Scribefest 2023 Guest Speaker Jez Hall, Director, Shared Future CIC https://sharedfuturecic.org.uk/

1. Unlocking Community Power
The Potential of Participatory Budgeting
Jez Hall, Director, SFCIC, 21st September 2023
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2. About me!
Director of SFCIC
working to empower citizens by
• Supporting new ways of doing PB
SFCIC also does:
• Citizens Juries and Assemblies
• Social Economy Development
• Projects across the UK and wider
• Evaluations and reviews of engagement programmes
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3. PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING?
“Participatory Budgeting (PB) is the process of directly involving
local people in making decisions on the priorities and spending
for a defined amount of the public budget. “ (UK Govt)
Or……
‘If it feels like we have decided ---- it’s PB.
If it feels like someone else has decided, it isn’t.’
(Resident involved in PB)
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4. 7 defining characteristics of PB
(its about real money)
(it is not a consultation)
(its co-designed)
(more than just voting)
(it promotes equity)
(Open and accountable)
(PB grows and learns) ….
(That means repeated) … (e.g. on a yearly basis)...
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“The truth of our
aspirations
isn't found in our
vision, its found in
our budget.”

5. POSSIBLE MODELS OF PB
“Participatory grants”
What most people in UK
have experienced
“Mainstream” PB
Shaping the services and
investments of local
government

6. SMALL GRANTS PB
A grants pot
- Community Chest,
Big Dish Out… etc
Bidders present proposals
to residents,
who vote on which to support
Effective at engaging,
networking
and enthusing local people

7. Scottish PB Experience leads in the UK
“the best people to decide
the future of our
communities ...
are the people who live in
those communities.”
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8. The Gwent PB Evaluation and Toolkit 2023
We were commissioned to
Review community
perspectives of PB in Gwent
Develop an Evaluation Toolkit
to guide future PB in Gwent
https://sharedfuturecic.org.uk/guide-to-
evaluating-the-wellbeing-impacts-of-
participatory-budgeting/
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9. The Gwent PB Wellbeing Indicators
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Indicator
Inclusive and Cohesive
Respected
Safe and Nurtured
More Equal
Resilient
Achieving
Responsible
Prosperous
Healthy and Active
Vibrant Culture

10. The Gwent PB Review Key Findings
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Overall, the top five things where local people said…
PB had ‘A lot’ of impact:
• Supported local causes that make a real difference to the community
• Improved social connections and goodwill in the community
• Encouraged individuals to play an active role in the community
• Encouraged a more caring, supportive community
• Contributed to being a better place to live, work, learn or play
Three of these top five indicators related to a theme of community
empowerment, highlighting this as one of the main positive outcomes of a
PB process.

11. Some Takeaways?
“The money is the bait, not the fish”
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1.Involve residents in the design
2.Work with your stakeholders
3.Plan ahead
4.Focus on creating new engagement
5.Keep it fun and about people
6.Find multiple ways to engage, on and offline

12. S
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Thank you
Lots of free toolkits and resources on our website
Can support your project as consultants
Always happy to chat
info@sharedfuturecic.org.uk