Issue - meetings

The Board received report setting out the findings of a Mental Well Being Impact Assessment (MWIA) on the Haringey Time Bank scheme.

The MWIA assessed the benefits of the scheme in terms of the mental well-being of residents within Barnet, Enfield and Haringey and would be carried out on an annual basis against two community based projects to determine whether ‘Well-Being London’ funding should be allocated to the projects.

Time Banks provided a mechanism for people to earn ‘time credit’ by giving up their own time in exchange for help. The Time Bank had been established in Northumberland Park as it was recognised as being particularly useful in recognising the assets and skills of members of the community.

It also encouraged community cohesion and independence and reflected both the Council and NHS Haringey’s strategies aimed at supporting community engagement and participation.

There was general support for the Time Bank scheme and it was noted that it provided a good model for community empowerment. The Local Ward Member noted that there were particular challenges in Northumberland Park and that it was a measure of the schemes success that it had been so successfully there.

It was noted that there had been other successful examples of these in London and there was the potential for building on the engagement with the local community and developing the role of the Voluntary and Community Sector further.

The Chair noted that this was particularly timely given the current economic climate. In terms of the implementation and commissioning of the scheme the Chair considered that further work was required to ensure that it was developed properly before it was rolled out.

In conclusion the Chair noted that the Board agreed to the expansion of the scheme in principal. However, it was requested that a further report should be submitted to the Board to providing more detail in relation to implementation and commissioning and the implications for the Council and NHS Haringey.

RESOLVED:

1. That the report be noted.

2. That the expansion of the Time Bank Scheme be supported in principal, subject to a further report being submitted to the Board to providing more detail in relation to implementation and commissioning and the implications for the Council and NHS Haringey.