Participatory Budgeting nominations open this Monday
Posted on 22 Aug 2024
Do you run a local community group which has previously received funding through the Council’s Participatory Budgeting fund? Or, do you know of one who could do with a boost and a little helping hand?
If so, the Council’s Connected Communities team – part of the North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership is delighted to announce that Participatory Budgeting is back!
Nominations open today, Monday, 26 August and there’s £171,377 funding up for grabs!
With the next round of Participatory Budgeting (PB) voting just around the corner (due to commence from October 2024), nominations can now be made for community organisations and local groups looking for a helping hand.
The funding this year will be part of two funding cycles:
- Locality PB: Health and Wellbeing, Building Community Spirit, Cost of Living, Green Projects
- Youth PB: Youth Voice and Rights, Health and Wellbeing, Cost of Living, Green Projects
The criteria and nominations form can be accessed via the Shaping North Ayrshire website: Shaping North Ayrshire (communitychoices.scot) (going live on Monday)
Community and local organisations can apply online until midnight on Friday, 13 September.
Participatory Budgeting is based on an ethos of ‘it’s your money, you decide’. It is a type of citizen participation where local people are involved in the process of deciding how public money - in this case the Council’s PB budget - is best spent.
Rhonda Leith, Head of Service for Connected Communities said: “Our residents know better than anyone else which projects will be the most beneficial to them in their local communities, so it is only fair that they have a direct say on how money is spent.
“Participatory Budgeting does just this, however we are very aware that there will be local community groups and organisations out there who haven’t had the chance to benefit just yet and it is so important to us that we make sure that no one is left behind.”
By getting involved in our participatory budgeting cycle, the Council look forward to working together with residents and the groups supporting our communities to raise their profile, provide support and build a thriving North Ayrshire for all.”
To find out more projects that have been successful in previous funding cycles, check out the Shaping North Ayrshire website #ShapingNorthAyrshire