Welsh Government Minister sees time banking at work in Carmarthen

A Welsh Government Minister has visited Carmarthen to meet tenants using a time banking scheme.
Deputy Minister for Farming and Food Rebecca Evans AM met residents of the Taf Myrddin Tenant Network.
Time Credits in the Taf Myrddin area was originally funded through the Innovative Communities Project, part of the Rural Development Plan 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
In partnership, the TMTN and Carmarthenshire County Council Housing Services enlisted the services of Spice, who possess a wide knowledge and experience in setting up effective time banking schemes to pilot the scheme in Rural Carmarthenshire.
Tenants who take part in the scheme by volunteering are thanked with credits to access a wide menu of events, training and leisure services.
On arrival, the Deputy Minister was welcomed by Cllr Tegwen Devichand, Deputy Leader (Housing), and Cllr Jim Jones, executive board member for environment and public protection. Following an introduction to Time Banking by Ben Dineen, Head of Wales Programmes at Spice Innovations, Rachel Gegeschidze, Spice Time Credits Facilitator in South West Wales, introduced a panel representing tenants and local organisations who spoke passionately about their experiences and the benefits that Time Banking has brought to them.
Before departing the Deputy Minister spent time with other residents, sharing stories of their Time Banking experiences with her.
Cllr Tegwen Devichand said: “The Time Credit scheme is so positive and I’m impressed with the difference it is making to people’s lives. It is a way of rewarding volunteers for the good work they are doing, work that we really appreciate.”
The Deputy Minister added: “The RDP enables us to fund activities like Time Credits which directly support our rural communities. This excellent scheme brings people together who might not normally meet and offers them the chance to enrich their community through their own good deeds.”