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Time Banking Scotland

Time Banking Scotland

Time Banking Scotland is a new and exciting initiative which aims to connect people with their communities and interest groups by exchanging their time and talents in a mutually beneficial way.

Time banking is built on the principle that for every hour of time a person contributes to help another, they receive the equivalent in time credits. These  time credits can be built up and exchanged, for example, to obtain help when needed from others.

Time banking values people equally; and by being accessible to all, it is totally inclusive.

Time Banking Scotland is a Joint Venture Agreement between Volunteer Development Scotland and Time Banks UK, enhancing Volunteer Development Scotland's commitment to informing and connecting people with volunteering.

There are currently nine active time banks in Scotland and several others in development throughout Scotland.

Time Banking Scotland aims to support those time banks already established as well as assisting individuals, organisations and communities to set up and run their own.

Time Banking Scotland will be the vehicle linking and supporting time banks across Scotland by providing inspiration, guidance and practical help.

For more information about Time Banking Scotland and how you can get involved, please contact tam.cassidy@vds.org.uk or  text  'Timebanking' to 07786 200 350

Time Banking Scotland Information Leaflet

Case Study 1

Case Study 2

Case Study 3

How to Join a Time Bank

Find your nearest Time Bank.....

The Time Banking Prison Initiative
The Time Banking Prison Initiative has been in operation for the past two years.  It was first developed between Castlemilk Time Bank, which is Scotland's longest running and biggest Time Bank and HMP Shotts, a maximum security prison which holds prisoners serving sentences lasting a minimum of  four years to life.  The Time Banking Prisons initiative helps to recognise and reward the volunteering that prisoners do within the prison and which contributes to the prison community and its day to day life. It uses the Time Credit concept to reward them, hour for hour.  But instead of the prisoners spending the credits they have earned on accessing services for them selves, 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 reasons.

Volunteer Development Scotland have now taken a lead role in the development of this initiative.  There are now 6 Prisons actively involved.
  • HMP Shotts
  • HMP Cornton Vale
  • HMP Barlinnie
  • HMP Glen Ochil
  • HMP Perth
  • HMP Castle Huntly
and 3 Time Banks involved in the scheme

  • Castlemilk
  • Campbeltown
  • Angus

There is also a steering group which has been set up and consists of the 6 participating Prisons, Castlemilk Time Bank, The Scottish Prison Service and Volunteer Development

Click here to read a related article

Lochaber Time Bank Launch
After the Lochaber Time Bank launched in September as part of Volunteering highlands proposed Time Banking Network, Badenoch & Strathspey Time Bank was launched in January.  These will soon be followed by the launches of Inverness on the 12th March and Caithness on the 26th March. 

Well done to Volunteering Highland for this great piece of work and  best wishes for the future.

Lochaber News Story


Prison Initiative update
The HM Chief Inspector of Prisons report on the Open Estate (HMP Castle Huntly and HMP Noranside) has identified Time Banking as ‘good practice.’ This was one of three areas mentioned. It states...

Time Banking

5.19 'Time banking' is a process whereby people who have signed up to the scheme can undertake voluntary work and put the time in 'the bank'. This time can then be used to have reciprocal work carried out, or the time can be donated to a 'collective bank' which can be used for community causes.

5.20 Some prisoners at Castle Huntly have signed up to the time banking scheme and earn hours by doing voluntary work such as supporting peers as Samaritan Listeners, Literacy Tutors or working on the prison magazine. The time accrued in Castle Huntly has been sent to projects in Campbeltown and Castlemilk. The prisoners have received positive feedback from the projects where their time has been used. This is an area of good practice.

Read the full report
New Castlemilk Time Bank film

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