Establishment of objective based on the following guidelines:
Timebanking is a time-based, mutual-aid operational model that encourages reciprocal exchange. Through giving and receiving, participants gain social recognition and acceptance, which fosters a cycle of helping others. This dynamic helps strengthen reciprocal relationships within communities and society at large.
Since 2019, the timebank strategy has gained increasing popularity among projects funded by the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF). These CIIF-funded timebank initiatives have targeted various groups, including retirees, caregivers, women, residents of subdivided units, and those living in outlying islands. However, the implementation of these projects has faced two major challenges: the absence of a localized, evidence-based operational and evaluation framework (such as a community-level social capital measurement tool), and the lack of a professional support network, which limits the effectiveness of timebanking initiatives.
Problem Analysis
Challenge 1:
The Need for Measuring Community-Level Social Capital
While CIIF currently utilizes a tool based on the World Bank framework to assess individual-level social capital, it fails to capture the broader impact of projects at the community level. Given the culturally sensitive nature of social capital, it is essential to develop a localized community-level social capital measurement tool to evaluate the outcomes from a macro perspective.
Challenge 2:
The Need for a Practice-Based Framework
Timebanking originated in the 1980s as a mechanism to rebuild social networks and mutual support systems. Its core values include recognizing time as a social asset, redefining work, promoting reciprocity, building social networks, and encouraging mutual respect. However, existing research has highlighted numerous implementation challenges, such as funding shortages and difficulties in member recruitment. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop a localized timebank framework through a bottom-up approach, engaging both practitioners and participants in co-creating the design and implementation of timebank programs.
Challenge 3:
The Need to Establish a Support Network
CIIF-funded timebank projects currently face difficulties during implementation due to low public awareness of the concept and a lack of support networks for project implementation. The creation of a support platform, composed of experienced timebank practitioners who can provide guidance and technical assistance, would significantly facilitate the planning, promotion, and execution of timebank strategies.
Proposed Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Project
To address the above challenges, we propose the following research objectives and corresponding strategies:
Target 1
Identifying the success factors of time banking strategies in social capital construction projects
Target 2
Enhance the ability of service program implementers to effectively adopt time banking strategies.
Target 3
Establish a cross-departmental collaboration platform to facilitate and support the development of time banking strategies.
Knowledge Transfer Strategies
This project will adopt a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach to promote understanding and engagement in social capital building among community members. The specific strategies include:
Establishing a Project Advisory Group
The advisory group will consist of timebank program practitioners, participants, and experts in social capital and community development. This group will co-create the project by providing intellectual support (e.g., conceptualization of social capital, identification of facilitators and barriers in timebanking) and collaborating with the HKU team to design questionnaires. They will also invite members and organizations from their social networks to participate in the study (e.g., surveys and focus groups). This collaborative model will not only enhance participants' sense of ownership but also raise their awareness of the project’s role in fostering social capital.
Establishing an Incubation Hub
The advisory group will be transformed into a Timebank Incubation Hub, which will continue to promote the timebank strategy and serve as a sustainable support platform beyond the project period. This hub will maintain the project’s momentum, provide guidance for future timebank practitioners, and foster a long-term network dedicated to the development of social capital.
Creating a Project Website
A dedicated website will be developed to promote the timebank strategy and provide resources for participants, collaborators, and the public. The website will introduce the concept of timebanking, outline its benefits for social capital development, and offer implementation guidelines and frameworks. Social workers and other community stakeholders will be able to use these resources to establish their own timebanks and enhance social capital in their local contexts. The website will also serve as a knowledge exchange platform, allowing the broader community to understand the social value of this project and encourage participation and practice.
Objective 1
To identify success factors for the development of timebank strategy in social capital building projects
Objective 2
To enhance the capacity of practitioners to effectively adopt the timebank strategy in the development of social capital
Objective 3
To establish a cross-sectoral collaboration platform to promote and support the development of timebank strategy
These strategies will enhance the recognition of this project as a pathway for social capital building among participants, collaborators, and the public, while also encouraging their deeper engagement.
Project Sustainability
This project adopts multiple strategies to ensure its sustainability beyond the funding period, enabling the timebank strategy to continue delivering impact and expanding its influence.
01
Timebank Incubation Hub
Members of the project advisory group will become members of a Timebank Incubation Hub. Their participation throughout the project—in the development of the community-level social capital measurement scale, the implementation guideline, the evaluation framework, and the project website—has equipped them with sufficient knowledge and practical experience in timebanking. The incubation hub will continue to promote best practices in timebank strategy and provide training and support to social work professionals who are interested in applying timebank models to develop social capital. It will also assist other organizations in adopting the strategy to strengthen social capital in their respective communities.
02
Collaboration with the Social Capital Institute (SCI)
To further enhance project sustainability, the incubation hub will collaborate with the Social Capital Institute (SCI) to extend the application of timebank strategies in Hong Kong. The collaboration will focus on:
-
Knowledge Integration: Systematically consolidating local knowledge on timebanking and social capital to improve understanding and practice in social capital building.
-
Knowledge Transfer: Promoting the transfer of timebanking knowledge and its applications through public conferences and training workshops, thus further advancing social capital development in Hong Kong.
-
Social Network Linkage: Facilitating connections between local organizations and institutions interested in using timebanking to enhance social capital, and linking them with resources provided by SCI and CIIF to support implementation and growth.
03
Establishing a Project Website
The project website will serve as a key platform for promoting the timebank strategy and providing resources related to timebanking—such as its importance, best practices, and key success factors. Individuals and organizations interested in the timebank concept will be able to access these resources for planning and evaluating future projects, helping to ensure the continued adoption of the timebank strategy across different communities.
04
Evidence-Based Evaluation Tool
This project will develop a community-level social capital measurement scale to complement CIIF’s existing individual-level scale. This tool will enable CIIF to assess the impact of future projects on social capital from both individual and community perspectives. Additionally, an implementation guideline will be created based on the research findings, documenting the key facilitators and barriers of timebanking in social capital development. The guideline will offer practical recommendations to help future project managers leverage timebank strategies for building social capital.
05
Timebank Evaluation Framework
Based on the correlation between timebank components and social capital outcomes, the project will establish a timebank evaluation framework. This framework will allow CIIF to evaluate the effectiveness of timebank initiatives in facilitating social capital development.
These initiatives will continue to advance the application of timebank strategies, provide practical support to the field, and foster the sustainable development of social capital beyond the project funding period.
CONTACT US
ADDRESS
90 Bonham Road, Pok Fu Lam Rd, 7/F, Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong
Free Feel to Reach out to us
To identify facilitators of the development of timebanking in social capital building projects
-
Conduct a comprehensive study on timebanking to examine the current application of the timebank concept in Hong Kong and to identify existing timebank initiatives.
-
Carry out a systematic review of existing social capital measurement tools.
-
Organize focus groups and/or individual interviews with program practitioners, participants, and scholars to collect insights into the conceptualization and indicators of community-level social capital.
-
Conduct community auditing in selected “timebank districts” to collect observational data.
-
Use questionnaire surveys and correlation analysis to identify the relationship between various elements of timebank and individual- and community-level social capital.
-
Analyze the data and develop a community-level social capital measurement scale.
To enhance the capacity of practitioners to effectively adopt the timebank strategy in the social capital building projects
-
Hold bi-monthly knowledge exchange meetings with the advisory group to facilitate information sharing and co-learning between the HKU team and practitioners.
-
Organize training workshops to present research findings and promote effective strategies for timebanking to promote social capital.
-
Develop and disseminate a comprehensive implementation guideline for timebank-related projects.
To establish a cross-sectoral collaboration platform for enhancing and supporting the development of timebank strategy in social capital building projects
-
Form a project advisory group consisting of diverse community stakeholders, including timebank practitioners, participants, and scholars with expertise in social capital building.
-
Transform the advisory group into a timebank incubation and support hub during the second year of implementation.
-
Set up and regularly update a project website to promote the timebank strategy and serve as a platform for ongoing knowledge exchange.
