Community Currency is a great idea that works.

• strengthen community networks
• increase local trade
• protect local economies
• value volunteer effort
• keep people active.

There are several well known models such as Time Banks, Local Exchange Trading Systems, Totnes Pound, Berkshares and Chiemgauer.

Consulting

We specialise in designing community currencies to support and drive community development.

Community development means that the people of a community - a street, an estate, a village, an area, an internet group - agree to solve their problems, meet their needs and achieve their goals. It involves members of a community in organising, participating, contributing ideas and making things happen.

Community currencies provide a valuable tool to community developers to get more people involved in development activities that benefit the community. For instance, they can reward participants for taking part in running community centres and voluntary groups, planting trees, picking up litter, removing graffiti, maintaining spaces, creating community gardens, doing surveys, distributing publicity.

They can bring great benefits to particular groups of people in your community: young people, senior citizens, ethnic or cultural groups.

We use our design methodology to guide you through the key phases of identifying your goals, whom you wish to benefit, the most appropriate currency mechanism, the best governance and management systems.

Training

We offer training that provides value for money and value for people, with follow-up coaching by negotiation.

The New Money Workshop introduces the key principles of currency design. Read the prospectus by clicking here.