The People’s Budget

The People’s Budget is a campaign to get a greater say for local people in how public budgets are spent locally. The campaign based at Church Action on Poverty in Manchester is supported by Alan Thornton and a growing number of campaigners across the UK.

The People’s Budget is running free half-day workshops in different locations and are looking for an existing community group or interested individuals to take part in Plymouth.

Alan Thornton comments:

“Are you annoyed about how your council or housing association is making cuts using of your taxes/rent badly?

Are you interested in winning the right for local people to have a say in local budgets?

Billions of pounds of our money is being used by public bodies without any involvement of local people. The People’s Budget campaign is about helping you understand how to persuade your local council, health organisation, police force or housing provider to give us a significant say.

When more people are involved in how public money is spent better decisions are made. That’s what Participatory Budgeting is all about. But so far we have only been trusted with pretty small amounts.

Over the coming months we will be working with community, residents and tenants groups to help you win:

(1) Any kind of Participatory Budgeting in my area
(2) Making sure it is repeated again
(3) Participatory Budgeting across the whole authority area
(4) 1% of the budget is decided using Participatory Budgeting”

Zebra Collective is helping to identify groups or individuals in Plymouth who would like to get involved and take part in the free workshop run by The People’s Budget. Please register your interest with Liza Packer: liza@zebra.coop or Tel: 01752 395131

Find out more at www.peoplesbudget.org.uk

Follow the campaign at www.twitter.com/peoplesbudgetuk

Join the conversation with other activists at www.facebook.com/peoplesbudget and www.nationalCAN.ning.com/group/thepeoplesbudget