U-Gen democracy

Today I’m filming an experiment in democracy – Morecambe, on Lancashire’s west coast.  In Your Hands puts the decision on how to spend £20,000 back in the hands of those who live and work there. 

 During the day long event Local community groups will be presenting their ideas on how best to tackle crime and create safer communities, how to improve the environment, even how to be better neighbours.

Poulton Neighbourhood Management are providing the funding for this scheme called ‘participatory budgeting’ which gives local people the chance to decide how public money is spent. This is the first event of its kind in the area. 

There are 23 applications altogether and with a pot of just £20,000 to award so not everybody’s going to be a winner  - but the losers are promised help looking for funding from elsewhere.

Should make for an interesting day