Scunthorpe PB is value for money

One of the main concerns about participatory budgeting is the cost to implement it.  PB is not a cheap process - but then most good community empowerment isn't cheap.  However, the Acorns pilot have shown in their evaluation that they actually provided good value for money - their process engaged the most participants out of all the Home Office pilots and also cost the least per person participating.

The evaluation shows that the Acorns pilot cost £23 per participant, which when you consider the outcomes is real value for money.  Reduced costs do not have to mean reduced outcomes.

“I spoke to people time and time again on the streets, in pubs and outside supermarkets, and people began to see what money could be spent on, and that it had a knock-on effect, meaning a vote for one meant another wouldn’t get funded – but also that it was their money.  Many of the people I spoke to were rather shocked to start thinking of these things as theirs – their bids, their money, their community.  I think this is where the value of PB lies.”  Neighbourhood Management team member

The evaluation also shows that the numbers of people engaging with the neighbourhood management team increased dramatically from just over 300 people to 845 who participated in the PB process.

The team also recognised that they weren't reaching the traditionally marginalised groups so focussed their engagement in areas that groups they didn't engage with tended to congregate.  This increased participation in these groups considerably.

“I don’t vote usually, I think it is a waste of time – but this is ok – if it really happens” (young mother, Westcliff Co-op)

The projects that were successfully voted through all contributed to a number of national indicators in the the areas Local Area Agreement as well as meeting local priorities.  This included NI4 - the number of people who feel they can influence decisions in their area.  The next Place Survey will show whether or not PB had any effect on the national indicators.

Unanticipated outcomes also included:

• impoved partnership working with key public sector partners in the area including police and housing associations.  
  
• A drop-in centre gained five new volunteers - all young people
• Through information provided by participants the police were able to make an arrest for a serious offence
• The fire service were receiving false calls to addresses.   They have now worked with the housing association and the number of falls phone calls has ceased completely.

Many of the outcomes have yet to be evaluated simply because enough time hasn't passed.  So Acorns will evaluate when there is sufficient data to demonstrate whether outcomes have been achieved or not.