Time Banking
Here’s how Time Banking works:
The concept is simple. For every hour of service provided to another member of the YesWeCan-RI TimeBank you earn one Time Dollar. Time Dollars are a community currency that members earn by using their time, energy, skills, and talents to help others. TheYesWeCan-RI TimeBank is about local individuals, organizations and business’s helping each other in pay-it-forward exchanges and group projects. Members help rebuild neighborhood networks and strengthen communities.
You, the Member can spend your Time Dollars on any number of services. You can even save them up for future use. Members of the YesWeCan-RI TimeBank help each other in ways that family and neighbors have traditionally done.
Here is a partial list of the services that members can exchange via the YesWeCan-RI TimeBank.
- Help at Home: Child Care, Cooking & Sewing, Hair & Beauty, Housekeeping/Chores, Pet Care, Respite Care, etc.
- Community Activities: Clean Up/Recycling, Community Service, Fundraising, Special Projects, Work for Social Change, etc.
- Wellness: Complementary Therapies, Counseling, Diet & Nutrition, Fitness & Exercise, Medical Services, Yoga/Meditation, etc.
- Education: Advocacy, Classes/Workshops, Computers/Technology, Languages/Translation, Personal Finances, Tutoring/Mentoring, etc.
- Arts, Crafts, & Music: Classes, Crafts, Entertainment, Lessons, Photo & Video, Theater, etc.
- Home Repair: Car Care, Carpentry/Construction, Electrical, Garden & Yard Work, Painting, Plumbing, etc.
- Transportation: Errands, Local, Long Distance, Medical, Train/Bus/Airport, Worship, etc.
- Companionship: Clubs, Dining Out, Email/IM, Home Visits, Medical Errands, Telephone Calls, etc.
- Business Services: Clerical, Computer Support, Financial, Legal, Marketing, Research, Odd Jobs, etc.
- Recreation: Books & Videos, Dancing, Events, Games, Sports, Travel, etc.
Click to see a larger image (pdf)
If you would like to think more about the kinds of services you can exchange, please take the Self Assessment Questionnaire.
TimeBank Mission (adapted from the “Hour Exchange Portland” [Maine])
The YesWeCan TimeBank is a service exchange based on Time Dollars, the currency of equality that empowers individuals to utilize their assets, to enhance their lives, neighborhood and community.
Time Bank Core Values
- Assets: We are all assets. Every human being has something of value to contribute.
- Equality: The heart of a Time Dollar is equality. One hour of service equals one credit, regardless of the service and all people are valued equally.
- Reciprocity: Helping works better as a two way street. The question: “How can I help you?” needs to change so we ask: “How can we help each other build the world we both will live in?”
- Redefining Work: Some work is beyond price. Work must be redefined to include whatever it takes to revitalize neighborhoods and families, to make democracy work and to advance social justice. This kind of work needs to be honored, recorded and rewarded.
- Social Networks: We need each other. Networks are stronger than individuals. People help each other build communities of support, strength and trusting relationships.
- Respect: Everyone matters. We must respect where people are in the moment, not where we hope they will be at some future point.
