Canny wi’ Cash older people’s Participatory Budgeting project
RECOGNISING that older people are the true ‘experts’ on their needs, the Canny wi’ Cash Participatory Budgeting project invited older people themselves to make decisions on small grants for work with, by and for older people.
Participatory Budgeting projects have been run in Edinburgh before – think ‘£eith Decides’ for example – but they have always involved groups ‘pitching’ their project ideas to people who gather at one place at one time.
The unique Canny wi’ Cash process saw a team of facilitators reaching out to older people where they were – at lunch clubs, art groups, and sheltered housing complexes across Edinburgh over a ‘voting fortnight’ – gathering their views on which projects they wanted to support.
All these votes were gathered together, analysed, and the results collated. Approximately half the 100 project ideas which were submitted were successful, with slightly over £55,000 being allocated. The bids ranged from funding for quilting materials to a tutor to take older people through gentle exercise. You might find this alphabetical list of organisations offered funding of interest.
To celebrate the success of the project, and to recognise the brilliant work that small groups do, we are planning a get-together at the end of January 2014. Successful groups will be invited to a reception hosted by key City of Edinburgh Councillors.
Cllr Maureen Child is the council’s Third Sector Champion and chairs the Communities & Neighbourhoods Committee, while Cllr Ricky Henderson is convenor of the Health, Social Care & Housing Committee.
This event will provide an opportunity for groups to come together, to share notes and anecdotes, and – hopefully – to build links that could generate new ideas for pieces of work that will benefit Edinburgh’s community of older people.
Working with older people, rather than doing unto them is at the heart of co-productive relationships; relationships which are equal and respectful, trusting and purposeful; relationships which enable people – wherever they might be – to have agency and voice, and to help shape the systems and processes which affect their daily lives. You might find this brief paper on co-production of interest.
Watch this space for more news and a full report on the Canny wi’ Cash Participatory Budgeting project.
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