Seattle city council will use participatory budgeting to allocate $30 million to programs that create “true public health and safety”. Residents of Seattle will get to decide over the coming months how to spend $30 million, much of which would otherwise go to the city’s police department. In response to mounting public pressure to divest… Read More
News
Seattle cuts police budget to embrace participatory budgeting
Pembroke Dock Memorial Park project wins funds to develop county’s first disability-friendly play area
The Friends of Pembroke Dock Memorial Park have been successful in their bid for funding from the Cleddau Community Collaboration fund. The local charity has been awarded £2,000, which will be used towards its ambitious three-phase project to install disability-inclusive equipment in the biggest park in Pembroke Dock. 12 local projects applied to the fund,… Read More
Engaging young people in policy-making: Free webinar, 25th November
Organised by CitizenLab, this free webinar will focus on participatory budgeting and other youth engagement work in North Ayrshire Council, Scotland, as well as wider reflections on youth participation in the UK and Europe. To find out more and sign up go to: https://www.citizenlab.co/webinar More information from the CitizenLab website below Engaging young residents in… Read More
Voting in Youth focussed participatory budgeting in Tampere, Finland now underway
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
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
Rebuilding an Active PB Network to promote Participatory Budgeting across the UK
In November 2020 we hosted a webinar on building a more energetic and active network for promoting participatory budgeting in the UK, especially within England and Wales. Over 20 people participated and there was a definite appetite to re-energise the network. Key messages included: Wanting a trusted, accessible place to share ideas, To be able… Read More
Louise O’Kane and Jez Hall interviewed for German PB website
Journalist Stephanie Grimm speaks with Louise O’Kane of Community Places and Jez Hall of Shared Future CIC on behalf of the Buergerhaushalt website, on the past present and future for Participatory Budgeting in the UK. Buergerhaushalt is Germany’s online portal for participatory budgeting and related issues, to enable anyone interested to obtain basic information on… Read More
Global People Powered Hub promotes participatory democracy
People Powered is a new Global Hub to support and champion participatory democracy. Its initial flagship programme is the Global Participatory Budgeting Hub which will work towards improving and expanding participatory budgeting (PB) by addressing the common challenges and opportunities experienced by those who are interested in PB. The PB Hub is a very welcome… 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
