Wiltshire initiative gives credit where its due (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Wiltshire initiative gives credit where its due

9:05am Tuesday 26th June 2012 in Local By Alex Winter

Enterprising pupils got creative while helping to choose a slogan for the new Wiltshire Time Credits initiative at their Children and Young People’s Parliament meeting last week.

Representatives from 14 schools in the Chippenham area wrote and then voted on their favourite slogans at the meeting, and the top four slogans will now be voted on in each school before the final one is decided.

The winning slogan will then be used to publicise across the county the Wiltshire Time Credits scheme, which is an initiative created to reward people for the time they give to their community.

When an individual gives one hour of volunteering, they earn one time credit, which can then be spent in their area.

The scheme is being piloted in Chippenham and Salisbury over the next year.

Judy Edwards, manager of the Chippenham Partnership of Schools, said she backs the pilot scheme.

“The Children and Young People’s Parliament is an effective way for local school children to get involved with community initiatives,” she said.

“By designing the slogan for the Wiltshire Time Credits initiative, they will have a direct impact on how time credits are promoted across Wiltshire.”

Already, a number of organisations in Chippenham are backing the scheme, including the Chippenham Olympiad, Curves Gym, Chippenham Sports Club and the Cause Arts Centre.

One of the places excited to sign up for the scheme is the Kington St Michael Village Shop, which has, since 2007, been owned and run by the village community.

The shop serves not only the community on its doorstep but also the surrounding villages, many of which don’t have any amenities of their own.

Chairman of the shop committee Rick Squires said: “The time credits scheme thanks volunteers who give their time to support the shop.

“We already have a pool of dedicated volunteers and hope that the scheme will encourage more people to join our ranks.”