Belfast City Council: Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing
Overview
Participatory Budgeting (PB) gives residents a direct say in the spending decisions that affect them. It lets local people decide how public funds can make a difference.
Groups can apply for funding up to £2,500 for a project they think will benefit the community - it's your voice, your say.
Projects should support Take 5 steps to wellbeing
What is Take 5 steps to wellbeing?
Evidence suggests there are 5 steps we allshould take to help improve mental health and wellbeing. These are:
- Connect
- Be active
- Take notice
- Keep learning
- Give
Together and even individually, they encourage us to think about our daily routines and embrace the 5 activities to support better health and wellbeing.
Even if these are behaviours you already follow, the Take 5 steps to wellbeing is about increasing the time we spend doing them. Find out more at Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing.
How to Get Involved
They want to encourage local groups to apply for a share of funding to deliver projects that they think will improve emotional health and wellbeing within the community.
If you and your friends, neighbours, school or organised group has an idea for a project that will help bring the Take 5 steps to wellbeing to life, you are encouraged to apply. People in your area will be able to vote for their desired idea, and the winners will be funded.
Groups can apply for funding up to £2500, and if successful you will have around six months to deliver your project, from April – October 2025.
Criteria
- Safe
- Legal
- Feasible within the timeframe and budget
- In keeping with the theme “Take 5 steps to wellbeing”
- Benefit people within the Belfast City Council area
- Attendance at the Celebration Event in November 2025 to share positive impact.
Who can apply
- Groups (minimum of 2 people) can apply
- Informal groups without a constitution or written rules and guidelines will require a sponsor organisation
- Groups of people under 18 years old will require a sponsor organisation - see guidance notes for further details
- A maximum of one application per group per area can be submitted
They want to make it as easy as possible for people to get involved so here are some key reminders:
- You don't have to be a large organisation or community group.
- You don’t need to have previous experience or have done anything like this before to make an application.
- The application form is simple and straightforward. You will just need to prepare a short summary of your project idea so people can learn more about your project before casting their vote.
- Groups will be invited to present their project in a local venue and showcase their idea to the community and ask for their support.
What's involved
- STAGE 1 Complete a short application form to tell them about your project idea.
- STAGE 2 Successful groups will be invited to present their project idea at a decision making event in February 2025.
- STAGE 3 Successful projects are funded and delivered April - October 2025.
- STAGE 4 Showcase and celebration event November 2025.