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 events where individuals and community groups will be invited to submit project ideas, the most voted for projects are then granted funding. 

Participatory Budgeting Project 2025/26

Communities Leading Change applications are now open for grants of up to £1000 for community groups in Newry Mourne and Down District. These grants are for projects which promote good health and wellbeing in your area. If you would like to apply all you have to do is fill out an expression of interest form with your name and your project details – explain how you would spend the money and how it will benefit your community. We accept all sorts of ideas big and small and your group does not have to be constituted to apply. All we ask is that your project fits the theme and that it is legal, achievable and deliverable.

The community will decide who gets funding through voting at a market stall event. There will be one event in each of the DEAs [each of the 7 district electoral areas] - a list of these events are here. This is the communities opportunity to have their voice heard – to vote on the projects which they think will benefit the area the most. Each project will showcase their project ideas at these events. Please come prepared to set up your market stall with posters/leafets/props if applicable.

We would encourage everyone not only to apply but also to attend the voting events as everyone can benefit from hearing about the other projects, meeting community groups who you may or may not know in your area and hearing about all the project ideas. The Community Planning Partners will also be at the events asking the community what their priorities are and what we can do as a partnership to assist in the delivery of them. If you would like to apply all you have to do is fill out an expression of interest form

Timeline 

Project Idea: Group sends in a project idea which helps promote good health and wellbeing using the Expression of interest form. Applications open 25 June 2025 – 25 August 2025

Voting: The groups showcase their projects to the community at a special event and the community votes for the projects they like the most.

Allocation: Money is allocated to the successful groups shortly after the voting event. We aim to have all monies allocated by 1 November 2025. Not all groups can be funded but we will try to help those who don’t receive funding with alternative funding sources. The Groups will have until Tuesday 31 March 2026 to complete their projects.

Celebration: The successful groups will showcase their projects to the community at a celebration event in May 2026. This will allow the groups to be able to feedback what they have done, who has benefitted from the projects and how it helped to promote good health and wellbeing. This is our way of being accountable to the people who voted.

FAQs

Who can submit an Expression of interest? Anyone! As long as your project is Legal, Deliverable, and Achievable within the theme and timeframe and you can attend both the voting and celebration events you can apply.

What kind of projects can we apply for? This Factsheet outlines some key facts and figures which could help guide you when drawing up your project proposal. Please click here for a full list of projects which were funded in 2022.

Is there anything we can’t apply for? You can’t apply for staff costs or pay yourself or pay for anything illegal. The project also has to be delivered in your DEA /NMDDC

How are the grants paid? Into a business account if you are a constituted group or a nominated community/voluntary organisation if you are not constituted.

What do I need for the voting event? You will need to showcase your project so bring anything that will promote it – photos/props/leaflets etc

Who can attend the voting event? We would encourage all groups to invite their friends, family and members of the community to come to the voting event and not only vote for their favourite projects but also to learn about other projects in the area and to talk to the council and community planning partners about what their priorities are.

Funding

Funding is provided by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Southern Health and Social Care Trust, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, NI Housing Executive, Public Health Agency, Ark, Arbour, Radius and Clanmill Housing Associations supported through the Shared Housing Programme,  Department for Communities. Communities Leading Change is also supported by County Down Rural Community Network and Confederation for Community Groups.

Communities Leading Change in Mournes - Participatory Budgeting Event