Residents from High Blantyre, Hillhouse, Westburn, Fairhill and Strutherhill are invited to take part in ‘Community Decision Making Days’ to decide on how funding should be spent in their local community.
‘People and Places Participate’ funding from South Lanarkshire Council’s Tackling Poverty Programme has enabled eight areas to benefit from Participatory Budgeting. Initially developed in Brazil, participatory budgeting (PB) is recognised internationally as a way for local people to have a direct say in how, and where, public funds can be used to address local requirements (www.pbscotland.scot).
Community Links (South Lanarkshire) are assisting in organising five events, taking place during October and November, that will give local people an opportunity to vote on how the budget of £6000 can be allocated locally. Community Decision Making Days will take place on the following days and times:
- Priestfield Hall, High Blantyre– Tuesday 25th October between 3.30pm-8pm
- Hillhouse & Earnock Community Centre – Thursday 27thOctober between 3pm-6pm
- Westburn Community Hall– Friday 28th October between 9.30am-11.30am and 3pm-6pm
- South Lanarkshire Lifestyles Centre, Fairhill– Saturday 29thOctober between 1pm-4pm
- Craigbank Primary School, Strutherhill– Thursday 3rd November between 3.30pm-8pm
Local projects and groups who have applied for funding will be there on the day, including: Hyper Cyber, Larkfield Youth Project, Westburn Young Ones, The Venchie, Prince and Princess Baby and Toddler Group, UTD Sports LTD, Hamilton Information Project for Youth (HIPY), Trinity Tots, Fairhill Community Group, Trinity Church Sunday Creche, 2nd Hamilton Girls Brigade, The Monday Group, Hamilton Backhold Wrestling Club and the Harvest Group.
People of all ages are able to vote and the views of children and young people are especially welcomed. For more information, please call Annette Keenan or Liz Jamieson from Community Links on (01698) 827583. More information about the events can also be found on the Community Links Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/communitylinkssl.
