RESIDENTS are being urged to cast their votes for North Ayrshire Council’s latest participatory budgeting round.

The deadline has been extended by an additional week, however, voting concludes via the Shaping North Ayrshire website at midnight this Friday, November 15.

You can still vote online here: northayrshire.communitychoices.scot/ before it is too late.

The council’s Connected Communities team, part of the North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership, received 300 nominations in September as community groups and organisations applied for their chance to be shortlisted to go to the public vote.

Now the team alongside their group of independent community reviewers have identified 114 youth projects and 186 locality projects that meet the eligibility criteria.

There’s a total of £171,377 funding up for grabs for the community groups in need of a helping hand.

The funding this year will be part of two funding cycles:

  • Locality PB: Health and Wellbeing, Building Community Spirit, Cost of Living, Green Projects
  • Youth PB: Youth Voice and Rights, Health and Wellbeing, Cost of Living, Green Projects

Pupils across North Ayrshire secondary schools have also been given the chance to vote online if they hold a Young Scot card or National Entitlement Card. In schools, further support is being provided for pupils to vote with their Young Scot card. Alternatively, temporary voting passes can be provided.

Participatory budgeting is a type of citizen participation where local people are involved in the process of deciding how public money - in this case the council’s PB budget - is best spent. It is based on an ethos of ‘it’s your money, you decide’.

Councillor Alan Hill, cabinet member for communities and islands, said: “North Ayrshire residents know better than anyone else which projects are going to be the most beneficial to them in their local communities, so it is only fair that our communities have a direct say on how money is spent. 

“We encourage those living in North Ayrshire to please take the time to read through ALL of the eligible projects in your locality. This will ensure that everyone voting can make an informed choice of who needs the funding most and who can make the most impact locally.

“Voters are entitled to vote for up to three projects in their own locality. The projects that receive the most votes will then be successfully funded from this year’s funding.

“By getting involved in our participatory budgeting voting period, the council look forward to working together with residents and the groups supporting our communities to raise their profile, provide support and build a thriving North Ayrshire for all. It’s your money, you decide, so vote now before it’s too late!.”

To find out more projects that have been successful in previous funding cycles, check out the Shaping North Ayrshire website.​