Voting in North Ayrshire Council’s Participatory Budgeting (PB) scheme is open with people being encouraged to vote for their favourite charity or organisation to receive funding.
Voting is open across three categories: Localities, Youth and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, where community groups can team up together on an event, cause or project for the common good.
Anyone in North Ayrshire is invited to vote for their favourite in each category, while young people aged from eight to 25 years will decide on the projects to be funded for Youth PB.
Up to £1,000 will be allocated per project – locality and youth – and up to £5,000 for UK Shared Prosperity Fund from a funding pot of £198,377.
The projects seeking funding on Arran are: Arran Churches Together Food Bank; Think about Plastic; Whiting Bay Bowling Club; Whiting Bay Primary Parent Council Sensory Garden; Arran Dogs; Wee Mac Arran 2024; Arran Music School; Arran Pioneer Project and Arran Kayak Club.
Councillor Alan Hill, cabinet member for islands and communities, said: “In the last PB funding round, those who voted helped make dreams come true for almost 128 community projects which had their share of a £109,777 PB windfall.
“For this round, we are ready to hopefully receive more votes than ever as we have a staggering 105 Youth PB and 133 in Locality or UKSPF applications from projects looking for their chance to secure their share.
“Our residents know better than anyone else which projects will be the most beneficial to them in their communities, so it is only fair they have the final say on how this money is spent. PB really is an inspirational example of community empowerment in action. It has already made a massive difference to many local projects over the last few years.
“It has been fantastic to see so many local groups benefitting and we look forward to this year’s results and the positive outcomes this funding will bring to an array of amazing projects.”
To find out more about North Ayrshire Council’s Participatory Budgeting schemes, visit www.northayrshire.community/get-involved/participatory-budgeting-in-north-ayrshire.
Voting is open until 5pm on Friday November 11 and can be done online at https://tinyurl.com/2p8xhhvm and at Arran Library if you are unable to vote online.
Councillor Alan Hill. No_B43PB01_23_Alan_Hill