This is the old homepage (pre-April 2017), kept here for archival purposes. Visit the better one here.
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.
The PB Charter is a set of seven key features showing what a fair and high quality PB process should look like.
This PB Scotland event took place on Monday, 16 February 2026, bringing together 58 participants for presentations and in‑depth discussions on participatory budgeting (PB) at scale.
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.
Participatory budgeting in Scotland.
Participatory budgeting (PB) is a way for people to have a direct say in how local money is spent.
A 60-second guide
to PB
PB Scotland is developed by the
Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC)
with funding from the Scottish Government.
For more information please contact info@pbscotland.scot.
Terms & conditions.
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.