Organisation Name: Paxton Green Time Bank Contact name: Alison Paule Job title: Development manager Email: alison@pgtimebank.org Telephone contact: 02086700990 www.pgtimebank.org
What have been the benefits for individual service users (and others) accessing your project?
Paxton Green Time Bank is currently funded by Lambeth PCT from a non recurrent top slice fund and originally started up from Paxton Green Group Practice with the help of two GPs back in May 2008. We are currently working to secure the future of the project in partnership with the PCT and are developing a model for potential GP commissioning.
The time bank takes referrals from GPs, councillors and other health staff at PGGP, and members are also able to self refer from the wider community. The time bank is a skills exchange and social network where members earn one credit for every hour they spend helping out another member or their local community. Everyone becomes both giver and receiver and co-produces the time bank together. This is a shift from the usual experiences of health service users, as passive beneficiaries of ‘help'. Through exchanging time and skills relationships and networks are formed, and members are able to support each other and share experiences, tips and recommendations.
We have completed a Mental Wellbeing Impact Assessment (MWIA) on the time bank which identified several key benefits. These were increased engagement with their local environment and community, a sense of belonging, and a raised level of social interaction. Time bank also helps people learn new skills in a safe environment, and can be a springboard into more formalised learning or employment.
Key terms - time bank, GP commissioning