Working with the Public Sector

TimeBank works with the public sector to develop innovative volunteering projects that harness the energy and commitment of volunteers to help transform public services . In key areas such as health, education and the environment, volunteering can underpin the work of government agencies and voluntary sector organisations working in the field.

TimeBank has always recognised that volunteering recruitment should evolve and innovate in order to attract a new generation of volunteers. This is why TimeBank is working hard to discover new and effective ways to help people volunteer, ways that are more enjoyable, flexible and more valuable for society as a whole. TimeBank has developed highly successful projects that reflect its aim to harness the energy and commitment of volunteers, which in turn help transform public services.

Time Together is a refugee mentoring scheme which matches refugees with British citizens who act as their mentors to help them integrate more effectively into the UK. Mentors help refugees to improve their English, access employment and education and gain a better understanding of British culture and customs.

In the first three years of the project:

500 mentors have been trained and matched with a refugee

satisfaction levels have been high, with 90% of refugees involved saying that mentoring is a very good or excellent method of integration

Starting as a pilot project in 2002, the campaign’s success has influenced government policy and by 2006 Time Together will be running in 24 locations, and will match over 2,500 refugees with volunteer mentors across the UK.

The expansion of Time Together is being carried out via an innovative social franchising method, with local partners contracted to match 50 refugees a year with a mentor and engage half this number into volunteering.

“When I came to this country it was a totally different world. But having a mentor, it has already changed. I understand more now.” – Walid

“It’s challenged my own assumptions about refugees; negative stuff is drummed into you all the time in the UK and this scheme has countered that for me completely.” – Eleanor

Back to Life is a peer-to-peer mentoring scheme that helps young men recovering from mental health problems to re-engage with society. The project is being piloted in East London, where TimeBank will be working in partnership with the WorkingWell Trust to co-ordinate the referral and training of mentees.

Time of Your Life is a multi cultural peer-to-peer telephone and home visit scheme for disadvantaged older people being piloted in Brent. TimeBank is working with Brent Older People Services, Brent Care Co-ordination Service and other agencies including Elders Voice, Brent Carers Centre and Mission Dine Club, to inspire individuals to get involved with the project and assist older people in need.

Create to Learn is a project that celebrates creativity in schools by developing partnerships between arts students, creative professionals, schools and galleries. These partnerships will deliver dedicated arts projects in schools over an academic year, inspiring school pupils to get involved in the arts. The projects will give younger students the opportunity to engage with the arts and develop their creative awareness, and will support volunteer art students with training, mentoring and gallery association. TimeBank is working in partnership with Arts Community Exchange to support arts students in attaining the Community Arts Leader Award.

Young TimeBank is a campaign that inspires and empowers young people to take action in their communities based upon their own concerns and ambitions. We provide the resources and support to help young people address issues that are important to them through school and community projects. These projects give young people opportunities to take control of issues that affect them and address them constructively, as well as enhancing their sense of self worth, as individuals and as members of their communities.

Since 2003, students have set up a radio station to showcase new talent, campaigned for and established a new local youth centre, campaigned against racism and vandalism in their school and organised fundraising concerts.

“One of the greatest impacts of TimeBank on the students was in making them determined to do more for their school, and for their society.” - Omar El-Essawi, North Westminster Community School upper school student council