'll automatically earn money for us! You don't pay anything extra by using our webshop, so please try to use it whenever you can.
Find our webshop at buy.at/rusheygreentimebank (please bookmark this link for future use).
'Time for action'
Congratulations to Rushey Green Timebank,
2008 LHC Awards winner.
On 10th July Simone Boothe, of the LHC core team attended "Celebrating Our Communities", Lewisham Timebank's conference at Lewisham Town Hall. Edgar Cahn, founder and Chairman of Timebanks USA gave a heartfelt and uplifting speech about how he created the first timebank in the USA and timebanking has grown and positively affected communities around the world.
Philippe Granger, RGTB Development Manager had this to say about winning the LHC Award. "The impact of this award has been phenomenal in that it further energized the time bank and helped us secure some core funding until March 2011. Our prize film beautifully captures the heart and vision of our time bank and its impact in our lives."
Simone also attend the Timebank's AGM and 9th birthday celebrations and spoke about it's work . Fittingly, the event took place on 2 July - a year to the day of them winning the 'Partnership achievement with the NHS' Category of the 2008 LHC Awards. The trophy was proudly displayed and all those who attended and members thanked the Commission for its support since winning the award. Simone, Philippe and timebank members at the AGM
You can view Rushey Green Timebank's prize film 'Video of the TimeBank in Action' at their web site - http://www.rgtb.org.uk/videos.html. You can also watch Jon Snow interview Edgar Cahn for the Community Channel.
Ends.
The winners of the 2008 LHC Awards are:
Myatt's Field North Youth Forum - Cohesive Communities category and Mayor's Award
Joy of Sound - Mental Health category
Rushey Green Time Bank - Partnership with NHS category
Combination Dance - Partnership with local government category
Educational Alliance Africa - Lupus Support Network - Community campaigning and advocacy category
For more information on the Awards and the winners visit the LHC web site. Copies of all the films will be uploaded very soon.
The London Health Commission works to galvanise leadership across key organisations and sectors to improve health for all Londoners and tackle health inequalities.
Email: health.commission@london.gov.uk | www.london.gov.uk/lhc/
