Local Exchange Trading Schemes (LETS)
LETS LINK UK are a Local Exchange Trading Scheme. What is a local exchange trading scheme? Basically it is a community based mutual aid network, where people exchange goods and services without involving money. Anyone can join, businesses and charities as well as individuals.
LETS Link UK began in 1991, during the terrible recession, when people got together to help each other, and the program has grown from there. Suppose you are good at something - say accountancy. You register with LETS and tell them you are available to do x hours of book-keeping for people. If someone takes you up on the offer, you are allocated LETS points for your work which you can then go and spend. Say you have a plumbing emergency - you look up the LETS network where you are and seek a plumber who can do the work for you.
Some small towns and villages in the UK have taken LETS to heart and allow you to spend LETS points in the village shops.