ARC is an umbrella organisation for groups working with people with learning disabilities and they have secured Section 64 funding to do research and set up some pilots of time banks integrating people with learning disabilities into the time bank.  A summary of the workplan is available on the TBUK website for you to look at and here is a link to it 

http://www.timebanks.co.uk/downloads/ARC%20and%20Time%20Banks%20-%20Project%20Outline.doc

ARC have appointed two co-ordinators to carry out the work.  They are Rod Landman and Lesley Dean.  Over the next 6 months Rod and Lesley would like to get a better understanding of how time banks work, and would be particularly interested in any that are already working with people with learning disabilities or organisations who represent these groups.

Their first steps would be to visit time banks, following this they will be asking all time banks if they would be willing to help them with a questionnaire and finally they will choose 3 time banks to set up pilots with.  Each of these 3 pilots will be awarded a grant of £1,000.

So, for the first stage we are looking for time banks who would be happy to have a visit from Lesley or Rod.  If you would like to be one of these please get back to me and I will pass your details on so they can contact you direct.