Photo: Liz Tapner of SELNET meeting Danish Visitors, March 2014 In collaboration with Strategihuset, a Danish consultancy promoting cooperation and dialogue between civil society representatives and public welfare organizations, PBPartners runs regular international learning tours for senior public sector and non-profit leaders. These bring opportunities for sharing knowledge about the difficult changes facing the public… Read More
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International learning visits that drive innovation in Public Services
British Academy report proposes Participatory Budgeting can reduce health inequalities
"If you could do one thing…" Nine local actions to reduce health inequalities is a new report from the respected British Academy for Humanities and Social Sciences. One of its nine proposals is to use Participatory Budgeting (PB) to promote mental well-being in communities. In its report "the British Academy presents a collection of opinion… Read More
Over 1000 residents participate in Leith Decides 2014
For the fourth year in a row numerous local projects have been funded in Edinburgh through the Leith Decides Participatory Budgeting programme. Over 1000 people participated through multiple channels, including postal voting, using local libraries as voting stations as well as at the decision day event. Just under £23,000 was in the pot, with local… Read More
Participatory Budgeting Network’s new Chair asks for your support
At our January meeting we announced Susan Ritchie as the new chair of the PB network. Susan introduces herself below: "A big hello to the PB network from me – it is such a pleasure to take on this role and help take the network forward. A huge thank you to Davy Jones, my predecessor,… Read More
Durham wins LGC Local Council of the Year award
The Local Government Chronicle has named Durham County Council as Local Council of the year at the LGC awards 2014, held in London on the 12th March 2014. Durham was praised for "relations with local businesses, support for SMEs, real progress in community asset transfer and the contribution made to the wider area. This council… Read More
Municipal Journal features Durham Participatory Budgeting
Municipal Journal featured Durham County Council’s exciting work on Participatory Budgeting in its February 20th 2014 issue, highlighting the 19,000 residents who have directly participated in deciding on how to spend over £1.5m on local projects. Since its first PB event in March 2011 the council has hosted 40 events across it’s 14 Area Action… Read More
8th “Best Practice in Citizens’ Participation” Awards
Photo: DVD of a previous submission to the OIDP awards The International Observatory on Participatory Democracy (OIDP) runs an annual award for good practice in local government. The award is now in its 8th year. The award is meant to recognize those innovative experiences and ideas coordinated by local governments in the field of participative… Read More
Canny wi’ Cash – Older People’s Participatory Budgeting
Older People Deciding on Grants for Older People. An inclusive process with the principles of co-production and resilience at its heart. Commenting on the experience, one of the Older People participating said: ‘Our voices are being heard at last.’ As part of Edinburgh’s ‘Reshaping Care for Older People – Change Fund’ Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council… Read More
Values, Principles and Standards for Participatory Budgeting
We have uploaded a copy of the PB Unit’s Values, principles and standards for PB. This was produced with the aim to clarify and embed the values, principles and standards for PB into local initiatives. The full document – called Unpacking the Values – contains tables for PB programme organizers to identify how their initiative… Read More
Participatory Budgeting "thriving" in Trafford
Conservative run Trafford Council have been running Participatory Budgeting small grant programmes for a number of years in a variety of settings. Cllr Karen Barclay, chairman of the South Locality Partnership, commenting in the Trafford Messenger said: “We are really excited about this opportunity to support the voluntary work in south Trafford…the South Locality Partnership… Read More