How to spend £8000
In three decades, PB has gone from a local innovation in Brazil to a global movement with thousands of processes around the world. Scotland has recently become fertile ground for PB initiatives, with support across communities, the public and third sectors.
Participatory budgeting allows citizens to identify, discuss and prioritize public spending projects, and gives them the power to make real decisions about how money is spent. (This video about a PB-project in the US explains the process)
MONTROSE……the story so far……..
The North East Health & Wellbeing Partnership put forward £8000 towards a participatory budgeting event in Montrose. The Montrose Your Budget Your Choice (YBYC) is primarily aimed for “local projects and new ideas that address local Health & Wellbeing priorities in the Montrose area”.
The process will be managed by a steering group run by local people. The £8000 will be used exclusively as a community fund and the allocation of this resource will be in the hands of local residents. There will be a voting day where residents will have the opportunity to vote on the projects they feel should receive funding.
The top 5 projects who received the most votes and thus received funding:
| Project | Funding | Project idea |
| Vision Support Montrose | 1000 | Visit other visually impaired groups |
| Gable Endies Men’s Shed | 1000 | Create a new craft area |
| Community First Responders | 1000 | Portable defibrillator |
| Montrose Stroke Club | 1000 | A visit to the theatre |
| Philos Fundraising Group | 1000 | Health & Hygiene training |