Coalfields Regeneration Trust supports PB in Prestonpans
/On Saturday 7th November 2015, the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) supported a PB event in Prestonpans, in which local people voted for their favourite projects and help decide who shares the £20,000 participatory budget provided by the CRT.
Minister for Community Empowerment, Marco Biagi, meeting participants
Prior to the event, the CRT supported the Prestonpans Steering Group in conducting an extensive household survey and other research to find out how people would like to see the area develop over the next five years
Among the themes and issues to emerge from the household survey were proposals to improve sports facilities and activities for young people, better maintenance and use of the beach, the development of local paths and walkways and more public art installations for the town.
Minister for Community Empowerment, Marco Biagi, who attended the event, said:
“This was a fantastic occasion and a great example of community empowerment and participatory budgeting at work. The Scottish Government is fully behind this approach which gives local people the power to decide how their area develops, and which organisations are funded.
“I was absolutely delighted to see so many people come in and take a real interest in all the proposals and cast their votes for their favourites. It’s not only about days like this, but about the work, ideas and connections that the process generates, and how it brings individuals and groups together and the positive energy that creates.
“The Coalfields Regeneration has been using this model for several years, and we think it one that should be built on. It’s exactly what community empowerment and participatory budgeting should be all about”
Read the full story on the CRT website
