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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.

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.

Timebanking UK Achieves Cyber Essentials Plus Certification: Ensuring Trust and Security for Our Members

We are thrilled to announce that Timebanking UK has achieved Cyber Essentials Plus certification, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to providing a safe and secure experience for our members, partners and supporters. This certification demonstrates our dedication to upholding the highest standards of cybersecurity and data protection, ensuring that our members can engage in timebanking activities with confidence and peace of mind.

Cyber Essentials Plus is a rigorous certification scheme developed by the UK government to help organisations protect against common cyber threats. Achieving this certification requires undergoing an independent assessment of our cybersecurity measures, including testing of systems and controls to ensure they meet the required standards.

Sarah Bird, CEO of Timebanking UK, expressed her enthusiasm about this achievement, stating, “At Timebanking UK, the security and privacy of our members are paramount. Achieving Cyber Essentials Plus certification reaffirms our commitment to maintaining a safe and trusted environment for our members to connect, collaborate, and make a positive impact in their communities. We hope this achievement demonstrates to potential corporate partners that Timebanking UK is of high calibre, ensuring that collaborations with us are not only meaningful but also conducted with the utmost professionalism and security.”

Guiding us through this comprehensive process was James Ryan from The Idea Agency, whose expertise and dedication were instrumental in successfully navigating the complexities of Cyber Essentials Plus certification. James commented, “It was a pleasure working with Timebanking UK on their journey to Cyber Essentials Plus compliance. This certification not only demonstrates their commitment to cybersecurity but also positions them as a reliable and professional organisation for potential collaborators.”

Our Cyber Essentials Plus certification signifies our adherence to essential cybersecurity practices, including secure configuration, boundary firewalls, access control, and more. By achieving this certification, we reinforce our dedication to protecting the personal information of our stakeholders and ensuring the integrity and availability of our timebanking platform.

For our current and prospective members, this certification provides assurance that Timebanking UK takes their security seriously and is continuously investing in measures to safeguard their data. It also opens up new opportunities for collaboration with businesses and organisations that prioritise cybersecurity and risk mitigation in their partnerships.

As we celebrate this achievement, we extend our gratitude to our members for their continued trust and support. Together, we will continue to empower communities, foster connections, and create positive social change through the power of timebanking.

6th Annual International Timebanking day

The theme of International Timebanking Day, 23rd March 2024, was the power of connection to heal the world. As always it was an uplifting and enlightening celebration, with participants from all corners of the globe. Hosted by Timebanking UK CEO, Sarah Bird and TimeBanks.Org CEO, Krista Wyatt, the event saw an exchange of innovative timebanking ideas and experiences. Every year our movement grows – and International Timebanking Day is a testament to the global community making that happen through its commitment to fostering reciprocity, building communities, and creating social cohesion.

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