Voting in participatory budgeting in Tampere, Finland takes place between 1–30 November 2020. The citizens of Tampere can vote for how to invest EUR 450,000 (approximately £400k) for the benefit of children and young people. The project includes 120 proposals. Citizens get to choose and vote for the proposals they want to see happen in… Read More
Themes
The central themes dealt with by Participatory Budgeting
Radio podcasts on Participatory Budgeting (and other democratic innovations)
The Solonian Institute has curated three podcasts on digital innovation, with a focus on using online technologies. Wisconsin based local radio station WORT ran and hosted the series to showcase the true scale of innovative approaches that are now possible to expand the role of citizens in democratic decision-making. Produced by Solonian Institute Managing Director,… Read More
Tackling child poverty in Renfrewshire through PB
Child poverty initiatives implemented by Renfrewshire Council have helped boost the incomes of struggling families in Renfrewshire. Alongside a range of initiatives listed in Renfrewshire’s 2019/2020 Local Child Poverty Action Report was reference to their participatory budgeting initiative, called "Celebrating Renfrewshire – by young people, for young people." The process encourages young people (aged 12-25)… Read More
YOUth Making it Happen in Derry and Strabane
An exciting new youth led and designed PB process has launched this autumn 2020, across the Derry and Strabane District Council Area of Northern Ireland. Over the last few months young people from across the city have been involved in shaping and designing the YOUth Making It Happen! PB process. Mayor Tierney joined some of… Read More
Contributions of Participatory Budgeting to climate change adaptation and mitigation
On the basis of its 2020 thematic priorities, the International Observatory of Participatory Democracy(OIPD) requested a study on climate change adaptation and citizen participation. Prof Yves Cabannes, Urban Planner and activist specializing in urban and municipal governance, and Emeritus Professor of Development Planning (UCL / DPU) pulled the report together. The report describes PB initiatives… Read More
Participatory Budgeting responds to #BlackLivesMatter in USA
Across the USA communities, energised by #blacklivesmatter, have been organising to demand that upwardly spiralling police funding should be tempered and replaced by a system of prevention and community cohesion – the things that matter to citizens. Find out how they have been turning to Participatory Budgeting to do just that. In Los Angeles 50… 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
PB Youth Accelerator: Erasmus+ Pan-European Research Project
PB Youth Accelerator is the working title of a new initiative looking to collate evidence of participatory budgeting involving young people in the community and in schools. This two year research partnership consists of 5 partners from 3 countries. It is lead by Polish foundation Soclab, with collaborators from Field of Dialogue in Poland and… Read More
Youth Leading Change in Newry Mourne and Down
In 2018 Newry Mourne and Down District Council in Northern Ireland had their first experience with Participatory Budgeting and it went really well. They ran two processes under the banner of Communities Leading Change. One for adults, and one focussed especially on young people. Funding was sourced by a partnership including Newry, Mourne and Down… Read More
Our Money Our Planet: New report on using PB to tackle the Climate Crisis
There is overwhelming evidence that we are in a climate emergency. It is of maximum importance that we move on from debating the evidence towards taking immediate action. Given the reluctance of politicians to take decisive action so far this appears to remain a very challenging task. Many people feel a sense of powerlessness, and… Read More
