TWO Ellesmere Port firms have signed up to a council-backed scheme to help improve the wellbeing of older people and reduce loneliness.

Tenpin Cheshire Oaks and the Holiday Inn Ellesmere Port now accept Cheshire West Time Credits as part of a community scheme funded by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Tempo Time Credits are a national community currency that supports organisations and community groups across England and Wales to deliver Time Credits. Time Credits are earned for time contributed to a community group or service.

These Time Credits can then be spent on accessing activity across the scheme's national network, such as local attractions, training courses or leisure, or gifted to others.

Cheshire West Time Credits recognise local residents, like Wayne, for the time they give to local initiatives that help combat loneliness.

Wayne said: “I earn Time Credits for helping out in the kitchen at the Port Grocery. I help cook and prepare the food for Wednesday Welcome, a free lunch that we provide for around 200-300 members of the community every Wednesday.”

The Port Grocery CIC is a community project based at Trinity Church in Ellesmere Port.

Jenni Moss, its director, said: “People come here to have their needs met. Through the café and the community shop, we provide a space where people can come and connect with others and build a sense of community.”

Each month, Jenni hands out the hard-earned Time Credits to volunteers as a thank you for the time they give supporting the project. The volunteers can then spend those Time Credits on access to activities and experiences at local and national venues.

In Ellesmere Port, Time Credits can be exchanged for games of bowling, Sector 7 Lasertag and ping pong at Tenpin Cheshire Oaks or access to the gym, swimming pool and sauna at Ellesmere Port Holiday Inn.

Wayne added: “Spending Time Credits has been amazing. So far, I’ve spent mine using the gym and sauna at the Holiday Inn. I’ve been saving some up to take my kids to GoApe in Delamere Forest.

“Time Credits are great because they get people out of the house that wouldn’t usually be able to afford it. I know lots of people have been spending Time Credits to take their kids out.

"It’s a really positive message for the kids to see that good things come from doing something positive in the community.

"With Time Credits, there’s the double benefit. The benefit to the community and then the benefit to the people and families who get to go out and enjoy positive experiences."

Jenni added: “For some people, spending Time Credits is the only chance they have to do activities outside of their volunteering.

“We’ve actually seen physical health improvements for our volunteers.

"One of our members recently lost his son and it’s been really tough. He said Time Credits have given him and his wife the opportunity to focus on something else – they’ve been going to the gym and getting fit!”

Time Credits have also been used to support people experiencing homelessness and other difficulties.

Liam Mongey, group leader at Chester City Mission, said: “We recently took a group of lads and girls bowling at Tenpin."

Chester City Mission provides a café and space for homeless and vulnerable adults to develop a support network. Some of the members had been earning Time Credits for helping out in the café.

Liam added: “We had such a blessed time. Time Credits have added a whole new dimension to what we do with the people we see week in week out. They were so thankful for the opportunity – one girl had never been bowling before.

"We want people to feel connected with the real world again and this is a piece of that work, so thank you so so much."

Tempo is committed to making local partnerships that really work for local volunteers and organisations.

Melissa Kerr, general manager of Tenpin Cheshire Oaks, said: “We are really happy to be working with Tempo Time Credits and supporting this scheme which promotes working together as a community.

"It’s a great opportunity for us as a local business to recognise the contribution of volunteers to the local area, and giving people who may not otherwise have used our facilities the chance to experience what we offer.”

Matt Knight, general manager at the Holiday Inn Ellesmere Port, added: “We love being part of the Time Credits scheme, it allows us to a say small thank you to our local volunteers who do so much work to help people in our area.

"Giving people somewhere to relax and enjoy the surroundings is just a small thing we can do to help.”

Accepting Time Credits is a no-cost opportunity to turn an organisation’s spare capacity into a real advantage.

Any organisation interested in accepting Time Credits can find out more by emailing helen@wearetempo.org.

For more information on Tempo Time Credits and the Cheshire West programme, visit www.wearetempo.org.