Can LETS make it better? A Stirling example

Abstract

This article explores the potential of Local Exchange Trading Schemes (LETS) to overcome some of the barriers to participating in meaningful activity for people with severe and enduring mental illness. The example of Stirling LETS Make it Better project illustrates this potential, and interviews with the members and project workers provide indicators of the reasons for the success of the project. Replication of the success of this project, outside of Stirling, is argued to be achievable if based on these indicators. The struggle for funding is considered to be the key barrier, preventing and discouraging similar projects; indeed, at the time of writing, continuing funding for Stirling LETS is in doubt. The abandonment of successful, innovative projects, once the pilot stage is over, is a besetting fault of many funding streams and an incredible waste of resources. A life in the day would welcome more examples of funding agencies who have tried to tackle this issue.

Citation

Manley, C. and Aldridge, T. (2000), "Can LETS make it better? A Stirling example", A Life in the Day, Vol. 4 No. 4, pp. 3-10. https://doi.org/10.1108/13666282200000028