In a blog published on the 25th September 2020 on the Involve website Jez Hall argues that in times of crisis we need more participatory budgeting, not less. Reflecting on the style of leadership we need to build back better in times of COVID19, he argues that whilst the temptation is for government to use… Read More
The hidden opportunity of the climate crisis: Participatory democracy and people powered change
In our latest guest blog Alan Budge discusses his feelings about the climate emergency, sees some rays of hope, and offers some ways forward. I am worried. The climate crisis is, to my mind, very real, and very scary. In the final analysis (hopefully not too prophetic a term) it matters more than anything else;… Read More
Does Participatory Budgeting always require a vote? Blog by Jez Hall
There is a very real desire to make Participatory Budgeting more deliberative and thoughtful. One of the concerns about voting is that it doesn’t force people to think through the options. That PB needs more deliberation. Nevertheless Jez Hall of PB Partners/Shared Future CIC argues that the vote is crucial for legitimacy and trust within… Read More
No, People Aren’t Too Dumb for Democracy: Blog by Roslyn Fuller
In the latest in our series of guest blogs Dr Roslyn Fuller, of the Solonian Democracy Institute considers whether we have misread the public’s ability to make decisions. She argues in defence of democracy and trusting ‘ordinary’ people. I have been researching democracy for over a dozen years. During that time one of the… Read More
What is Democracy Anyway: Why voting systems matter in Participatory Budgeting
In a world seemingly dominated by elections and talk of confirmatory referenda, and when we are so used to ‘first past the post’, probably quite a lot of people were confused as to how the EU election voting process worked. Was it fair? Did my vote count? Did the right outcome result? It feels timely… Read More
Mapping and Ideas Generation. Visualising Participatory Budgeting
In a short blog by Jez Hall, of Shared Future/PB Partners, he looks at the role of mapping and data visualisation as an innovative way to extend the reach of participatory budgeting and put communities ‘on the map’. Much debate exists in the ‘civic tech’ world about which platform or technology best supports participatory budgeting…. Read More
Speke Up – Participatory Budgeting in Merseyside 2019
Dr Andrew Fisher connects strength based engagement and participatory budgeting. Find out what happened at Speke Up – Tackling Serious and Organised Crime Through Strengths Based Engagement in Speke Merseyside, a project led by MutualGain. “There is evidence that suggests a strong correlation between low social capital and high levels of crime and disorder. High… Read More
Our Money, Our Planet. Participatory Budgeting and the Green New Deal
In a new blog featured on the Shared Future CIC’s website Alan Budge connects PB and climate change. We feature some highlights below. Participatory Budgeting(PB) enables people to make their community better, starting with issues that concern us all. The biggest concern we face as a society is climate change. In August 2018, Greta Thunberg,… Read More
Pushing at the limits: Participatory Budgeting and prisoner rehabilitation in Canada
Jez Hall writes about how PB can push the limits of empowerment to the most unusual of suspects. One of the amazing things about Participatory Budgeting(PB) is how it can push boundaries and break down walls. Even the walls around the criminal justice system? A step too far? Whether its in empowering young people by… Read More
Everyone is a winner: Blog from the Scottish Recovery Network on Participatory Budgeting
Communities working together to have a direct say in how public money is spent is important… SRN’s latest blog from Holly Hendry, Network Officer for the North of Scotland, explores her experience and input into #YouChoose3, a local funding opportunity supported by recovery themes. Between October and December 2018, along with Moray Wellbeing Hub Holly… Read More
