SW LETS 28th June 2003
Palace Gate Centre, Exeter
Present: (Name - LETS group /Other organisation)
Woody N - London LETSlink UK
Rob Follet - Falmouth
Chris Cook- LETSlink UK
Diana - Salisbury
Adrian Estment - Ashley (Bristol)
Michael - Kingsbridge
Madelaine Paats - Exeter
Elizabeth J - Exeter
Alex Lawrie - South Somerset /UpStart Workers Co-op
Michael Colebrook - Plymouth
1. Transition
As this was the first meeting for a year, we reviewed past
history and assessed where we were. The loss of a key activist
had caused a suspension of activity, and the regional level
needs to be rebuilt.
2. Health of LETS
Contrasting reports; some schemes like S Somerset are flourishing,
while others like Kingsbridge are thriving. We shared some
good ideas for reviving LETS schemes, looked at some fundraisers
and popular services, and identified needs for outside support.
Ideas: - Accept disagreement in the core group as healthy
- Respond to local needs - Recruit businesses/organisations
- Regular social events - When setting a rate, cover cash
costs of providing services - Day long events - Build up a
full core group - don't rely on one or two people - Consult
your members regularly - Have a reliable point of contact
- Meet basic needs - Identify 'intermediate labour markets'
- Be mainstream-friendly - Resolve conflicts and controversies
- Internal email group - 'Buddy' with non-email folk - Phone
rounds - Separate lists for work parties /rapid response -
Welcome new members personally
Fundraisers: Workers Beer Co, Local
Authority, Co-op community Dividend, Therapies Dday
Popular services : Therapies, pet
minding, food, electrician, work parties, fast food delivery,
plants, cafes/shops trading partly in LETS, phone calls, plumbing,
optician, printer, hiring tools, car pool, car sales, music
lessons, tuition
Support needs: Involving people with
disabilities - Working in deprived communities - Regional
contact/office - Support conflict resolution - Setting up
IT systems - Regional trading website - Liability insurance
3. CELTS
We reiterated our support for the CELT, while recognising
the need to improve supply, support and admin. Thanks to Rob
for the great website.
4. Timebanks and Co-ops
We discussed the relationship between the established LETS
movement and the fast growing and well funded Timebanks. Some
concerns were expressed about the top down organisation of
some timebanks and their limitations as alternative trading
systems. We noted the close similarities in values and the
clarity they have achieved on the worth of a time dollar.
We agreed the following consensus statement:
"We are keen to work with Timebanks and Timebanks UK
for mutual benefit. Where LETS schemes already have the key
features of a timebank (in particular, the value of the currency
linked to hours) we hope that they will be able to share the
various benefits available to timebanks. While working with
national organisations and funding programmes, it is important
to us that individual LETS schemes retain local autonomy and
self reliance. We are interested in looking at whether a regional
structure can be established that represents and supports
both LETS and Timebanks.

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5. Image and publicity
We brainstormed a number of ideas for developing publicity
both ideas for local groups and possible regional and national
initiatives.
- Leaflet templates help local groups generate high quality
publicity
- see Scottish LETS.
- Free info packs (LETSlink UK have had to charge for them
previously)
- Press releases and photo opportunities
- Publicity via other organisations, eg NEF
- Listings in phone books
- Phone Co-op
0845 numbers can get free entries
- Community websites can be linked to your groups website
- Green Events S Devon
- Free what's on listings
- BGG news, radio, and www
- Use local shop fronts, eg community services, wholefood
shops, Credit Union collection points, Colleges and Schools,
Libraries
- Get the right tags on your website so as to
be visible to search engines (NB seven out of 10 new members
in one SW LETS group joined via the net)
- Social economy lists
- Community Councils
- Local Agenda 21
6. Fundraising
What would we fundraise for? We agreed that this was not so
much of an issue for local groups though they might have specific
projects or relaunches that could get one-off funding eg from
Co-op Community Dividend. We looked more at the possibility
of fundraising at a regional level for a new SW LETS federation
a democratic body accountable to local groups.
Things that were suggested included: Shared
publishing resources - Posters, displays, leaflets - CELT
production - Broker for labour - Training IT for
LETS, ideas for development - Regional contact point - Shared
transport - Travel expenses for meetings -SW LETS gathering
- Mobile development worker - County meetings - Reports, publications,
research - Courses in skills shortage areas - Feasibility
studies for LETS businesses - Networking with agencies, NGOs
- NVQ3 Enterprise for Everyone (a new qualification that could
be gained while being a member of a core group) - Many of
these are one off, project funding which wouldn't make us
- dependent. However, we should be aware that ongoing expenses
can leave us - vulnerable to cuts in core funding. Maybe these
should be seen as - transitional, helping us to get to a position
where self reliance is - possible; or possibly they will enable
us to continually move up to - increasingly reliable sources
of funding.
In any event, there was general agreement that some kind of
legal structure for SW LETS was necessary, and that it should
have a democratic / co-operative structure open to both individuals
and groups. A company limited by guarantee is cheap, tried
and tested; another possibility is the new limited liability
partnership, or the proposed community interest company. We
agreed that we should consult widely, explain why this step
is desirable and look at possible rules and structures. In
order for a large number of SW LETS groups and members to
sign up, we need to show it will deliver tangible benefits.
The approach to be taken to fundraising was left open for
the time being. It might involve a volunteer fundraiser, a
paid fundraiser, a fundraiser on commission, or a bid in partnership
with other organisation where they do most of the work. Some
kind of partnership will almost certainly add to the effectiveness
of the bid (partners might include the Co-op Group, SW Co-op
and Mutual Council, Co-op Support Organisations, Local Authorities
and others). We considered gaining charitable status in order
to benfit from gift aid, and it was felt that it probably
was not appropriate at this stage. Wealthy benefactors were
also suggested as a possible source, but no one knew any.
7. Future events
Our next meeting will be on Saturday 20th September, also
at the Palace Gate Centre in Exeter (NB the final cost for
the room was £26 slightly higher than expected). Alex
Lawrie to book premises. We need to network to ensure a good
attendance: please ensure that this appears in LETS newsletters
everywhere! Bristol are offering to host a SW gathering in
spring / summer 2004. This was broadly supported by the meeting,
though it was noted that we were a far from representative
group.
There may also be a national camp next year in the SW; LETSlink
UK are looking into options.
Written by Alex Laurie and
circulated on the Southwest email list on
Wednesda, 02 Juy 2003 12:28:10 +0100
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