[responsivevoice_button voice=”UK English Female” buttontext=”Listen to Post”]
AN EVENT EARLIER this month provided a financial boost to 19 Moray community groups who shared in the latest £55,000 ‘Money for Moray’ event.
It was the fourth time the participatory funding budgeting process took place in the region, inviting bidders and members of the public to vote for their top choices from 21 participating community projects.
Each group gave a two minute presentation followed by two minutes of questions from the audience. The organisations presenting represented a diverse range of community based activities and services.
The resulting funding was decided by the 130 people attending with the event also giving other groups an opportunity to hear what other community groups are doing in rural Moray and share ideas and knowledge.
Councillor John Cowe, Chair of Economic Development and Infrastructure announced the winners at the end of the event.
Participatory budgeting is now being used across Scotland, as a way for communities to make democratic decisions about funding for their areas. Some of the benefits of using this model include an increase in participation in democracy and volunteering and a stronger community engagement process between communities and local government.
Moray was the first area in Scotland to run a participatory budgeting process led by an entirely voluntary Working Group made up of 15 very committed volunteers.
A further round of Money for Moray funding will be released early in the new year, this time the theme will be Health and Wellbeing for All Ages. Further information will be available shortly on the website www.moneyformoray.org.
The groups receiving funding in this round were:
Burghead Headland Trust
Forres and District Pipe Band
Craigellachie Village Hall
Hopeman Memorial Hall
Archiestown Village Council
Moray Way Association
The Dava Way Association
Lhanbryde Community Challenge
Garmouth and Kingston Heritage Trust
Findhorn Village Conservation Co
Covesea Lighthouse Community Co
Morayvia
Tomintoul & Glenlivet Bowling Club
Portgordon Community Newsletter
Forres Area Credit Union
Earthtime for All
Rothes Community Ltd
Forres Area Community Trust
Aberlour Community Association