Over to Youth a success in Fife
Over to YOUth Fife’s first Participatory Budgeting Initiative for young people was hailed a great success. The Voting Event took place at the Lomond Centre, Glenrothes.
A successful group in Over to Youth
Young People from across the Glenrothes area presented their ideas for projects that they think should take place to make Glenrothes a better place for young people and the community.
JP Easton, CLD Team Leader welcomed everyone to the Event which ‘kicked of’ Fife Youth Work Week stating:
“This unique initiative had been made possible by Glenrothes Area Committee. This is the first Participatory Budgeting Event for young people in Fife, but hopefully the first of many.”
On Sunday morning 16 different groups gathered in the Lomond Centre aiming to secure funding for their project. Each group presented their idea to their peers. Each project was considered and then there was a very interactive ‘speed dating session’. This gave people the chance to get a final point over or have their project scrutinised by those present.
Jacqui Price, Education Officer said: “The speed date session was really lively and helped people decide on what projects they thought should be funded.”
The votes were then cast using real ballot boxes. Each person had a total of ten votes; these were in the form of ten pound notes so literally you had to ‘put your money where your mouth was’. But just like the Eurovision song contest you could not vote for your own project.
The Results were announced and 11 groups were successful: Pitteuchar West Primary Eco & Pupil Council, Magnus Drive Community Initiative, Glenrothes High School Pupil & House Teams, Carleton Primary Pupil Council, Volunteering Development, Exit Youth Club, Glenrothes Bad Apples, Glenrothes Youth Forum, Markinch Parish Church Youth Club, MSYPs for Mid Fife & Glenrothes and Collydean Youth Club.
JP Easton closed the event thanking all those who had worked together on their applications and their presentations: “It shows that young people are very capable of coming up with ideas and more than willing to get involved in decision making.”
“The Glenrothes Youth Forum members have worked on making Over to YOUth and this event a reality and a success, a great platform to build on. The workers who have helped them develop the concept, the images, designs and format has done a great job.”
There were originally 20 applications submitted to Over to Youth totalling £58,500.
Meetings have been organised to help the unsuccessful groups from the Voting event in securing funding or support elsewhere.
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The People's Budget workshop at TPAS conference
