Linda Harris from the Devonport Regeneration Company (DRC) kicked off the procedures on Friday 3rd July by asking, “How often do you get the chance to spend £25,000 of someone else’s money?” With a ripple of laughter amongst the over fifties sitting in the Welcome Hall, Fore Street the voting began.

A buffet lunch was provided with tea and coffee while people wrote down their choices and put them into a black box that was taken around the tables. There were nine previously set choices of where and how the money could be spent. Each choice was clearly set out on A4 paper and large print posters all around the hall.

The Devonport Crafty Knitwits was one of the groups to benefit from this new voting system. The Knitwits provide an outreach service to housebound residents within Devonport and will receive £1,588 for additional storage and materials for a year. They commented that they felt very lucky to be receiving this money and know that they can use it to help others in the community. 

The idea of using a system of votes within a community has come from central government and it is hoped that eventually local councils will take on this idea all around the country to get money where it is really needed and wanted within a community. The Reverend David Nixon who is on the DRC board stated that, “The idea of using a system of voting really helps a community with immediate results at a real grassroots level.”

Feedback has been very positive from the day. Nine groups in total will receive the money with ideas that will benefit many people in the community. People also had an opportunity to learn more about other organisations in the area.

There are a number of participatory budgeting events planned by the Devonport Regeneration Company (DRC). The next one is from the Devonport Youth Forum which will be casting their votes for the 11 to 21 year olds in the Mount Wise pools (Check out devonportpeople for further updates on this event).