Frequently Asked Questions
- How does the REN work?
- What can be exchanged?
- Do we have to pay to become a REN member?
- How do we become a REN member?
- How do I access the REN?
- How do we access the database?
- How do I know the organisation offering the skill is qualified to do so?
- How do I give feedback on exchanges/skills received?
- When can we start the exchange, before or after we have shared our skills?
- How do we request an exchange?
- Can we change what we offer?
- Can we leave the scheme?
- Is there a Post Code boundary for exchanges?
- Are all exchanges face to face?
- Would anyone else see our exchange account?
- Does the organisation have to declare anything to the Tax man (Inland Revenue)?
- Will the REN exchange affect my state benefits?
- What about VAT?
- If there is a problem, where and how do we complain?
- If we are not happy with the exchange, do we still have to pay credits?
- Will there be a monthly statement on our account?
- Can we have more than one exchange at any time?
- How are skills valued?
- Is there a time limit on each exchange?
- Can we exchange the same skills more than once?
- What happens if our account lies dormant?
- Can we "give" only?
- Do we start with zero credits?
- Can we go into negative credits?
How does the REN work?
- CEMVO Scotland will provide and manage a web-based skills database that REN members can search to find the skills and resources they need.
- Every time your organisation shares their skills, it will generate a reserve of credits which you can exchange when you need something.
- It does not have to be a direct exchange of skills and you can exchange your credits for any skills offered on the REN database.
You can also download the guide to using the REN (PDF, 94KB).
What can be exchanged?
- Skills - an ability to do something well that has been acquired through training or experience (keeping accounts, driving etc)
- Resources - something that can be used to support or help people do something (catering equipment, van, printer & copier etc)
- Best practice - the most efficient (least amount of effort) and effective (best results) way of accomplishing a task. It is a way of sharing your successes and help people learn from your experience (training manual, providing support and advice to an organisation setting up a similar project)
Do we have to pay to become a REN member?
It is FREE to all ethnic minority voluntary organisations, social enterprises and community groups.
How do we become a REN member?
- Complete an "Agreement in Principle" form and send it to CEMVO Scotland. The form can be downloaded from the Join Us section of the REN website.
- A REN Development Officer will visit you to discuss:
- What skills and resources your organisation can share through the REN
- What your organisation needs to develop to reach your goals
You can enter the details of the skills you wish to offer onto the database. Once we have some evidence of your ability to provide these skills you will be ready to exchange.
How do I access the REN?
For general information and help, please contact one of the REN Development Officers
- REN@cemvoscotland.org.uk
- 0141 248 4830 (Central Scotland)
- 01463 211 189 (North Scotland)
Otherwise you need access to an internet ready computer. Then you can look at the REN through the CEMVO Scotland website at www.cemvoscotland.org.uk/ren.
How do we access the database?
Once your organisation is registered with the REN you will be given a Username and a Password which will enable you access and search the REN database.
How do I know the organisation offering the skill is qualified to do so?
Before an exchange can be authorised by the REN Development Officers, we will request references and other forms of evidence to confirm skills and resources. We can only carry out basic checks to verify whether a person has a qualification or experience in a certain area. For example, a person may have many years experience teaching maths, but you may not feel that they are a good teacher! In some cases it may be useful to agree a brief introductory session using one credit before requesting a longer exchange.
How do I give feedback on exchanges/skills received?
When you close an exchange on the REN website you will be asked to give the exchange a rating from 1 (not satisfied) to 5 (very satisfied). You should also add a brief comment.
When can we start the exchange, before or after we have shared our skills?
You should request an exchange on the REN database before you share any skills. You can not see the contact details for the organisation offering the skill on the REN database. A REN development officer will provide you with the contact details of the organisation providing the skill. Then you can make contact with the organisation you will be exchanging with to discuss the details of what is to be exchanged and agree how many credits will be exchanged. Once this has been agreed, you can then go on to share your skills. If you change your mind for any reason before exchanging anything, you can ask the REN Development Officer to cancel the exchange request.
How do we request an exchange?
You search for a skill on the REN database and when you find one that you are interested in, you hit the request button or contact the REN Development Officer.
Can we change what we offer?
Yes, you can make the following changes to the skills.
- Edit skills - you can revise the description of skills you have offered on the REN database at any time
- Make skills active/inactive - you can temporarily make skills inactive if you are too busy to take any new exchange requests
- Add new skills - when new skills are entered they are automatically "inactive", evidence needs to be provided to the REN Development Officer before the skill is "active" and appears in the search
- Delete skills - you can delete skills at any time.
Can we leave the scheme?
Your organisation can leave at anytime, but please keep in mind without your participation there will be no exchange!
Is there a Post Code boundary for exchanges?
The project is Scotland wide.
Are all exchanges face to face?
No, they can be carried out via computer/email, over the telephone or face to face.
Would anyone else see our exchange account?
No. In order to view the account you need a username and password linked to the organisations REN account. The username and password lets you see what exchanges you organisation has completed of is involved in and how many credits you have left. It also allows you access to the member"s area of the REN website.
Does the organisation have to declare anything to the Tax man (Inland Revenue)?
REN exchanged credits are NOT a taxable income as REN credits have no market or money value. The REN takes account of the time "exchanged" between participating organisations and everyone"s time is valued equally. REN credits cannot "purchase" goods or services.
Will the REN exchange affect my state benefits?
As there is no direct or indirect economic value placed on the use of time within the REN, the REN and other time banks have been given a Benefits Disregard by the Government.
(Extract from Time Banking UK regarding time banking and benefits)
- Income related state benefits and time banking
Earning time credits is counted as non-remunerative work and does not affect a person"s entitlement to income-related state benefits.
- For participants on incapacity benefit
The situation is slightly different for participants on incapacity benefit because in general, time banking is classed as non-remunerative work rather than volunteering.
- For this reason the "permitted work rules" apply and if the person"s involvement with the time bank do not come within these rules, the incapacity status of the participants will be affected.
- There have been some local differences in how this is administered and we recommend that participants contact their local benefits office and explain their work to them.
What about VAT?
There will be no VAT attached to REN credits.
If there is a problem, where and how do we complain?
CEMVO Scotland cannot provide quality assurance of the end result. You should report any complaints to your REN Development Officer by telephone or email it to REN@cemvoscotland.org.uk.
If we are not happy with the exchange, do we still have to pay credits?
The REN Development Officers will assist the exchange parties to remedy and resolve the situation accordingly.
Will there be a monthly statement on our account?
No, unless requested. You will be able to access your own account at anytime through the REN website to monitor your account status.
Can we have more than one exchange at any time?
You should only have one exchange at any one time.
How are skills valued?
The REN values time, not the skill. Everyone"s time is valued equally where one credit is equivalent to one hour.
Is there a time limit on each exchange?
The timeframe should be agreed by the exchange parties.
Can we exchange the same skills more than once?
There are no restrictions on how often you exchange skills as long as you have sufficient credits in your account.
What happens if our account lies dormant?
If an account remains dormant for more than 6 months a REN Development Officer will contact you to discuss why your account has been dormant and may carry out a new skill assessment.
Can we "give" only?
Of course. You can donate your credits to other organisations or into a general REN account.
Do we start with zero credits?
When a REN account is opened, each organisation starts with 3 credits.
Can we go into negative credits?
Yes, but if your account goes below -2 credits , then you will no longer be allowed to request any more exchanges. The request button will no longer appear next to the skill in the search results until enough credits are earned.
