Cambridgeshire Time Credits Cambridgeshire County Council and the CHS Group are working in partnership with the charity Spice Innovations Ltd to create a Time Credits Network across Cambridgeshire, helping to strengthen and build communities over a three year period. Time Credits are being used as a tool to build community resilience, focusing on three core priorities:

 Older People – To support older people to maintain their status as key members of their community, by engaging the newly retired and supporting activities which promote independence and reduce isolation.  Skills and Employment – By actively participating in the community, members will gain skills and confidence which will support pathways to employment.  Strengthening Families – Immediate and extended families will be encouraged to earn and spend credits together, increasing engagement in childhood development. In addition Time Credits will help develop and sustain peer support networks.

What are Time Credits? Participants who give their time to local services and organisations earn Time Credits that can be used to access mutual support from others and local services such as the gym, swimming pool, creative arts and community events.

One hour of time given to local services will earn one Time Credit that can be spent on an hour of activity. Time Credits have proven to be highly effective at supporting community resilience and improved quality of life, health and wellbeing through engaging many more people in their local communities. Time Credits enable people, many new to volunteering, to be involved in different ways in order to add a new dimension to their lives and to create a more diverse and engaged community.

Spice is a Limited Company Registered in England and Wales: Spice Innovations Limited No.06593956 and Registered Charity No. 113514301

Building stronger communities Time Credits enable organisations to make best use of community resources and to develop their services in partnership with the local community. For members, their engagement with Time Credits support health and independence, including opportunities to meet new people, gain confidence and learn new skills. The recent 2015 evaluation shows some impressive results, in Cambridgeshire the evaluation has already shown: • 71% only give their time through Time Credits • 40% said they had gained work experience • 62% said it had improved their quality of life • 67% felt they knew their community better • 73% said they had made new friends • 45% felt it had helped them a lot or significantly to be able to access new activities

The local network Spice are working across Cambridgeshire to build local networks of activities where Time Credits can be earned and spent by linking businesses, community groups, providers and individuals in the area. Anyone can earn Time Credits if they are giving their time with an activity that is part of the network. With Time Credits, the participating organisations work with their community to develop opportunities to earn and spend, developing opportunities within their own volunteering framework. Time Credits are enabling organisations to work more collaboratively with communities, shaping services and improving outcomes.

Time Credits are active with a range of partners in Wisbech and Cambridge with members earning credits in plethora of ways; from supporting Stay and Play sessions at the Children’s Centres to community groups running litter picks and supporting older people in the community.

We have lots of partners already signed up to the Cambridgeshire spend network to accept Time Credits including Better Leisure, ADC Theatre, Light Cinema, Cambridge University’s Institute of Continuing Education, the Children’s Centre and Cambridge City Council. A full list of opportunities is available to view in our regularly updated Spend Brochure. Where next? Starting with Wisbech and Cambridge where Time Credits are already active, we are working to create a Cambridgeshire networks enabling members to earn and spend Time Credits across the County. With the support of the Cambridgeshire County Council and CHS, Spice is working on growing Time Credits networks in St Neots and Huntingdon (from October 2015), followed by March, Chatteris, Ely and Littleport throughout 2016. Growth across the county is being prioritised based on areas of need. We are supporting local groups and services to become part of Time Credits network, if you work on one of our priority areas outlined above and you are in any of the areas we are coming to next we would love to hear from you. We are also recruiting organisations to take a leadership role in developing Time Credits the areas we are working. If you are interested in spearheading the development of this new innovative programme locally please do get in touch. Find out more and get in touch A short film about the Wisbech pilot is available here and one about Children’s Centre’s work with Time Credits here. The Time Credits newsletter will help you stay up-to-date, please click here to register. Mark Caffrey, Senior Project Manager Yannick Auckland, Project Manager Tel. 020 7332 1570 Mobile: 07429 449 163 Mobile: 07429 438383 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Spice is a Limited Company Registered in England and Wales: Spice Innovations Limited No.06593956 and Registered Charity No. 113514301