Falkirk PB kicks off with £3 million fund

Falkirk Council has launched its Community Choices participatory budgeting process. With £3 million available over two years, local communities can now submit expressions of interest.

Groups and organisations can apply to two separate funds: a small grants programme with a maximum of £1,500 per proposal. Around £10,000 will be available to each of Falkirk Council’s nine wards in the first year as part of the Small grants programme.

The Capital programme will make available a total of £3m over two years. Proposals for this fund must be for a minimum of £5000, and can be used for building something new, improving an asset, and purchasing equipment.

An Advisory Panel made up of nine community representatives (one from each Council ward), four representatives from Falkirk's charity and voluntary sector and four representatives from Falkirk Council and the Health & Social Care Partnership will ensure that applications meet the criteria before they are put forward to a public vote.

The closing date for final applications is 9 April. The public will then vote on which of the projects should receive public funding. Voting will run from 26 April to 14 May.