Timebanking launches on TV

Looking Local is pleased to announce another 'first', with the addition of Timebanking UK to our suite of technical plug-ins, offering public sector organisations access to another national partner with a highly complementary and useful localised service.

Timebanking really hits the local participation theme that is currently a hot topic across the UK. Whilst Timebanking has been popular online and at a community level, this is the first time people will be able to access their local timebanks, find out the latest news, local events and trade their time credits using interactive TV.

Timebanking is an exciting way for people to come together to help others and help themselves at the same time. Participants 'deposit' their time in the bank by giving practical help and support to others and are able to 'withdraw' their time when they need something done themselves.

The motivation for extending Timebanking onto TV was primarily due to the digital exclusion issues, with over 15 million adults still without PC or Internet access, it seems a good way to extend services further. Integration with Looking Local was funded by the Digital Inclusion Team and is currently being trialed on the INtouch kirklees site with a view to extend it other areas once the service has been evaluated and a business case established.

Timebanking on TV

The Timebanking UK service has witnessed spectacular growth since it first started in 1998 in the UK. The system links people locally allowing them to share their time and skills. Everyone's time is equal: one hour of your time earns you one time credit to spend when you need or want to. People help each other out with everything from making phone calls to sharing meals and giving lifts to the shops, gardening, babysitting, cleaning, car maintenance - anything that brings them together.

Now that the technology part is complete Looking Local is working closely with local time brokers to find out how DiTV can help in terms of increasing participation, improving public access to Timebanking and reducing the work burden on time brokers to use their time more productively.

For further information please contact jane.hancer@lookinglocal.gov.uk