Penrith and District LETS began in autumn 2000 The scheme has grown steadily and now has over 70 active members.
LETS stands for ‘Local Exchange Trading System where goods and services are exchanged without the need for cash. Anyone can join with membership costing between £4 and £10 on a sliding self-rating scale (more info on this when you actually decide to join).
On joining LETS, each new member is issued with a current directory of members offers of goods and services. New members are encouraged to look at an ‘inspiration list’ to help them decide what to offer. The categories include:
- Home &r Domestic
- Food & Clothing
- Arts & Crafts
- Building
- Gardening
- Accommodation
- Interior Design
- Transport
- Office skills
- Languages
- Health & Beauty
- Child & Elder Care.
Once a member has decided what to offer, their offers are included in a newsletter then printed in the next directory. A newsletter goes out to all members five times a year informing them of social events as well as new members and offers and wants.
LETS is not a barter system so you don’t need to carry out direct exchanges of goods or services. Each member receives a LETS cheque book to pay for goods and services where the currency is the currency of the LETS group. Penrith LETS currency is the Asp. Asps aren’t minted or printed, you can’t hold one in your hand, they exist only in the LETS accounting system. Accounts are sent out by the treasurer and members can phone in and ask to know their balance at any time.
The scheme is administered by a core group committee which includes a currency treasurer, an Asps treasurer, a newsletter editor and a publicity officer.
Statistics show that a high percentage of the membership is actively trading. Unusual trades have included provision of salt dough for a children’s party and a team blitz- cleaning a house before a wedding. We are pleased that the scheme also offers practical skills, such as mechanical engineering and bricklaying.
Social events have included guided evening walks, one looking at the history of a town, the other at edible flora of woodland; a cheese and wine evening; and an international circle dance. Five times a year there is a “Tea & Trade meeting, a chance to socialize, have a cuppa, catch up with what’s happening, and of course trade your own goods or advertise your Services,
“Tea & Trade” meetings are usually held on Saturdays at the Penrith library (ground floor). Anyone is welcome to drop in and find out more about LETS. Check out the events section of the website for information about the next “Tea & Trade”
For further information please contact Membership Secretary details are in the contacts section.
Penrith and District Local Exchange Trading Scheme has a constitution. If you would like to see this, or receive your own copy, please contact the Membership Secretary.
