Spice was established in 2008 alongside Timebanking Wales as one of two outcomes of a 5-year project and follow-on from the Welsh Institute for Community Currencies (WICC). WICC had explored the use of timebanking in addressing deprivation and decline in the Welsh valleys following the end of mining and related activities. Aspects of both timebanking and Welsh cultural traditions were fused into a new model of timebanking, which provided for local communities and their community organizations to establish the needs of the community and organize group activities to meet these. Contributions of time are rewarded with time credits, issued in the form of paper notes. They also organize group events providing opportunities to spend time credits. Private and public partner organizations also donate spare capacities to Spice, which adds to the opportunities to spend time credits. Spice has grown rapidly. It has a highly professional and strategic approach and has played into the needs of policymakers and commissioners. Evaluation was integrated from the beginning, so Spice is able to demonstrate its model and impact.
This CTP describes the Wales Institute for Community Currencies (WICC), which experimented with time banks. A new model of incentivised volunteering and an organisation to promote it emerged from its work, both called Spice.
The CTP describes the establishment of a timebanking project in Blaengarw, Wales, through which a new way to recognise and reward individuals for community service emerged. This paved the way for a new model of timebanking based upon developing a spend network.
This CTP describes the establishment of the Spice organisation as a legacy of the WICC with a mission to develop and promote a new model of time exchange. It describes the rapid early development and ‘professionalization’ of Spice.
This CTP describes the monitoring and evaluation regime at Spice that has contributed to effective communication with policymakers and commissioners.
This CTP describes the first four big contracts of Spice with British local authorities in Wiltshire, Lewisham, London and West Norfolk. Spice partnered with these councils to implement their time credit scheme through the local authorities.
This CTP concerns the supportive policy framework for Spice arising from devolution and from legislation shaping public service delivery in Wales around co-production and prevention: the Social Service and Wellbeing Act (2014) and Wellbeing of Future Generations Act (2015).
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