Participatory budgeting

What is Participatory Budgeting? 

Participatory budgeting (often shortened as PB) is a way for people to directly vote on how local money should be spent.  It comes in all shapes and size, but normally involves members of the community voting on how to spend part of the budget of a public body, such as a local council. 

It's happening across Scotland and is used alongside other models of community engagement and empowerment. It gives local people the opportunity to identify and discuss what matters to them in their communities and vote on their priorities.

Find out more about Participatory Budgeting

What is Grant Making PB? 

Grant making PB involves communities in developing community capacity to deliver local initiatives.

Building on the success of community-led grant making PB in Barrhead, Neilston and Thornliebank, developed and delivered by Linking Communities, the council allocated further funds for grant-making PB in Busby, Eaglesham and Mearns Village and surrounding areas.   

Local residents in those areas were asked to get involved by forming Steering Groups/Planning Groups to manage the process and host a community event where local people could vote for the projects or groups they'd like to receive a share of the funding. 

Green Participatory budgeting  

Green PB is a way for people to make direct decisions about how budgets are spent addressing climate change and reducing our carbon footprints.  It can be about the entire PB processes delivering green aims, or parts of a PB process that make a climate impact.

Find out more about Green Participatory Budgeting

If you are interested in Green PB, we're looking for volunteers who live anywhere within East Renfrewshire to form a Steering /Planning Group for this, specifically around food projects. In total, £20,000 has been allocated to communities across East Renfrewshire to benefit.

The Community Learning & Development (CLD) Team, alongside Linking Communities will provide ongoing training and support to local residents and steering groups.

Mearns News

Mearns Matters Participatory Budgeting for 2024 is now closed.

Mearns Matters PB Steering Group invited everyone you lives, works or attends a group in Mearns Village and the surrounding area to vote for where they thought funding should go in their community.

Mearns Matters PB-Voting Eligibility: Geographical Boundray Map

Please note: The area indicated within the blue line is where the fund was focused.

Supported by East Renfrewshire Community Learning and Development Team. 

Busby News

Bringing Busby Together Participatory Budgeting 2024 is now closed.

Bringing Busby Together PB Steering Group invited everyone you lives, works or studies in
Busby to vote for where they thought funding should go in their community.

Supported by East Renfrewshire Council Community Learning and Development Team

Eaglesham News

Enjoy Eaglesham - You Decide Participatory Budgeting Applications for 2024 now closed.

Enjoy Eaglesham invited residents who live in Eaglesham, with an idea for a group or a project that could benefit the local community to apply for £250 to £1,500.

Food for Thought

Applications for 2024 now closed

£20,000 has been allocated to distribute to local food growing community groups and activities across East Renfrewshire in the first PB in East Renfrewshire with a focus on food growing.