Participatory budget event takes place in Leith next weekend.
£eith Chooses allows local groups to pitch to locals for funding.
On Saturday 1 February 2020 Leithers will flock to the Leith Community Centre in the Kirkgate to cast their votes for their favourite community projects at The City of Edinburgh Council’s annual participatory budget event.
Those who live, work or volunteer in Leith can vote for a variety of projects which address specific needs in the community. The themes in 2020 are food and fighting loneliness.
The £eithChooses steering group has worked for the last 10 months preparing for the event when £44,624 will be distributed.
Twenty local projects will stage a display of their work and be ready to discuss it with voters. Anyone over eight years-old can vote.
Last year children under 8 were allowed to vote for their choice of ‘best stall’ and this will be repeated again this year. And, as another innovation, the Citadel Youth Social Media Team will be on hand to record the day.
Sally Millar, Leith Links Community Councillor and member of the Steering Group said: “This is a great fun community day out for finding out about all the brilliant community groups and projects operating in Leith, and for members of the Leith community to have their voices heard about local priorities.”
Cllr Susan Rae, Chair of £eithChooses is looking forward to voting day. She said: “This is the culmination of 10 months’ work by a hugely dedicated, small team of community councillors, community education staff and volunteers, whose knowledge and understanding of the participatory budgeting process is unmatched.
“It’s also an immensely enjoyable day when the community really come together, to talk, to network, to learn about each other’s lives and work. Everyone who is anyone in Leith will be in the Kirkgate Community Centre that day, and I am hugely grateful to the £eithChooses team for their commitment.”
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