Live vote will select Wansbeck fund winners

Posted by The Journal on Dec 23, 08 09:42 AM in News

Almost 50 bids have been made as part of a pioneering project in Northumberland which will allow local people to decide how a ÃÂ£60,000 fund should be spent on community initiatives.

Wansbeck is one of only 12 districts across the country chosen by the Government to pilot the initiative, which could help a local neighbourhood, group, school or organisation turn its dream into reality.

It aims to give people a direct say in how and where public funds are spent in their area, through an X Factor-style vote at the end of the bidding process.

Participatory budgets - or Community Kitties as they have been dubbed - aim to encourage more people to engage in the democratic process.

Wansbeck Council is piloting the concept in Northumberland in association with the Wansbeck Initiative and the Wansbeck Centre for Voluntary Service (WCVS).

A bidding process is now under way, culminate in a finale in February when the audience will decide which projects should have a share of the ÃÂ£60,000 kitty.

Any local group, organisation, school or individual can make a bid.

So far almost 50 bids have been submitted, ahead of the deadline of January 9. Successful bids will then go forward to the Wansbeck You Decide event at Ashington High School on February 28.

Bidders will get the chance to present their case for cash in front of a live audience, which will then vote to select the winners using electronic key-pads.

Yesterday Amanda Sayers from the WCVS said there is still plenty of time for more bids to be submitted. "At this stage nothing is ruled in or out. The only criteria is that the project should benefit people of any age in Wansbeck.

"We are looking for really bright ideas that can go forward to the final judgment day.''

Application forms are available from libraries, healthy living centres, doctors' surgeries and dentists. They can also be downloaded from www.wansbeckonline.com or www.wansbeckcvs.org.uk

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