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my only experience of a lets system in yorkshire was that it was very much a system that did nothing to break down beliefs about the monetary value of your labour and perpetuated massive differences (usually class) - an hour of your work if middle class 'professional' was valued higher than an hour of your labour if not, it was just a parallel economy. And even though not strictly 'currency', the benefits system got wind of it and started to class it as income, cutting benefit levels if they knew you used the scheme... not sure that's what you wanted, but it's an experience of the system, so thought i'd share it. julia > Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 16:26:04 +0100> From: [log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] Complimentary currency> To: [log in to unmask]> > Hi John,> There's an online document by Sidonie Seron (1995) at > http://www.gmlets.u-net.com/resources/sidonie/home.html#table> for more information about the Manchester LETS scheme Penny referred to.> There is an email address also at the bottom of the contents page, but> as it's an old document I don't know if it would still be functional> Best wishes> Rhona> > > -----Original Message-----> From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John McGowan> Sent: 09 October 2008 15:16> To: [log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] Complimentary currency> > Thanks Penny,> Very interesting. My understanding is that LETS are one form of> complimentary currency. Its on my mind as the town where I live (Lewes> in East Sussex) has recently launched a well publicised scheme (I read> something about it on Bloomberg the other day so I think it could be> defined as a publicity success) involving locally printed money. I've> been a bit sceptical about the economic benefits for all sorts of> reasons but can't seem to find any systematic analysis of the successes> of these sorts of initiatives. > > I'd was thinking perhaps they might (in principle at any rate) be> something that was potentially socially including. Reports I've dredged> (in a not very systematic search) up really vary. There seems to be some> stuff suggesting that they can break out of the middle class cliqueyness> you pointed out circumstances where people are down near subsistence> level living. I'm wondering about circumstances where these do seem to> be a form of community building.> > John> > Dr John McGowan> [log in to unmask]> > > -----Original Message-----> From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Penny Priest> Sent: 09 October 2008 13:46> To: [log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] Complimentary currency> > Hi John> Do you mean like LETS schemes - Local Exchange Trading Systems?> If so, experience, views...> My partner is on our local LETS scheme - here we have the Clee, named> after a big local hill. That aside, some time ago when I was pondering> what to do for my doctoral research, this was one of the first things I> considered. I was wondering about what LETS schemes might offer to> people being seen in mental health services. I was thinking about how> for some people, they were not feeling up to working and had few> resources and social contacts, perhaps, as a knock-on effect. I was> aware that some days they might feel up to working and therefore could> trade their work on these days, but they would dictate and choose what> work they got involved in, etc, rather than some shit, oppressive> workplace. I was also thinking about the possible social> inclusion/networking element. So I started asking a few people already> in schemes what they thought about this question (the question being> something like, what could LETS offer to people using mental health> services?). I also discussed this quite a bit with Jim Orford as he was> supervising my research at the time. Basically, what seemed to emerge> was that the people I spoke to felt these schemes were quite middle> class and quite clique-y, and that often what would happen, is that> particular people would connect with other people like them and them> pull out of the scheme and support each other - which might be good but> they had the feeling that this left some people quite marginalised. I> wasn't able to find any literature other than the internet threw up> something about a LETS project with people who use mental health> services, I think it was near Manchester, or somewhere. It's probably> still in cyberspace.> Penny> > > > > > Hi,> > I wondered if anyone had any experience of, or views about, or > > references on complimentary currencies in local communities. (Stuff > > like the Brixton Brick project or the Totnes Pound).> >> > Many thanks for any thoughts.> >> > John> >> > Dr John McGowan> > [log in to unmask]> >> > ___________________________________> > COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the> UK.> > To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website:> > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK> > For any problems or queries, contact the list moderators: Rebekah > > Pratt> > ([log in to unmask]) or Grant Jeffrey ([log in to unmask])> >> > > -----------------------------------------> Planet Ink Club is a great way to save money and help the environment.> Join today (http://www.planetinkclub.com)> > This message has been scanned by Supanet for viruses and dangerous> content using ClamAV and SpamAssassin.> > ___________________________________> COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the> UK.> To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website:> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK> For any problems or queries, contact the list moderators: Rebekah Pratt> ([log in to unmask]) or Grant Jeffrey ([log in to unmask])> > ___________________________________> COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the> UK.> To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website:> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK> For any problems or queries, contact the list moderators: Rebekah Pratt> ([log in to unmask]) or Grant Jeffrey ([log in to unmask])> > > > DISCLAIMER: This e-mail and any attached files are confidential > and may also be legally privileged. 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