James Ryan, Author at Timebanking UK

Autumn Newsletter

Timebanking UK; Still climbing: aiming for 7 million hours and growing!

The newest update from Timebanking UK is out, and it brings powerful reminders of why timebanking matters, along with exciting steps forward for the network. From major ambitions to everyday acts of kindness, there’s a lot to celebrate.

Where we are now and where we’re heading

As of the latest report, the total hours exchanged through Timebanking UK has reached 6,795,544 hours. That’s an incredible milestone, and this year we’re pushing to break through 7 million hours exchanged across the UK.

For anyone new to timebanking or looking to restart their involvement, this is a great moment to join in. Every hour you give counts, and it all contributes to a growing national network of connection and support.

The “One Hour Timebanking Challenge” for anyone, anywhere

One of the biggest announcements: the national Timebank called the “One Hour Timebanking Challenge” is up and running.

This is perfect for people who don’t have a local time bank nearby or for anyone who wants to participate across regions. The Challenge allows remote or area-based swapping, making timebanking far more accessible to people living in more rural or remote areas, or anyone without a committed local time-bank.

It’s a sign of how Timebanking UK is evolving: not just supporting existing local time banks, but thinking nationally and inclusively, and the more people who get involved, the more there is on offer, for those who need, and those who need to give!

Ideas to get started: everyday ways to give (and receive) time

Timebanking isn’t only about major commitments, it’s about small, friendly exchanges that build community, bit by bit. The latest update offers a range of suggestions to help members get going:

Grocery dash & drop
Small handy fixes (DIY help, small tasks)
“Tea & talk” chats or social visits
Digital check-ins (helping with tech, calls, remote connection)
Simple “makes-and-shares”, like crafts, baking, sharing knowledge or hobbies

These kinds of exchanges show just how flexible and human time-based giving can be. It doesn’t matter whether you have huge blocks of time or just an hour or two now-and-then: every contribution helps.

Growing the team; supporting communities far and wide

To match the growing ambition, Timebanking UK is also expanding its support network. The latest update mentions:

A new full-time coordinator hired in Newcastle
Additional associates working in regions like Somerset, Cambridgeshire, and more

This increase in staffing helps ensure more people get the support they need, whether to join, create a new time bank, or maintain existing ones, and helps make timebanking accessible and sustainable across the UK.

Human impact; when time credits become real lives

Perhaps the most moving part of the latest report is a real-life story showing what timebanking can do.

Hours donated via prison-linked time banks, often overlooked by wider society, have made a real difference. In one case, two women met regularly for companionship, digital-skills support, and friendship: one with limited mobility, the other isolated and seeking social connection. Through timebanking, they built a supportive friendship, showing how this model can transform isolation into community, and simple time credits into hope, dignity and friendship.

Stories like this remind us that timebanking isn’t just about trading services; it’s about restoring human connection, building social value, and giving people back the feeling of being needed, seen, and part of something bigger.

Why timebanking still matters, and why you should consider getting involved

At its heart, timebanking is not about money. It’s about people.

The core of timebanking is that one hour given = one hour received. It doesn’t matter what the task is, where you’re from, what your background is; everyone’s time is valued equally. That simple principle opens up a world where skills, kindness, and human presence become currency. How it works.

Over many years, timebanking has proven to be more than just a clever idea! It’s a grassroots movement that builds social capital, reduces loneliness, strengthens communities, and gives people a sense of belonging. Overview

For communities that are isolated, struggling, or simply in need of more connection, timebanking can offer more than help: it offers dignity, purpose, and companionship.

What happens next and how to get involved

If you don’t already belong to a local timebank, check whether the One Hour Timebanking Challenge works for where you are.
If you do belong already then have a look at the “everyday help” suggestions and see if you can offer an hour to someone this week.
Know someone who might benefit from help? whether companionship, small tasks, or a listening ear, introduce them to timebanking.
Spread the word. The more people that know about timebanking, the bigger the network becomes, and the more impact we can have together.

If you want to read more about how timebanking works: how time credits are exchanged and recorded, what kinds of tasks are common, and what values guide the practice, then check out Timebanking UK’s “How it works” page. How it works

Derbyshire Time Swap Featured on BBC’s The One Show

We were delighted to see one of our member projects, Derbyshire Time Swap, showcased on BBC’s The One Show last week. The segment highlighted the positive impact timebanking is making in communities, helping people build skills, confidence, and friendships while offering practical support in challenging times.

How Time Swapping Works

Derbyshire Time Swap members earn credits by giving their time to others; whether that’s DIY skills, baking, sewing, or digital support. Every hour given earns an hour in return, building a cycle of mutual benefit that strengthens local communities.

As Development Officer Jane Davison explained during the programme, time swapping is simple but powerful: “An hour of time donated earns an hour of credit, which can then be used to receive help from another member.”

A Growing Network of Support

The initiative has grown rapidly, with more than 500 members contributing over 20,000 hours in just three years. Local businesses and organisations are also taking part, with engineers Terry and Elizabeth featured supporting their local football club.

Sarah Bird, CEO of Timebanking UK, praised the project:
“Derbyshire Time Swap is one of the largest networks of time banks spanning the county and we are proud to see it getting well-deserved publicity like this. With over 150 time banks across the country we have seen the difference timebanking makes to people and communities. To date there is more than 6.7 million hours that people have given and received, helping one another, where everyone’s hour is equal.”

Real-Life Success Stories

The programme highlighted moving stories from members:

- Darren, unemployed for five years, found purpose and improved his mental well-being by teaching building skills.
- Wendy, a retiree, offers baking and sewing skills, helping her feel more social and connected.
- Rachel, previously unemployed for eight years, gained confidence and valuable experience as a carer through the time swap, which helped her secure a job supporting adults with autism.

These stories show how timebanking is not only about exchanging skills but also about opening doors, reducing isolation, and building confidence for the future.

Watch the Feature

Look out for the full One Show segment on the BBC.

Aylesbury Prisoners’ Timebanking Hours Help Tackle Isolation in Derbyshire

A heart-warming example of community support has emerged through Derbyshire Time Swap, where hours donated by a prisoners’ timebank have helped transform the lives of two socially isolated members.

Joan, who lives alone, joined Time Swap after missing the companionship of her dog but no longer being in a position to care for one herself. Around the same time, Sarah signed up looking for a way to meet new people and feel useful again.

Thanks to hours donated from prisoners from Aylesbury Timebank, the two were able to connect; and they’ve been meeting regularly since July! In a unique twist on a companionship swap, Sarah brings her dog along when she visits, giving Joan the joy of canine company alongside the benefit of friendship and conversation.

Their meet-ups have also opened new doors for Joan. With Sarah’s support, she is learning digital skills, from searching the internet to sending emails and attachments, and is growing in confidence each week.

Both women say the experience has been transformative:

“I’ve felt more positive about things and it’s given me more confidence to stretch out to different things. Before I’d lost my confidence being disabled, and didn’t really want to go out of the house. It’s opened my world up.” – Sarah
“It’s actually made me feel useful for once. If I’ve had a rough week, sometimes we just chat. I seem to have just connected and clicked with Joan.” – Joan

In a message of thanks, Joan also shared:
“I am making slow and steady progress on my laptop. This is about my fourth email and the first to people I do not know. I am pleased to get into this modern world.”

This inspiring story is just one example of how donated timebanking hours, even from unexpected places like prisons, can bring people together, reduce loneliness, and help individuals build skills and confidence.

Read the original story shared by Derbyshire Time Swap here.

Summer Newsletter – Timebanking UK Turns 23! Big News, Big Milestones

Our latest newsletter is packed, and you won’t want to miss it!

We’re launching a national time bank: The 1 Hour Timebanking Challenge goes live 2nd August!
We’re aiming for 7 million hours exchanged, and you could get £300 to join the celebration!
Discover how prisoners are gifting time to help communities in need.
Meet our two new Trustees, including Timebanking UK’s founding voice, Martin Simon.
New training dates, funding deadlines, and uplifting member stories, including a spotlight on Plymouth and a big birthday for Ryde Time Bank!

Read the full newsletter

Let’s celebrate 23 years of connection and build something even bigger this summer!

Timebanking UK Awarded Grant from Garfield Weston to Strengthen Community Support

Timebanking UK Awarded Grant from Garfield Weston to Strengthen Community Support

We’re pleased to share that Timebanking UK has been awarded a generous grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation. This support is a significant vote of confidence in our work to empower communities across the UK, strengthening connections and enabling people to exchange time and skills where everyone’s hour is valued equally. With over 6.7 million hours of help and support already exchanged through timebanking, this grant will allow us to continue making a tangible difference in people’s lives.

Strengthening Community Support Through Timebanking

Sarah Bird, CEO of Timebanking UK, said: “Garfield Weston’s investment in Timebanking UK is a powerful endorsement of how the timebanking movement is making a real difference. This support will help us build on our work and strengthen capacity.”

We hope this recognition from such a well-respected organisation will encourage more businesses and organisations to explore how they can be part of this growing movement, demonstrating that every person has value and something to contribute.

Get Involved: How You Can Support Timebanking UK

At the heart of timebanking is the belief that communities thrive when people recognise their own skills, see where they are needed, and contribute to something bigger than themselves. This grant will help us to strengthen our support for existing time banks while exploring new ways to reach even more people.

If you’re looking for a way to make a meaningful difference in your community, whether as an organisation, business, or individual, we’d love to explore how we can work together.

Thank you to the Garfield Weston Foundation for their support and belief in the power of timebanking. We’re excited for what’s ahead. Stay connected with Timebanking UK for updates on our new initiatives, including the upcoming timebanking app and ways to get involved in your local area.

Merry Christmas to you and yours from Timebanking UK

Merry Christmas to you and yours from Timebanking UK!