Image courtesy of Hackney CVS website
A new PB programme in London is seeking to give older people greater influence over the services they receive.
Through the Connect Hackney Ageing better programme, funded by a £5.8m grant from the Big Lottery organisations looking to reduce social isolation among older people will put forward ideas that will be chosen by older residents of the London Borough.
Coordinated by Hackney CVS, and supported by PB Partners the scheme is looking to improve the lives of elderly people, either by offering new services or by delivering existing services in new ways.
As reported in the Hackney Citizen, Shirley Murgraff, chair of Connect Hackney’s steering group said: “It’s a more democratic system. Participatory budgeting involves people, making them know more about what’s going on but also making them feel a kind of ownership of a really good service that’s going to help older people.”
Any Hackney resident aged 50 or over will be able to vote on proposals made, with postal voting available for those unable to get to meetings. Projects will bid for anything from £10,000 to £100,000 over two years.
- Read the full news report by Benjamin Mortimer in the Hackney Citizen
- Information about how to get involved is available from Hackney CVS
