It’s time for a change.

Ten years ago this year, Echo launched in Hackney, East London.

It’s been a fantastic journey since then, experimenting with the concept of moneyless exchange and radical reciprocity, facilitating tens of thousands of hours of skill exchange via our digital platform, hosting hundreds of workshops and events and supporting over 300 budding entrepreneurs via our business support programmes.

So, it’s with mixed emotions that we share with you that we’ve decided it’s time for a change.

From 30th of September 2023, we’ll be putting Echo’s London-based network into hibernation whilst we regroup and work on something new.

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‍A new chapter for Echo 

Over the past ten years, we’ve been lucky to work with some fantastic funders and partners who’ve helped grow what we do, and enable thousands of people to benefit from sharing time and skills using the Echo currency. 

We are incredibly proud of the impact Echo has had to date, but we’ve also recognised the challenges of sustaining our current model in the long term. So, whilst it’s not the end of Echo’s story, we’ve decided it’s time for a new chapter. 

Alongside Civic (who we joined with in 2020), we’ve been working behind the scenes on some new applications of Echo’s technology and philosophy, with a focus on supporting socially driven entrepreneurs in a more global context. 

We’re currently working on a pilot project in Ukraine with Save the Children, and we’re excited to explore how Echo can be a tool for positive change in other locations and contexts in the future. We look forward to sharing more updates with you soon.

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What happens now

The London-based Echo community will go offline from 30th September 2023. You can continue using Echo until that date.

*To all active users: We recommend that you log in and grab any connections and contact details that you need before then so you can stay connected with fellow Echo members, and also save any reviews of feedback that you’d like to keep.

If you need any practical support with this, our team is happy to help - just drop us an email.
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A heartfelt thank you

To the funders who backed us, the many collaborators and partners who worked alongside us, and to the team who’ve worked on Echo over the years and have always gone above and beyond to help the community thrive - thank you. And of course, thanks to all of you - our wonderful members who have made Echo what it is today.

Watch this space for more updates on Echo’s next steps. If you have any questions or would like to share your feedback or memories of being a part of the Echo community, we’d love to hear from you.

The Echo Team x

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