A new era in volunteering is being given a pioneering zing in Wisbech with a programme called Spice.

The time credit scheme is being launched for the first time in Cambridgeshire with a pledge that for hours volunteered they can be exchanged for credits to use leisure facilities like the Light Cinema or New Vision fitness.

The ground breaking scheme, called Spice Time Credit, is launched in the town on Thursday November 13 as a project to encourage people to help their community.

Rosie Farrar, head of communities and housing England at Spice, said: “Time credits are a great way to recognise volunteers for the time, skills and value and support they give to communities.

“By giving their time so generously, local people are becoming more involved with their local community and developing new skills in the process. “This could be by volunteering in a local community group, gardening on the local estate or helping with an after school group or delivering a service such as the local library.

“I’ll be working with local people and community groups to design and develop the scheme in the coming months so that time credits really work for the local community.”

The programme is being run by Spice, a social enterprise specialising in time credits and is funded by Cambridgeshire County Council and CHS Group.

Volunteers involved in the launch will run workshops and sessions sharing their skills. Activities include hosting arts and crafts workshops in Somers Road car park on a special green bus where local people can get creative and help create a Wisbech Hero at a drawing workshop in the Horsefair. All activities run from 9.30 - 11.30 am.

Booking is essential by contacting Annie Moulds anniemoulds@justaddspice.org.

Wendy Lansdown, community engagement programme manager, said: “Time credit schemes have been shown to have a real impact on communities throughout the country where they’ve been introduced. They mobilise volunteers to help improve where they live and to make their communities more vibrant.”

Other partners involved include the Orchards Primary School, the Ferry Project, Wisbech Children Centres and the Spinney adventure playground.