Agenda item

Medway Time Credits is designed to tackle social isolation through encouraging volunteering and participation. Medway CCG is piloting this approach as part of Involving Medway – a project to improve community engagement in health.

Medway Time Credits was launched in May 2017. This report sets out the CCG approach to the project, the activities undertaken so far and explores lessons and evaluation results from other parts of the country as well as some initial findings from Medway.

The Health and Wellbeing Board is asked to agree that Medway Time Credits should be further explored as a joint opportunity between the council and the CCG to support the key joint objective of improving mental and physical health and wellbeing of Medway residents. This will include:

·         To agree shared priorities

·         To actively support development of the ‘spend’ network, including with Council facilities

Discussion

The report was introduced by the Accountable Officer of NHS Medway Clinical Commissioning Group and by representatives of Spice Time Credits. Delivery of a pilot scheme in Medway had commenced in May 2017. The scheme was a partnership with the Medway consortium, which was a group of voluntary sector groups. It aimed to encourage both regular and one off volunteering. Over 20 groups and service providers had been trained in how they could trade in time credits and how  time credits could be used to incentivise new volunteers and expand existing provision. 10 groups were now active and trading within Medway with 93 volunteers currently registered as time credit members. Over one third of this cohort was new to volunteering. The pilot deliberately focused on a small area in order to develop the service model.

Additional support was being requested to enable reduced price or free  access to Council venues. Consultation events and workshops were taking place to support potential volunteers to become involved. An annual evaluation would be undertaken to monitor the effectiveness of the scheme and the evaluation process would be strengthened.

Spice Time Credits had originally started in Wales and had been operating in England for five years. There had been rapid growth with the scheme now encompassing 16 council areas. Each programme varied to suit local needs.  A total of 35,000 people had earned time credits to date and 1,300 organisations were involved. 78% of participants felt that they could contribute more through time credits, 16% were interested in establishing new community groups, 63% felt less isolated, 49% had made new friends and 19% felt that their mental health had improved.

The Board raised a number of points and questions, which were responded to as follows:

One off compared to long term volunteering and support from Council - There was a mix of one off volunteers and those making a longer term commitment. For some groups, one off volunteering was essential, while for others, a longer term commitment was valued. The key to Spice Time Credits was that it gave individuals the opportunity to give time when it best suited them. Identifying and promoting spend opportunities was a key challenge and support from Councillors in this regard would be welcome.

Work required to earn a time credit and volunteer checks– It was confirmed that an equal amount of volunteer time was required to earn a time credit regardless of the activity being undertaken. This recognised that everyone had something to give. Volunteers were recruited directly by participating organisations. These organisations were responsible for undertaking any background checks required, although the Spice Time Credits organisation was able to signpost organisations to sources of appropriate guidance when needed.

Quality checking – Time credits were not given out for work that was not considered to have value. Participating organisations signed a community partnership agreement and reported back to Spice quarterly. Agreement was reached with each organisation about which activities they would issue spice time credits for and work was undertaken to ensure that staff working in retailers where credits could be spent were aware of the scheme. Updates on the scheme locally were also provided to the CCG.

Linkage with DERiC – Time Credits were seen as being complimentary to the DERiC (Developing and Empowering Resources in Communities) initiatives taking place in Walderslade and on the Hoo Peninsula.

Use of Council facilities – A Board Member was concerned about increasing the use of Council facilities at a free or discounted rate, for those who had earned time credits, given the budgetary pressures facing the authority.In response, the CCG Accountable Officer suggested that use could be made of currently underutilised capacity such as exercise classes that currently had a limited number of attendees. Discussions with leisure providers in other areas had looked at helping them to improve rates of volunteering and supporting people who would not otherwise access leisure services. The Interim Assistant Director of Adult Social Care noted that health and wellbeing promotion and the provision of volunteering opportunities enabled people to feel good about themselves and could reduce the demand for other Council services.

Public Transport Provision – It was acknowledged that availability and price of public transport was a factor in the number of people willing and able to volunteer. There had been some local engagement with transport providers. Council support with providers, such as taxis and community transport schemes would be welcome.

Administration costs of Spice Time Credits in Medway – Administration costs included employment of a Project Manager for four days a week, which would be the responsibility of the CCG. In other areas, full time project managers and partnership managers were employed. The indicative cost was based upon a full programme being delivered across Medway. This would include the development of long term capacity with a view to running of the programme being eventually handed over to volunteers. The forecast staff cost of £90,000 covered employment of the project manager. The Current cost of programme delivery was £75,000 for the pilot. Work was being undertaken to identify people who would benefit from interventions supported by Spice Time Credit supported volunteering.

Council commitments – There was discussion about the commitment being requested from the Council, including concerns that it was not feasible for the Council to contribute financially unless cashable savings were achieved elsewhere. 

Decision

The Health and Wellbeing Board:

i)             Noted the findings from the Time Credits approach nationally and the initial indications from the Involving Medway project.

ii)            As a next step to piloting Medway Time Credits, supported the exploration of spend opportunities from within Council resources, subject to these being cost neutral to the Council.

iii)           Agreed that Medway Time Credits should be further explored as a joint initiative between the Council and Medway CCG.