How Tempo Time Credits work
What are Tempo Time Credits?
Tempo Time Credits are a time-based currency, one of the largest in the world.
Tempo Time Credits are paper notes (a digital version is in development) with a value of 1 hour in our spend network. Like any currency, you can earn Time Credits, spend them, give them to others, or save them for something special. Tempo Time Credits do not expire, but we sometimes phase out old notes.
How Tempo Time Credits work
Give time
People help out or volunteer in community groups, organisations or services in the Tempo network
Earning Tempo Time Credits
People earn Time Credits as a thank you for their time
Spending Tempo Time Credits
People can spend Time Credits on a wide range of activities, through our national network of spend partners
Who can get involved?
Individuals
Individuals can earn and spend Tempo Time Credits. Everyone has something they can offer to their community. You can spend time doing fun activities with others or learn new skills - without spending money!
Community groups and charities
Community groups and charities can sign up to use Time Credits with their volunteers. It’s an innovative way to attract, retain and thank volunteers, increase engagement in services and maximise community participation.
Businesses
Businesses can sign up to accept Time Credits. It helps them to attract people who haven't visited before and bring in new potential customers, build their reputation with our marketing, stand out from competitors and achieve Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) targets.
Public sector and grant funders
Local authorities, CCGs, housing providers, service providers and grant funders can fund a Tempo Time Credits programme for their area or community. You can improve outcomes for public services and communities, grow volunteering and increase participation to achieve social outcomes, in line with local priorities.
How do people earn Tempo Time Credits?
Tempo Time Credits can be earned in any community group, service or organisation that has joined the Tempo network.
They can be earned for any activity where someone is voluntarily giving their time to support other people or contribute to their local community.
Community groups or services receive Time Credits from Tempo when they sign up to the network.
They then give them to volunteers after they have done specific activities. Visit our Wales and England programme pages to see if there is a programme in your area.
Examples of ways people earn Time Credits include:
Befriending, peer support and buddying
Sharing skills or experiences to improve or design services
Helping maintain or improve outdoor spaces
Supporting & setting up community groups
Administration or office support
Helping run services or activities, such as helping in a café or leading an art class
How do people spend Tempo Time Credits?
How do people spend Tempo Time Credits?
You can spend Tempo Time Credits with any of our partners across the UK, no matter where they were earned. Time Credits can only be spent on activities, not goods.
To spend Time Credits, you usually go to the venue and hand them over at the door. Sometimes you need to book in advance or post them in.
There are often new staff in the venues so it can help to call ahead and explain that you will be visiting with Time Credits. This is usually necessary if you plan on bringing a group of people. There are sometimes restrictions on when you can use Time Credits, or specific booking requirements.
Examples of ways people spend Time Credits include:
Going to an art gallery or theatre
Visiting a cultural or historical venue
Completing a training course
Attending yoga or fitness classes
Having spa or beauty treatments
Going swimming or to the gym
Do Time Credits affect benefits?
Tempo Time Credits is a purely time-based currency and has been defined by the government as having no monetary value. This means that Time Credits can be spent only on time-based activities, not on goods. It also means there should not be any benefits or tax implications to earning or spending Time Credits. There is no payment made by Tempo for the places offered for Time Credits by our spend partners.
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Contact us
Phone:
029 2056 6132
Email:
Address:
Tempo Time Credits
Unit 2
58-62 Cowbridge Road West
Cardiff
CF5 5BS
© Tempo Time Credits 2020. Tempo is a Limited Company Registered in England and Wales: Tempo Time Credits Limited No.06593956, and Registered Charity No. 1135143.