trading time ?
a time bank is a kind of exchange club for work : you help each other with tasks or services, and you get paid in 'time credits' : for example, half an hour helping someone move, an hour of piano lessons, two hours of babysitting
it works like a marketplace, but one that's just for help and services : this makes it easier to help each other, in your neighbourhood or even across a whole region : there are already time banks like timebank.cc in the hague, lets in leiden, and makkie in amsterdam
but the problem is : every time bank has its own system, which means you can only exchange within your own group : that's why the workbank is introducing a new exchange currency
worknotes !
worknotes is an exchange currency, like the euro, but based on time : there are notes for 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, or even 5 hours
how does it work?
1 : you help someone with a task
2 : you receive worknotes for the time you spent
3 : need help yourself? pay with your worknotes
worknotes can be used at all time banks, organisations, and businesses that participate
how can i get worknotes ?
what are the ways to get worknotes?
- offer a service : sign up at a local time bank and offer what you can do
- volunteering : help at a participating volunteer organisation and receive worknotes
- buying worknotes : at the workbank you will be able to buy worknotes at the average hourly wage
- a loan : at some time banks you will be able to borrow worknotes and earn them back later by offering services yourself
how can i spend them ?
where do i find people who can help me?
through your local time bank : search the online marketplace for people offering services, or post a request if you need something specific
outside time banks : use social media, neighbourhood apps, notice boards, or ask around with friends and acquaintances : let them know you'd like to pay with worknotes (for example with a link to werkgeld.today)
the plan
we are working towards a future where worknotes are a real means of payment : these are the steps we are taking to get there
phase 1 : reaching interested people
we start with the basics : right now we are designing and producing the first paper dummies : banknotes showing hours and minutes : with these we are looking for partners and supporters :
- time banks that want to join
- a printer : for large-scale production of worknotes
- web designers : to build a digital platform
alongside this, we are forming a core team that will set up the organisation, called werkbank, and guide the following phases
phase 2 : introducing paper worknotes
in leiden we will start the local time bank 'werkbank', and begin issuing paper worknotes : these notes will be available to :
- time banks
- volunteer organisations
- people who want to borrow or buy worknotes for an initiative
phase 3 : digital worknotes from the workbank
we are making worknotes digital too : with our own platform you will soon be able to :
- pay digitally with worknotes at participating time banks, organisations, and businesses :
- find services on the werkbank's digital platform, which brings together the services of all time banks :
- exchange local credits from time banks for digital worknotes
want to help ?
our current team is a small group of initiators and designers : to make this plan a reality, we are looking for more people who want to contribute
want to help ? see below how you can get involved and become part of this innovative project
organisation
do you enjoy making plans, creating structure, or would you like to gain experience in governance ? then come and join our team on the board of foundation 'werkbank'
project leading
elp organise events and actions to put worknotes on the map in leiden's neighbourhoods
website
we are building a digital space where people can offer and find services : are you part of, or do you know a studio that can take on this job ? experience with online marketplaces is a plus, and knowledge of data security is a must
communication
help create flyers, explainer videos, social media content, and answer questions from users : creativity required !
interested timebanks
are you part of a time bank and would you like to join ? are you involved in the organisation of a time bank and interested ? let us know !
an independent printer
for the production of the notes, in an efficient but secure way : just like other currencies, worknotes must be durable and not easy to copy
other talents and ideas
do you have a good idea, or do you just want to pitch in where needed ? get in touch ! there is always room for new energy and surprising contributions
contact
email us at info@werkbank.today
or post: pieterskerk-choorsteeg 12, 2311tr leiden
newsletter
stay posted via the newsletter !
faq
frequently asked questions about the concept
what if you can't spend your worknotes ?
if you do a lot of jobs but don't need much help yourself, you can end up saving a lot of worknotes : what do you do with them ? in that situation there are several options
- you can of course always choose to donate them to others or to the local community (time bank)
- if there is an agreement with a local volunteer organisation, it may be possible to exchange worknotes for a volunteer contribution
- the local time bank may have a scheme to exchange worknotes, for example for euros or vouchers for local businesses
who is behind this initiative ?
worknotes is an initiative of today art foundation : in the 1980s they set up a time bank for the first time, called the werkbank, but back then the time was not yet right : since then the popularity of time banks has grown, and today art foundation wants to give the werkbank a second chance : this time not just locally, but to connect existing time banks with a universal currency, worknotes : to create a solidarity economy where no one ever has to be unemployed : if you want, you can always work for someone and receive worknotes in return
log in
You can already make an account and sign in to our online time-banking platform. Click here to go to the login page.