5-Agency to Client

5-Agency to Client Model

Theory
•    A fiat (closed) credit system, with credits originating from the ‘bank’
•    Initial time audit establishes current level of active community involvement
•    Number of credits available is based in time audit and projections for future involvement

Practice
•    Members earn credits for active engagement in community activities
•    Credits can be cashed in for rewards
•    Rewards are themed to compliment focus of work (e.g. Groundwork’s focus on environmental work means that rewards might be exchanged for garden tools or a trip to Kew gardens).
•    The awards reinforce the theme of the activity and make it possible for future learning and activity
•    Aim is to look at community holistically, not to draw artificial distinctions between community and individual. Therefore a group engaged in communal environmental work would earn credits to be spent on own garden
•    Brochures and leaflets are created to advertise the rewards

Factors for success
•    Community group keen to develop greater community working
•    Organisations and individuals keen to complete active community audits
•    Necessary time and support time available for new groups when developing the approach

Potential Problems
•    Organisation may face difficulties in funding ‘rewards’
•    Project may initially face difficulties in expecting people to ‘pay’ with credits for activities that were previously free
•    Time credits can develop monetary value through comparison with rewards

Examples
Valleys Kids, Wales: focus on working with young people to enable them to earn credits from being engaged in generating community improvements through the ‘Give and Take’ club