Jez Hall of PB Partners is running a workshop at this year’s Consultation Institute annual conference on the 22nd October 2014, at the America Square Conference Centre, London. The conference, entitled "The Power of the People", is one of the most high profile events in the UK consultation world. Speaking in the workshop section on… Read More
England
What's happening in Participatory Budgeting across England
Byker Community Trust allocates £140k for community initiatives in 2015
Byker Community Trust (BCT) is a registered Social Housing provider in Newcastle, created through a community led stock transfer of 1,800 properties in 2012. On Sept 12th 2014 submissions closed for community based projects that will be funded in 2015 through participatory budgeting (PB) . The funding is aimed at making Byker a better place… Read More
Tulse Hill Community Led PB programme for reducing fear of crime
The votes have been counted in Tulse Hill’s first PB event. Eight pots of £400 were awarded as part of a program aimed at reducing the fear of crime. 80 local residents turned up to vote for 13 groups. The Tulse Hill Together Project was organised by the Tulse Hill Forum and funded by Lambeth Council. It… Read More
You Say, We Pay… Participatory Budgeting in Stockport
In 2010 Stockport Council began using Participatory Budgeting(PB) in neighbourhoods such as Brinnington. This short film records some of the early processes they used, and the positive reactions of local people. In later years Stockport Council has continued to use PB in a variety of ways, including with businesses and in other localities. To find… Read More
Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner mobilises 700 residents to get involved
Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner John Dyer recently trusted residents of Grange in Runcorn with part of his budget, and the results have paid off. In a recent press release it is reported… The ten projects with the highest number of votes by the community of The Grange in Runcorn were announced at a packed… Read More
TravelSMART funds £1m of community transport projects in Surrey
Surrey County Council have been using Participatory Budgeting to share £1m of funding between various communities in Surrey. The aim of the TravelSMART community funding is to make the county a better place for residents, by improving public transport, encouraging cycling and cutting carbon emissions. Harris Vallianatos, Sustainable Transport Officer at Surrey County Council recently… Read More
PB Partners joins the Big Local spring roadshow
PB Partners will be presenting workshops on community led PB as part of the upcoming round of Big Local Trust Roadshows. Participatory Budgeting has been used successfully in a number of Big Local groups, from Devon and Cornwall in the South West up to Oldham in the North. As part of an ongoing connection with… Read More
Rusholme residents vote in Manchester City Council funded U-Decide
As reported in the Manchester Community Central e-bulletin, Manchester City Council have money to invest in the Rusholme area to support projects that will benefit the local community.Groups may submit an application up to a maximum value of £2,000 and all project ideas must benefit the Rusholme Community. Project ideas must be submitted by 23… Read More
Your Community, Your Health, Your Voice in Southampton
Your Community, Your Health is a health themed participatory budgeting project in Thornhill, Southampton. Thornhill’s Community Health Group, comprising residents and agency representatives from Southampton City Council, Southampton City PCT and Thornhill Plus You, oversaw an annual funding stream provided by the PCT to tackle health inequalities in Thornhill. They first explored the idea of… Read More
Building relationships through Participatory Budgeting – Newcastle’s experience
In early April 2014 the Open Democracy Project published an interesting and informative article on Newcastle’s long running UDecide programme. Alison Lamb from Newcastle City Council was interviewed by Participation Now researcher Hilde C. Stephansen. A short extract is given below. "the benefits that we always cite in Newcastle are about increasing confidence and trust… Read More