Building stronger communities through volunteering, participation and recognition
Tempo Time Credits is working with communities across the City of London to create more inclusive and accessible opportunities for children, young people and families to get involved in their communities and shape social action together. Through conversations and co design with local residents, children, young people, families, community organisations and businesses, we are building a programme that reflects the needs, ideas and experiences of the people involved.
Supported by The City of London Cooperation’s Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Fund, the programme builds on over a decade of Tempo’s work in the City, where it has beensupporting communities, organisations and volunteers since 2011.
This new phase reflects Tempo’s strategy to deepen impact in place, working more closely with local partners to create long term, meaningful opportunities for participation. The programme will be delivered in partnership with Hackney Volunteer Centre and a network oforganisations across the City of London.
This new programme will support local people to give their time in ways that work for them, helping to build confidence, develop skills, meet others and feel more connected to the places where they live, learn and spend time. Using the Tempo Time Credits model, people will earn Time Credits as a thank you for the time they give. These can be used on activities, cultural experiences and wellbeing opportunities with Tempo’s recognition partners.
Why this programme matters
Through our conversations and co design with children, young people, families, community organisations and local partners, people told us they want more opportunities to play an active role in their communities and shape social action in ways that feel meaningful to them. They also shared the barriers that can make getting involved more difficult.
These can include:
- A lack of flexible and welcoming opportunities
- Cost pressures
- Low confidence
- Feeling isolated or disconnected
- Limited opportunities for families to volunteer and take part together
Young people and families also told us they want more opportunities to connect with others, build confidence, develop skills and feel part of their local community. At the same time, community organisations are looking for new ways to engage and support volunteers while building stronger local connections and creating more inclusive opportunities for participation.
This programme will help remove barriers by creating welcoming, flexible and community led opportunities that value people’s time, ideas and contributions. Through co design and shared decision making, children, young people and families will help shape activities, volunteering opportunities and social action projects that reflect the needs and strengths of their communities.
By creating more pathways to participation, the programme will support stronger connections, increased confidence and a greater sense of belonging across the City of London.
What the programme will deliver
Youth Citizen Panel
Local young people will help shape the programme through a new Youth Citizen Panel, sharing ideas, influencing decisions and helping design inclusive volunteering opportunities, activities and rewards.
Flexible opportunities to get involved
We will create more than 30 opportunities for children, young people and families to get involved across the City of London, including:
- Community events
- Environmental projects
- Cultural and heritage activities
- Mentoring and wellbeing projects
- Supporting community organisations
Tempo will work alongside local charities and community groups by providing:
- Training and guidance
- Support with volunteer engagement
- Inclusive volunteering resources
- Ongoing one to one support
- Business and community partnerships
We will work with local businesses to support:
- Youth mentoring
- Skills sharing
- Employee volunteering
- Community and environmental projects
Together, these partnerships will help strengthen community connection, participation and social action across the Square Mile.
Already Making a Difference in the City of London
Tempo Time Credits is already supporting volunteers, organisations and communities across the City of London through the existing Time Credits programme.
2025 City of London Impact Highlights
- 469 volunteers engaged
- 17,834 Time Credits earned
- 69 business partners involved
- 1,227 Time Credits gifted
- £267,510 social value generated through volunteering activity
Volunteers also reported positive personal outcomes:
- 67% learned new skills
- 64% felt more confident
- 61% felt less isolated and lonely
- 70% became more physically active
- 66% felt more positive about the future
Supporting organisations to thrive
Tempo currently works with over 40 charity and community organisations across the City of London programme.
Feedback from local partners shows:
- 75% saw improved volunteer recruitment
- 63% reported improved volunteer skills and capabilities
- 75% said their organisation benefits from working with Tempo
- Real stories from the community
- Supporting unpaid carers through Time Credits
Tempo works with Imago City of London to recognise unpaid carers who contribute their time and lived experience through service-user forums.
Carers have used their Time Credits for activities such as cinema trips and river journeys on the Thames, helping them take time for themselves, reduce isolation and feel recognised for the support they provide.
Read more about our impact
Learn more about the difference Tempo Time Credits is making across communities in our latest impact reports.
