Participatory Budgeting – Southampton’s experience

‘Your Health, Your Community, Your Vote’

28th June 2008

The context Southampton’s New Deal for

Communities programme

£48.7m to spend over 10 years

Led by a partnership board

Delivered according to themes

Thornhill Community Health Group funding Joint initiative with Southampton City

PCT to build a new health clinic in Thornhill

NDC return on funding for health clinic - £100,000 a year for 10 years

Overseen by Thornhill Community Health Group – PCT, Southampton City Council, Thornhill Plus You, residents

Participatory budgeting - timescales

December 2006 – idea first discussed in Thornhill

February 2007 – agreement from Community Health Group to develop PB

June 2007 – PB planning day with representative from the PB Unit

January 2008 – Agreement from Southampton City Council and Southampton City PCT to go ahead

March 2008 – Southampton named as one of 10 pilots

June 28th, 2008 – ‘Your Health, Your Community, Your Vote’ event

Stakeholders

SCC and local PCT, Thornhill Plus You, residents

Staff time, resources for the event, approval for spending money this way

Some suspicion at first Public involvement agenda used as

leverage Named by Hazel Blears – no going

back!

Objectives for the pilot Empower local groups to bid for

money for and manage health related projects

Increase resident participation in decision making which should be both engaging and enjoyable

Establish processes and accountability lines that are clear, concise and productive

Develop effective support and project planning mechanisms (e.g. monitoring, establishment of criteria and use of qualitative feedback from residents)

Test new ways of involving communities in managing resources and transferring this knowledge to other neighbourhoods

The process

Applications invited for projects bidding from £1,000-£10,000, which have health objectives

22 applications received, totalling £134,168.00

Applications subject to a brief appraisal

The event

18 presentations, 3 minutes long Projects on the day totalled £93,559 Transport and childcare provided Lunch and entertainment Prize draw linked to evaluation forms 60 residents attended Local dignitaries – Councillors, local

Sergeant, John Denham MP Media coverage

Project Total Score Funding £

Crafty Crafters 218 2,000

Anti-bullying Programme 206 5,000

Our Lives, our health, improving our life chances 197 5,853

Summer Fun! 196 1,423

Looking out for me 186 3,600

Water Walkers 179 1,345

Health Kicks 176 5,000

Street Sport 176 8,650

Eyes on Thornhill 173 8,000

The Star Project 171 9,764

Teen Pregnancy Show 169 3,825

Sun Safety 168 1,000

Sprint Start Healthy Kids Programme 166 7,580

Healthier Options 166 1,000

REACH Thornhill 165 7,550

EMPOWERing You! 139 9,409

Community Building Family Links 135 9,500

Keep Fit today! 134 3,060

     

     

Resources

£10,000 provided to fund the event Task group set up to oversee

organisation of the day Appraisal team Support for applicants Approximately 500 hours involved

Evaluation – residents responses

‘I think it was good for the Thornhill community. I wish I had it when I was young, I have lived here for 44 years.’

‘well done, do it again’

‘ I think it’s important for the general public to have a say in these projects’

‘Big thanks for making my vote count’

Resident’s responses…

‘We need more of this type of event’

‘It was good to see the faces behind the projects’

‘A good day for everyone who attended’

‘More events like this please!’

‘Why has it taken us so long to hit on this way of doing things??!! Well done – a great success!!’

Applicants responses‘It was a privilege to participate. We got

to speak to real people. Now we know the community are keen on the idea, it has given us confidence.’

Action for Blind People

‘A very fair approach that fits into the NHS vision of people having a say. It was fair and transparent.’

Sun Safety

‘Not a fair way to allocate funding. Process is open to abuse, especially if large amounts of funding are at stake.’

Unsuccessful project

‘Really good fun, would definitely do it again. It was nerve-wracking but a very friendly atmosphere.’

Water Walkers

‘It was a remarkable experience, I enjoyed the challenge. I can’t express how impressed I was, this is the first time I’ve seen a community participation project that was successful.’

YMCA

My evaluation of the day

People are generally suspicious of this approach

Good organisation is crucial to the success of the day

Don’t forget about having fun! Don’t get too bogged down with

issues around representation – what is the alternative?

Transparency of the process