Applications are now open for a new fund giving communities the opportunity to vote on how money is spent in their area.
The Community Choices Fund is a new fund supporting participatory budgeting (PB) in 2016-2017 in order for more people to have a direct say in how, and where, public funds can be used to address local needs.
Targeted particularly at work in deprived areas, the fund aims to build on the support provided by the Scottish Government for PB since 2014, and is part of a broader agenda around democratic innovation and engaged citizenship.
To date the Scottish Government has been working in partnership with local authorities to deliver PB. However, this fund will also help open up opportunities for other public authorities, community organisations and Community Councils to engage with and deliver PB.
Part of the new fund will be used to continue with a national PB package of support, but £1.5 million of it is now open for applications, in two categories of £750,000 each:
- Category One is open to Public Authorities which includes Local Authorities and other Public Bodies
- Category Two is open to Community Organisations and Community Councils.
The fund will support PB activity which will significantly expand opportunities for more local people to make decisions on local spending priorities and contribute to local democracy.
The deadline for applications is Friday 29th July 2016.
To apply, or for further information, please visit the Scottish Government website. Alternatively, visit the PB Scotland website.
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