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 | You are here: New To Time Banking | How Time Banking Works | Types of Time Bank | 9 May 2008 | |
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Types of Time Bank How Time Banking Works The values and aims of time banking can be applied in many different environments and circumstances. Time banking is often seen as a ‘community tool’ used to create different types of time banks that broadly fall into one of two categories:
A community time bank is the most widely used type of time bank. It is usually based in a specific geographical area and its aim is to engage local people within the neighbourhood in giving and receiving services. It is usually intergenerational and multi-skilled and its aim is to create a stronger sense of community. The majority of its members are individuals but it also aims to link with other groups and organisations in the area, encouraging them to join and share their services as ‘organisational members’. This is how time banking began in the USA over 20 years ago; whilst time banking has become global over the years, this type of time bank still seems to be the most popular. Whilst this type of time bank still works on the same principle of reciprocity -an hour given equals an hour received - it is not as broad based as the community time banks. It is a specialist time bank and its special interest could be based either in its selected membership or the limitations on the skills exchanged within the time bank. Selected membership – these are time banks set up for specific groups of people. They might be young people or for people with mental health problems or asylum seekers. Others are set up in order for specific agencies to deliver their services, such as Sure Start. Specialist services – these time banks are not multi-skilled like the community time banks but instead focus on a specific service or a limited range of services. This could be linked with education or environmental issues. | |||
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