What activities are Time Bank members involved in? (continued from page 1)
Time exchanges that take place regularly within our Exchange include one member who uses her time helping children with their reading or English literacy skills. She uses the credits earned to attend Tai-chi sessions run by another member. Another member picks up a child from school every week. Another member shares her decoration skills, recently used to brighten the new 'Buddy Bench', and used her credits to get advice from another member offering dance and performance skills. Credits have also been earned preparing tasty snacks for events and one member even shared her IT skills by running workshops for others.

Above left, participants in the Communication and IT Courses having a coffee and snacks at the mini cafe and resource centre. Above right, some of the mums who participated in the Communication and ICT course listening to the children singing for them at a School Assembly dedicated to celebrate the end of the Course.

A group of young people took part in drama workshops, with funds obtained by the Group from Awards for All, to explore the possibility of creating a Youth branch of the Time Exchange. Some of the participants are now involved in the Buddy Bench project. The 'Buddy Bench' and 'Story Telling' initiatives were launched in June 2003, and operate as the children's branch of our Exchange. A team of Years 5 and 6 children selected by their peers School Council became playground buddies or lunch time Story Tellers, giving time to befriend and support children who choose to sit on a specially decorated bench during playtime, showing that they need a Buddy's attention because they are unhappy as a result of a playground incident or loneliness. At the end of term the buddies are rewarded with a special outing.

Future Plans
Future plans for the Whittington Time Exchange include the promotion of further involvement by members of the school community, and the expansion of the network to include members of the diverse communities that live and work in the Whittington and Archway area. Links with time banks in Islington, other school time banks around the country and with the London Time Bank and Time Banks UK networks will also be further developed.