Welcome to Charlotte County Time Bank

AN HOUR IN RETURN FOR EVERY HOUR GIVEN

Timebanking is a system that enables people in communities to help one another using time, not money. For every hour of help given—such as mowing a lawn or shopping—participants earn a time credit, which they can later use to receive help from others, like learning a new skill or getting assistance with a task.

EVERYONE'S TIME IS VALUED EQUALLY

We believe that every person is valuable and has something to offer—and timebanking is a simple way to allow everyone to do that. Timebanking offers a solution. It shows us how to participate. It gives us something to do. It doesn’t discriminate by age, ability, social location, or education and skill. The real wealth of our society is its people.

EVERYONE'S SKILLS ARE USEFUL AND EVERYONE FEELS VALUED

Timebanking works for everyone—individuals, organisations and society as a whole. People arrange to give time when it suits them, offering skills they enjoy using. It's a two-way process of giving time and receiving time—and everybody has skills they can offer.

WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT TIMEBANKING?

Life has changed and our friends and family don't always live nearby. It's not always easy to ask someone for help, especially if that brings with it a feeling that we can never “pay them back.” Timebanking is a fun, low-pressure and informal way to help people help each other—and to bring out the best in everyone.

Timebanking UK's case studies show that joining a time bank can change people's lives. After taking part in exchanges, time bank members report that they learn new skills, meet new people, enjoy better self-esteem and self-confidence, and feel healthier. Members love sharing their passions—and they feel more involved in their community, too.

A typical time bank reports the following statistics for people who had been members for six months:

• 85% said they were meeting more people

• 80% felt more part of the community

• 74% had made new friends

• 74% experienced a lift in mood or reduced depression

• 69% felt they could ask for or receive more help

• 66% experienced reduced loneliness

• 60% said their quality of life, health and wellbeing had improved