• Praise for City Trade Society - by Matthew Ford •
The Remarkable growth of a groundbreaking Gloucestershire alternative trade society has been congratulated by Minister of State Lord Falconer.
Established in 1998, the Gloucester based Fair Shares charity, the British version of an American idea, now has six projects in the county and others across the UK. And last week the group’s organisers were honoured by the minister at a reception at No 10 Downing Street.
The Fair Shares scheme works to strengthen communities by building networks of people who donate their time and skills to other members. For every hour spent helping someone, an hour is credit is ‘banked’ to spend on services and skills offered by others.
Martin Simon Gloucester director and founder of Fair Shares was overwhelmed by the rate at which the idea had caught the imagination of the public. "It’s been a long journey in the last three years: We have just entered into an alliance with a network of neighbourhood projects, and as far as Time Banks goes we’ve got our 300th member way ahead of our targets," he said. "The Fair Shares programme aims to remind people of how giving time cements alliances and creates a sense of purpose and promise in communities."
"To have the endorsement of a cabinet minister is a great honour," agreed Mark Gale, chairman of Fair Shares. "It’s another example of the local character of Gloucester being used as a demonstration for communities of the future."
Among those at the reception was Edgar Cahn pioneer of the US project. He said: "Fair Shares has done more in the three years in his country than I have been able to achieve in 20 in the USA. "What’s going on is a real inspiration to the country," said Lord Falconer, who shares responsibility for the Government’s Active Community Unit. "We’re very keen to back it because we are keen for people to contribute to their community. The more people that contribute the stronger it becomes." Lord Falconer has backed his praise with a £49,000 grant from the ACU to Fair Shares, and the New Economics Foundation, to establish Time Banks UK, a nation-wide collaboration. "The Fair Shares initiative reflects the Government’s own vision of increasing community involvement," said Lord Falconer. "There are lots of people in the community who want to give but who don’t know what the options are."
Finishing a tour of community projects across the UK before returning to America, Mr Cahn said: "What Martin’s doing and what Fair Shares is doing is really becoming a National and International showcase. "The people Martin has drawn to him are really making it come alive."
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