The Participatory Budgeting Works Project is delighted to announce that we will be working with and providing support to:
- Rathlin Development and Community Association
- Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Community Planning Partners
- Parent Action CIC, Downpatrick.
The support will be tailored to each project to facilitate the planning and implementation of their PB grant making processes. This will result in practical examples of PB on the ground with opportunities for local people to get involved in shaping and having a say on how resources are allocated in their areas. Each of the projects are excited to be involved and looking forward to the challenge.
On Rathlin, islanders can join in by pitching or voting for an idea that will allocate resources from the Rathlin Manor House, the community’s social enterprise guest house and restaurant. PB is an ideal method to return the benefit directly to the community. This way islanders will decide together how it is used and get stuck in to delivering whatever projects are voted through.
“Communities leading change” will be the focus in Newry Mourne and Down. Two PB events are planned. The first event will be based in the Mournes District Electoral Area and will seek ideas in relation to Rural Isolation, Health and Wellbeing, and Improving the area. The second event will be district wide with a focus on improving the lives of younger people.
Parent Action will focus on “Getting our voices heard” where parents of children, young people and adults with disabilities and long-term health conditions will collaborate with public service staff to explore how public budgets are spent.
Our support partners are PB Partners and The Democratic Society. Each project will deliver the PB processes by the end of November 2018. Participants will capture and share learning from their PB projects to inform and encourage further PB practice across the region. More information on each of the PB projects will be available on the PB Works website as they progress.
PB Works will also be providing support to a number of other organisations to help with their initial developmental plans for a PB process. This includes: Fermanagh and Omagh District Council; Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council; Newington Housing Association and Forward South Partnership. More information will be available soon.
The Participatory Budgeting Works Project is a collaborative effort to raise awareness of and advocate for Participatory Budgeting (PB) across the region. Participatory Budgeting can be described as “Local People deciding how to allocate part of a public budget.” It is a way for citizens to have a direct say in how public funds are used to address local needs. PB is much more than just deciding how resources are allocated. It provides opportunities to engage in non-traditional ways that reach out to people who don’t often have a voice and it can become a celebration of positive action in the community.
The PB Works Project is co-ordinated by Community Places and includes a range of organisations from the public, community and voluntary sector working together to create an enabling and supportive environment for Participatory Budgeting.
PB Works is funded by the Big Lottery Fund through The Building Change Trust.
If you would like to find out more about the PB Works Project visit our website www.participatorybudgetingworks.org or contact Louise O’Kane louise@communityplaces.info
