Communities Leading Change – Mournes DEA

PB theme or issue

The PB process was a way to extend democracy and increase civic engagement by giving people in the district a say on allocating funding to address issues that mattered most to them. Priority areas were identified through the Community Plan – ideas to positively impact on Rural Isolation, Mental Health and Emotional Well-being and Improving the area.

PB eligibility criteria

Safe, Legal and Feasible within timescale and budget

Age to vote

No lower or upper age limit - just able to attend and read/write

Number of votes

3 votes - 1 vote per idea

Example of winning ideas

Six out of the nine projects who pitched their ideas were successful:

The Ladies of Mourne: Cultural Trip to Stormont
MYMY: Updating their multipurpose and crisis room
Advocacy VSV: Finishing their website and promotional leaflets
Atticall: Youth Participation Project
ARK Community Gardens: Winter Market
Newry Street Unite: Big Community Quiz

Top three tips from the organisers

Design your process to be exciting, creative and fun!
Try out different types of PB approaches e.g. thematic or area based to see what works best for you and learn from the process
Develop a strong partnership approach in planning and delivering the PB process to enable greater reach and impact