Newry, Mourne and Down District Council: Communities Leading Change

Overview

Communities Leading Change is a Participatory Budgeting initiative which allows residents to decide how to spend part of a public budget by voting on which projects they think would be most beneficial and make the biggest impact in their community.

Each year they run two events where individuals and community groups will be invited to submit project ideas and then attend a voting event, the most voted for projects are then granted funding. The process is simple, fill in an expression of interest form, making sure that your project fits the theme and then pitch your idea to the community at the event.Groups, individuals, and Community and Voluntary organisations from the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area are invited to submit an

Expression of Interest form with innovative project ideas for funding of up to £1500.

They also ask that they submit a photo of their group so that they can share online, allowing residents to vote for their favourites.

Funding is provided by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Southern Trust, South Eastern Trust, NI Housing Executive, Department for Communities and were supported by County Down Rural Community Network and Confederation for Community Groups.

In 2018/19 21 out of 27 groups were granted funding of £500 each.

In Nov 2019 26 groups across Newry DEA and Downpatrick DEA where successful and received £750 each for their projects.