Shmoney - a web-based timebank

[ali303]

Hi,

We?ve just launched a web-based time bank called Shmoney at www.shmoney.org, and we?re looking for people to try it out in East Dulwich.

If you haven?t heard of them before, timebanks are small networks of people who work for each other for time instead of money. Members get a credit in hours ? they earn hours by doing jobs for other members and spend the hours on people doing work for them.

Timebanks are a very easy way of doing odd jobs and favours for your friends and neighbours. And they?re also a way of developing an alternative economy based on local communities, mutual support and skill sharing.

Most timebanks are offline, but because Shmoney is on the web, anyone can join Shmoney. It?s also completely free and non-commercial.

You can also set up your own local group in Shmoney. Groups can be open to anyone or they can be private, so only visible to friends you?ve invited. A Shmoney private group is ideal for managing baby-sitting circles, for example.

The site is launched and fully functioning but it?s still in development. We?re really looking for people to sign up and try it so we can set up an East Dulwich as we apply for funding for the next stage of development.

You can easy sign up here: www.shmoney.org.

But if you want to find out more or need help to it please get in touch at [email protected].

We?re especially interested in existing local groups and we?ll happily visit groups to show how it works.

And we?d love to hear from people who?d like to help us develop Shmoney further.

Thanks - and would love to hear people's views,

[Annette Curtain]

I've just read your post

(you now owe me 4 minutes)

(tu)

[ali303]

Ha, sadly for you, the lowest tradeable unit of time is 30 mins;)

[Annette Curtain]

Did I say 4 ?

I meant 40

:-$

[maxxi]

ali303 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Ha, sadly for you, the lowest tradeable unit of

> time is 30 mins;)

I'll never last the whole 30... (puts on scottish accent) "I'm oot."

[Huguenot]

You want to apply for funding? Who from?

Can't the government put in some hours for you instead? ;-)

[DulwichFox]

Sounds like Bartering..

Perfectly Legal..

Long as you tell Inland Revenue what you are doing..

Fox.

[ali303]

It's not bartering as you have an account of hours that you can pay anyone on the network - not just someone who has done work for you.

Timebanks are not taxable, generally. The basic rule of thumb is that if you use a timebank for work that is ot your main source of income, than it shouldn't be taxable. But if you're a full time plumber and you do plumbing jobs on a tmebank, then it probably is.

We're currently looking for a small grant from trusts and foundations that fund projects that promote community and social inclusion projects.

[RosieH]

Assume you've been to Big Lottery..?

From what I hear, empty coffers aren't an issue for them at the moment.

[ali303]

We haven't been to the big lottery yet, but it's certainly one we're considering.

At the moment we're lookng we're applying for 2 grants: one with Lush and one with NESTA