What is the potential for community currencies to deliver positive public health outcomes? Case study of Time Credits in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, UK
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Authors
Burgess, Gemma
Journal Title
International Journal of Community Currency Research
Publisher
Research Association on Monetary Innovation and Complementary and Community Currencies
Volume
21
Pages
19-32
Type
Article
This Version
AM
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Burgess, G. (2017). What is the potential for community currencies to deliver positive public health outcomes? Case study of Time Credits in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, UK. International Journal of Community Currency Research, 21 19-32. https://ijccr.net/past-issues/vol-21-summer-issue-2-pp-19-32/
Abstract
There is evidence that increased levels of community engagement and social participation can improve population health. Community currencies such as Time Credits are one way to support and encourage people to be more involved in their local community. As a result, they have attracted investment by local governments in the UK, with the hope of finding new ways to work with deprived communities, improve individual outcomes that lead to better health, and reduce the use of public services at a time of financial austerity.
The aim of this research was to evaluate the health related outcomes of volunteering through Time Credits in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. The conceptual model developed during the research shows how Time Credits were expected to influence some of the social determinants of health and, by doing so, enhance health outcomes and reduce health inequalities. This in depth empirical study shows the potential of such activity to support pathways to better health, but equally demonstrates the challenges in quantifying such outcomes and in evidencing any reduction in the use of public services as a result.
Keywords
time credits, public health, volunteering, inequality, social Isolation
Sponsorship
The research was funded by the NIHR School for Public Health Research (SPHR) Public Health Practice Evaluation Scheme (PHPES) which operates in collaboration with Public Health England. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.
Funder references
Department of Health (via National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)) (unknown)
Identifiers
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/267978
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