---
title: How do I start connecting with other communities? | TimeBank Ireland
description: Choose to take part, and decide what partner communities can see about you.
canonical: https://hour-timebank.ie/help/members/other_communities/federation_join
generated: 2026-11-12T16:56:44.015Z
---Connecting with other communities

# How do I start connecting with other communities?

Choose to take part, and decide what partner communities can see about you.

You choose to take part from the [Federation](/federation) page.

## The guided set-up

The guided set-up lets you choose your privacy settings before anything is shared. It is the best way to start.

1. Open the guided set-up. You can also press Set Up Federation when you see it on a Federation page.
2. The set-up is called Join the Federation. It has four steps: Welcome, Privacy, Communication and Confirm.
3. On Privacy, choose what to share. For example, Show my profile, Appear in search and Share my skills.
4. On Communication, choose whether to allow messages and time credit transfers.
5. On Confirm, press Enable Federation.

If you are not ready, press **Do This Later** .

## The quick way

The [Federation](/federation) page also has an **Enable Federation** button. This turns everything on with standard settings: your profile is visible and searchable, and people can message you and send you time credits. Your location is not shared.

If you use the quick button, check [Federation Settings](/federation/settings) straight afterwards and turn off anything you do not want.

[Go to this page](/federation)

## More guides in this topic

[What does connecting with other communities mean?](/help/members/other_communities/federation_what_is_it) [Choosing what other communities see, or stopping](/help/members/other_communities/federation_privacy) [Finding and messaging members of other communities](/help/members/other_communities/federation_browse_message) [Sending time credits to someone in another community](/help/members/other_communities/federation_send_credits)

## Still need help?

If you can't find what you need, get in touch and a person will help you.

[Contact us](/contact)