Communities Leading Change

Communities Leading Change is a Participatory Budgeting initiative which allows residents to decide how to spend part of a public budget by voting on which projects they think would be most beneficial and make the biggest impact in their community.

Each year we run two events where individuals and community groups will be invited to submit project ideas and then attend a voting event, the most voted for projects are then granted funding. The process is simple, fill in an expression of interest form, making sure that your project fits the theme and then pitch your idea to the community at the event.

We will catch up with all the successful groups at an event next year to see how they spent their funding.

Funding is provided by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Southern Trust, South Eastern Trust, NI Housing Executive, Department for Communities and were supported by County Down Rural Community Network and Confederation for Community Groups.

In 2018/19 21 out of 27 groups were granted funding of £500 each.

Click here to download the report below to see the events in action and read how some of the successful groups have spent their funding in 2018/19

Click here to see how Clanrye Group spent their funding.

In Nov 2019 26 groups across Newry DEA and Downpatrick DEA where successful and received £750 each for their projects.

Communities Leading Change in Mournes - Participatory Budgeting Event