Carmarthenshire Time Credits Update – trading for 1 year!

Time Credits launched in the Taf Myrddin in March 2013 Carmarthenshire Housing Services The CHS+ has been working in partnership with the charity Spice to create a pilot Time Credit Network, helping to strengthen and build communities as well as diversifying tenant engagement.

One of the main aims of the programme was to engage with a broader range of tenants across the pilot area as well as achieving the CHS+ vision.

In addition to this Spice has also been working with Carmarthenshire Communities First to introduce Time Credits to the communities first areas of Carmarthenshire, as a way of enabling local people to make a difference in their communities and local services and to recognise the value of their contributions.

Time Credits support people to develop their interests and unrealised assets to improve individual wellbeing and build strong and connected communities. The C1st Carmarthenshire Time Credits project will support the work of C1st alongside the new programme addressing the themes of healthy, prosperous and learning communities.

2 networks were established in Carmarthenshire working within the Spice themes of Housing and Community. In December 2012 we merged the 2 networks into 1 single ‘Carmarthenshire Time Credits Network.’ The development and growth of the network has been very exciting and we are celebrating the following at the end of one year…..

• 579 members
• 17581 hours have been given by the community
• 56 group/orgs trading

Carmarthenshire Housing Services are keen to role out Time Credits across estates in the Communities First areas of Carmarthenshire and are also looking at an area approach within the Gwendraith. Community Engagement Officer Maria Evans will be supporting the housing work over the next 12 months.