Young people decide how funding is spent
Over 730 young people have been deciding how money should be spent locally on projects that are important to them.
This was all part of the Participatory Budgeting (PB) process, which is about local people making decisions about budgets that directly affect them.
East Ayrshire Council’s Vibrant Communities applied to the Scottish Government’s Community Choices fund for money to run PB events linked to the Health and Social Care Partnership. As 2018 is the Year of Young People, it was agreed that half of the funding should be allocated to events for young people.
The young people’s executive group was approached to set up a steering group to take the process forward, and six young people volunteered to be part of the group which met, supported by Vibrant Communities staff, to agree criteria, dates, event types and voting systems.
The steering group decided that bids had to be made by young people but that projects could cover any that involved young people. They also decided that the voting age should be eight and above, which allowed adults to have a say in the process too.
Events were held in Bonnyton, Cumnock, Drongan and Stewarton, and in total, 34 projects shared £60,000.
Children’s Champion Depute Provost Claire Leitch said: “I’m so pleased that the young people were given this incredible opportunity to decide where and how the funding should be used. All of the successful projects represent the very wide range of interests that our young people have and I wish each project every success with their extra funding.”
Notes to editors
Note to editor:
Successful projects in Kilmarnock area:
37th Ayrshire Scouts - Go Wild
Park School - Cafes 56: Helping the Homeless
Connecting Voices: We Care …. About Homeless People
Scottish Fire & Rescue Fire Fighter Cadets- 2018 Projects with the community
Barnardo’s Youth Service EA Families
4ward2gether - Diversity for Young People
Kilmarnock YMCA - New Adventures
Bonnyton Community Centre - Community Centre Upgrade
Active Graduates - Active Summer Camp
Centrestage - White Cube Gallery
Kilmarnock Youth Forum - Kilmarnock Community Fun Day
Successful projects in northern locality:
Stewarton Duke of Edinburgh Group - Gold Expedition to Italy
Stewarton United - Alton Towers Tournament
Senjokai Karate Club - 2018 club squad
Sports Council - Gymnastics Extra Curricular Club
Stewarton Academy S3 Tutorial Group
Fenwick Primary School - Health & Wellbeing Committee
Stewarton Youth Club - Healthy Lives Project
Fenwick Primary Respecting Rights Committee – Introducing RRSA
Young People - Days Out
Darvel Youth Club – Youth Climbing
Newmilns & Galston Brass Band - Making Musicians, Making Music
Ayrshire Snowsports – Club Development
Successful projects in southern locality:
Auchinleck Primary School - P7 Leavers’ Project
Drongan United - Grassroots
Barshare Health & Wellbeing Group - Barshare Bolterz
McRoberts Tae Kwon Do - Catrine Area Take Part Programme
Police Scotland Youth Volunteers - PSYV Cumnock
Auchinleck Community Development Initiative - Auchinleck Fun & Memories Hub
Auchinleck Academy Enterprise Group - Uniform Recycling
Netherthird Initiative for Community Empowerment- N Zone Children’s Fun and Fitness Club
Auchinleck Intergenerational Group - Intergenerational Group/Time Capsule
Dalmellington Band - Brass Academy Dalmellington
HizKidz - Kidz Camp 2018