Spice

Spice began life as an institute within the University of Wales, Newport. Over a 6 year period the community credit systems developed became increasingly successful in achieving neighbourhood cohesion and engaging people in community services. People can earn credits by engaging in community and public service activities which they can then ‘bank' and put towards ‘buying' other activities.

The Spice projects have impacted on the health of the local communities through direct engagement in healthy living activities and indirectly through general engagement. Spice Credit projects affected health through increased attendance and involvement in local food co-ops, salsa classes and health support groups. In the Cardiff based housing projects participants of the time banking projects have been able to access local health facilities with
time credits.

The Time Credit projects have strengthened the networks in the community and fostered better relationships between the generations. This has been achieved through both the collective participation and through the celebration of the time given. Through the events, trips and activities new social networks have merged, for example in Blaengarw a new ‘knit and natter group' group was formed after people discovered at a bingo event that they shared the love to knit, "I've been coming to events in this hall for 20 years - I've grown up
with it...now it has become a bustling community centre again".

There is strong evidence to indicate that the increased engagement of people in communities and in particular young people has resulted in a reduction in petty crime and anti-social behaviour. "The Police have recorded a 17 per cent reduction in Crime (mainly anti-social behaviour) over the past year, in particular anti-social behaviour within Bettws, since the introduction of the youth time bank into the Boys & Girls Club".