How it works

A timebank is a system of mutual exchange where members trade services and skills using time as currency.

When you provide a service to another member, you earn time credits based on the hours you spent helping. You can use these credits to receive services from other members. 

One hour of any service is equal to one hour of any other service, so everyone's time is equally valuable.

Members are given access to our online timebank system (hourworld) which records all exchanges, and you can see you own time statement. The system also enables you to advertise your skills that you are happy to offer to other members, and your requests for assistance.

Timebanks foster a sense of community, build social connections, and provide a way for people to share their talents and skills. It's an hour-for-hour trade system that helps bring people together.

There are timebanks all over the world. We use hOurworld which is used by hundreds of timebanks. Their software also enables members to inter-trade their services with members of other timebanks. 

Where did timebanking come from?

The idea of Timebanking was conceived in the States in the 1980s by an American lawyer called Edgar Cahn who was a speechwriter  for Robert Kennedy.

During a spell in hospital after a heart attack he started thinking about people who may be undervalued or dismissed because they don’t earn a wage. He observed that the economy doesn’t value contributions fairly – for instance that of unpaid carers despite their huge contribution to society. 

Equally, the way the system values things that are scarce felt wrong to him.  Just because something is plentiful, doesn’t make it worthless and Cahn wanted a system that valued the intrinsic worth of the individual - all being equal.