Oct 14 '13

The Your Voice, Your Choice Ballot project ran in 2009. It was one of the Home Office community safety Participatory Budgeting (PB) pilots which was given £20,000 of Home Office funding for PB. Your Voice Your Choice used a postal vote, but did not solely rely on this.

Oct 9 '13

A new wave of people power sweeped across Herefordshire, fuelled by the need to ensure local communities identify local priorities, to maximise the impact of local benefit despite reduced local resources. In 2009 Hampton Bishop Parish Council set aside £500 of its £6,500 annual Precept and sought the views of local residents as to how it was spent. in 2010 ten parish councils across Herefordshire worked to the PB ethos. Parish Council Precepts for 2012/13 was ‘people proofed’ and the Unitary Authority explored the possibility of working through Parish Councils to gain local views on their draft budget. This process enlivens and strengthens local communities as funding is focussed on the wishes of local people.The ‘feel good’ factor flourishes, even through an economic downturn.

Oct 9 '13

In February 2011 a participatory budget event took place in Frodsham. This event allowed the local communities, charities and groups to select who should receive funds in their area. Fifteen organisations were invited to Frodsham Community Centre and each made a three minute presentation. Each group was then given three tokens to vote on each other’s projects to decide three winners. These three winners were then awarded £1000 each from the local Cheshire West and Chester Councilors’ own personal member budgets.

Oct 8 '13

In 2009, residents of the Finsbury Park ward voted on one of three local projects as part of the Islington People's Project. The three organisations, The Whittaker Centre and Pilion Trust, CASA Family Service, Islington Somali Community and St Mark's Church, were at People's Project event so citizens could come visit and meet them and find out more about their work and what they would do if granted the £28,000 as the winning project.

Oct 8 '13

Durham County Council, in partnership with 3 Towns Partnership, set aside £500,000 of capital funding for projects in within 1.5 miles of Crook town centre. Durham County Council asked for capital project ideas from not-for-profit organisations for projects that would improve community facilities in the area, such as community facility improvements/refurbishments, extensions or community land improvements, such as playgrounds, parks and sporting facilities. ‘It’s Up 2 U £500K’ gave local people the chance to vote on a range of projects to decide, which should receive funding. The aim was to help people to have control over what happens in their area and give them a say on the things that matter.

Oct 8 '13

Groups working to improve Huntingdon North Ward have been given a share of £55,000 community funding provided by Cambridgeshire County Council working in partnership with Huntingdonshire District Council and the Luminous Group. As part of the Voice Your Choice project, the County Council asked local people to choose the groups they felt would most benefit their community - and 28 projects have now been given funding. The funds were allocated at a public meeting. The attendees were confirmed to be local residents. The audience received presentations from community groups and other bidders then voted for their preferred scheme(s). Allocation continued until the nominated funds were exhausted.

Oct 8 '13

Five projects across Scotland where residents help decide how best to allocate resources to tackle antisocial behaviour are to receive a share of £100,000. Stirling Community Safety Partnership received £30,000 for running pilot in the Dunblane area.The Stirling pilot is a youth-led process focused on addressing the disconnect between young people who are involved in aspects of antisocial behaviour in Dunblane and the wider community. It aimed to encourage young people to take ownership and responsibility for their behaviour and to build the capacity of young people to positively engage, both with community planning partners and with the wider community they live in.

Oct 8 '13

In 2012 Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue service ran a Participatory Budgeting programme which distributed around £20,000 in three communities. The aim of the activity was to carry out a series of PB pilots to see what the processes would offer a FRS as an engagement technique that could help improve community safety. The events made people aware of the importance of self-reliance / sufficiency and generated the realisation that community needs to do things themselves to help the level of resilience in their community. Increased awareness of different groups in the community to each other, what they do and how they can work together. DSFRS gained some useful and unexpected contacts with different groups. Demonstrates new direction to FRS as a truly local champion, gave development opportunities for staff, and had a positive impact on recipients.

Oct 8 '13

The Home Office has awarded seven areas with the Engaged Communities Hallmark. As part of the hallmark they must implement PB. The seven areas are Tower Hamlets, Corby, Redcar, Gosport, Bristol, Knowsley and Blaenau Gwent. Corby hallmark area received £50,000 to help support the areas in implementing different aspects of the hallmark.£20,000 of the funding was used for participatory budgeting on a community safety theme. The hallmarks are awarded to the police forces and their partners working in the areas.