The Carers Partnership has funded Dundee Carers Centre to create and deliver a participatory budgeting project to improve the quality of life for unpaid carers in Dundee.

The Dundee Carers Centre project began in August 2022 and made contact with the Fairness Initiatives in Linlathen in the East End, and Stobswell West in Maryfield, as well as establishing local networks by visiting local groups, spaces, and events. The team visited young carer school groups and asked the young carers their thoughts on the project, in addition to holding an online consultation to gather wider views.

A co-design group was set up with carers who had volunteered their time. The group met weekly for six weeks to create and design the participating budgeting pilot from nothing – they called it the Carers Community Budget.

The group set the priorities and criteria, chose a format for the process, planned communication methods, and content, looked at the financial requirements, and planned the events and the evaluation.

They felt the best support for them came when unpaid carers had been involved and consulted in the development of projects and services and identified a few areas they’d like to see applications for – however, the group didn’t want to limit applications and so set one main criteria: that carers were involved in or consulted on the development of application ideas.

Full information can be found in the application pack documents and guidance downloadable on the Dundee Carers Centre website. The closing date for funding applications is Wednesday 15 February 2023.