This is the old homepage (pre-April 2017), kept here for archival purposes. Visit the better one here.
Welcome to PB Scotland
This site is a hub for sharing and learning about the great work being done by participatory budgeting (PB) initiatives around Scotland.
Participatory budgeting is a way for local people to have a direct say in how public money can be spent. Learn more >>
The World Bank has published research showing that municipalities in Brazil that give citizens the opportunity to voice their preferences on policies and spending collect significantly more local taxes.
If you want to apply for Scottish Government funding for running a PB initiative in 2019/20, you will have to apply to the new Investing in Communities Fund.
News
News and information around PB
The PB Charter is a set of seven key features showing what a fair and high quality PB process should look like.
Monday, 16 February 26, 10am to 12.00pm - online. PB Scotland invites you to an online Participatory Budgeting event focused on PB at scale. Join us as we explore how large-scale PB processes can drive significant community-led investment and empower residents to shape priorities that matter most.
Paul Nelis form the PB Scotland team reflects on the changing nature of PB in Scotland and how it has strong parallels with the original PB model developed in Brazil in the 1980s.
Participatory budgeting was used to full effect most recently when national and local organisations came together in Inverness for the ‘Your Place, Your Point’ - Participatory Budgeting process.

A total of 31 community and voluntary sector organisations operating in Greater Cumbernauld have been awarded small grant funding following an innovative exercise in which local citizens decided which community proposals were funded.