Richmond Fellowship – Liverpool Our Time Community Support

A project which aims to tackle the social isolation faced by adults in the Liverpool area who live with mental health problems.

Who we are

Richmond Fellowship’s Our Time community based time bank works with individuals affected by mental ill health already living in their own homes to receive assistance with day-to-day tasks and activities, such as learning new skills, recreational activities
and social interaction.

What we do

Our timebanking service promotes social inclusion and empowers individuals by making the individuals feel valued as they are able to share their skills with others and learn new skills themselves.

Timebanking also has a beneficial effect on both mental and physical health.

We have monthly coffee socials where people can meet and some ‘trading’ of skills can be arranged – with Community Links Advisors maintaining regular contact with individuals.

Individuals are actively encouraged to deposit and withdraw time and are coached into re-discovering skills they may not have had the chance to practice regularly.

The timebank is an excellent model of co-production. It has members as opposed to service users and a steering group comprised of staff and members. Members share skills including home repairs, music lessons, travel buddying, decluttering, gardening, media
and podcasting, painting and cooking. Timebanking activities take place face to face and online.

Any skill can be exchanged and the only currency is time. Exchanging skills helps improve mental health and wellbeing through connecting, giving, learning, taking notice or being active thereby incorporating the 5 ways to wellbeing.