TIME banking - a new volunteering scheme that enables people to share their time and skills with others in their community – looks set to catch on in March.

More than 100 people showed an interest in the Time Bank March project when it went on show in the town’s market place on Saturday. Five people signed up on the spot and another 72 took away information packs.

Others joined in some Olympic-themed table top games and a children’s colouring competition.

Two Fenland District Councillors from March – Trevor Quince and Kit Owen – came along to show their support. Cllr Quince said he was thinking of joining the scheme and Cllr Owen said: “It was good to see the numbers who were taking an interest and hopefully many people with a whole range of skills will get actively involved.”

Time Bank March is a project funded by Fenland District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council. It offers local volunteers the opportunity to swap their skills with others in their area.

Membership is free and members can “deposit” their time in the bank by spending an hour or two doing something for another member of the scheme. They can then “withdraw” time credits when they need something done themselves. So one hour of time given gains you one hour of credit.

The credits can be used for all sorts of activities including cooking, dog walking, DIY, filling in forms, surfing the net, gardening... whatever members want.

• For more information call Julie Randall, community support worker at FDC, on 01354 654321 (e-mail jrandall@fenland.gov.uk) or Stephen Drew, project coordinator, on 07747 472469 (e-mail steve.drew@fenlandvc.org.uk).