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 to learn from best practise,
- To achieve greater diversity,
- Building shared values,
- Lobbying for more impactful PB processes,
- Forming partnerships and wider opportunities to collaborate.
If you want to connect and feed in ideas but couldn’t join the webinar we have created a short (5 minute) survey.
Take the survey
Based on the feedback we are planning to host further meetings in Spring 2021 and plan making a small grant application to enable a more vibrant network. This may include building a new steering or leadership group. In the meantime we will add new stories to the website. If you have news, blogs, case studies or other information you want to share then please get in touch
The UK PB Network was formed back in 2012.
Since then lots has changed. Not least now having a vibrant PB Scotland Network and PB Works in Northern Ireland, plus the new global PB hub called ‘People Powered’…
…and then there is Covid19, and Brexit and a climate emergency. Not to mention the rapid growth of online democratic processes and social media. Or concerns around social inequality, voter apathy and racial injustice. So many challenges beset our democracy.
We also need to change, to respond to the new PB networks (and add value to them) and to be able to promote more vigorously a movement towards more participation in budget making in England and Wales .
Arguably trust in traditional forms of representative democracy has never fallen lower.
The need for new approaches is apparent and more urgent than ever.
Whether you have been a long term supporter of the participatory budgeting network, or a relatively new convert to its potential, or just see a need for some alternatives… please join us.