Press Release
United Response awarded funding for Liverpool and Manchester Timebanking Schemes
15th October 2009
The national learning disability charity, United Response, has been awarded funding to head up two Timebanking schemes in Manchester and Liverpool, bringing together disabled and non-disabled volunteers to share their time and skills on an equal footing.
United Response has received £24,000 in funding from Trafford Council's Innovation Fund and £19,000 from the Liverpool Making it Happen Partnership Board to set up and run the volunteering schemes, which are based on the principle of people 'depositing' time to help others and receiving help back in return.
After volunteering one hour of their time to help someone else in the Timebank, each person receives one credit, which they can then trade in when they need something done for themselves at a future date.
United Response's Area Manager, Alexandra Badwi, said: "What's great about Timebanking is that it's not just for people with disabilities - it's for everyone. Volunteers swap their skills and talents with everyone being valued equally. For example an hour spent helping build a conservatory is worth just as much as an hour spent helping someone follow a recipe.
"People with learning disabilities are often on the receiving end of support. However, Timebanking turns this on its head, providing opportunities for people to be recognised for their individual skills and the contribution they can make to the local community."
United Response is already running a successful Timebanking scheme in Huddersfield, where people with learning disabilities have already given of their time and received help back from others in return.
Steven, for example, volunteered his time to help maintain a local church garden and to deliver leaflets for a local group. He was able to use the credits he banked to 'buy' help with moving furniture when he came to move house.
To find out more about United Response's Timebanking schemes contact Alexandra Badwi at alex.badwi@unitedresponse.org.uk
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For more information please contact Sarah Bartlett or Jaime Gill in the United Response Press Office onemail Jaime.Gill@unitedresponse.org.ukorSarah.Bartlett@unitedresponse.org.uk or call 020 8246 5122 / 020 8246 5237
Notes to editors:
- United Response is a top 100 charity operating in England and Wales, providing a range of support and services for more than 1,500 people with learning disabilities, mental health needs or physical disabilities. We employ over 2,000 people across the organisation and have won many awards for our pioneering work since being founded in 1973.
- Our mission is to enable people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and physical disabilities to take control of their lives.
- Our vision is a society where disabled people are equal participants and have access to the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
- The services we provide depend on each person we work with. We can provide 24-hour support for people with profound physical needs, or just a few hours for those who need less support to live their lives. We can job coach someone into meaningful paid employment. We can provide outreach support for someone with a mental health need or help people who find it difficult to communicate by making information more accessible. The key to our success is that we work with each person to do the things they want to do, supporting them to communicate what they want and tell us how we are doing.