Sneinton Business Forum

Earn 'free' services by saving in a 'Time Bank'

A RECESSION-BUSTING plan to help people get jobs done they can’t afford is being introduced in the inner city.

Sneinton Time Bank will enable people to pay with time and skills instead of money.

The movement was begun by former US civil rights lawyer and social innovator Edgar Cahn in the late 1980s, but the Nottingham coordinators say it is particularly relevant in the current economic climate.

“There are lots of people who are not in work at the moment and they don’t have the money to pay for all of the things they need doing,” said David Jones. “We hope that this project can help alleviate the financial pressures, as well as helping individuals to expand their networks of friends and acquaintances, and strengthen the bonds of community.”

The ‘bank’ will trade in time credits earned for each hour of work done for someone else.
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These can be traded for other services, from music tuition, for instance, to having someone to talk to.

The project was launched at a community event around Sneinton Hermitage on Saturday.

There was a demonstration at the launch by Sneinton resident Gillian Parish, 46, who is a trained aromatherapy massage therapist. She is in the process of setting up a business offering massages to women on low incomes, and is prepared to give massages for Time Credits.

She wants to earn in return services such as gardening, cleaning, childcare, decorating or piano lessons.

Ms Parish said: “I went to a women’s health weekend a couple of years ago, and everybody was saying massage is really expensive and only for the middle classes. I thought there are a lot of women who could benefit from treatments but they can’t benefit because they can’t afford it.

“I particularly like this idea of exchange. I would love somebody to give me a massage back.”

To become a member of Sneinton Time Bank or for more information, contact RachelWicks or David Jones on 0115 9584862, email sneintontimebank@gmail.com or visit www.sneintontimebank.wordpress.com

This article is a reprint*
by caroline.lowbridge@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk