The
Time Banking Prison Initiative has been running for over two years now. It was first developed between Castlemilk Time Bank and Shotts Prison, a maximum security prison which holds prisoners serving sentences lasting from a minimum of four years to life.
The Time Banking Prisons Initiative helps to recognise and reward the volunteering that prisoners undertake within the prison and which contributes to prison's community life. It uses the Time Credit concept to reward them, hour for hour. However, instead of the prisoners spending the credits they have earned on accessing services for themselves - they donate them to the participating Time Bank as a gift
to people in the community who can't earn enough time credits for themselves due to personal circumstances.
Volunteer Development Scotland have taken a lead role in the development of this initiative and there are now 6 Prisons actively involved:
There are also 3 Time Banks involved in the scheme; Castlemilk, Campletown and Angus. A steering group has been set up and consists of the 6 participating Prisons, Castlemilk Time Bank, The Scottish Prison Service and Volunteer Development.
How this initiative helps both the prisoner and the community
