Our work on participatory budgeting (PB) explores how PB supports public service reform and participation in democracy and decision-making.
Blog: Closing the commissioning gap: Supporting community and social enterprise through participatory budgeting
Guest blogger Jez Hall, from PB Partners, discusses the potential role of participatory budgeting in future community service provision. Published May 2015.
Blog: Scotland and international experiences of scaling-up participatory budgeting
Giovanni Allegretti from the University of Coimbra in Portugal, writes about his experiences of a What Works Scotland seminar in June 2016 focused on participatory democracy. The seminar explored Scotland’s experiences and what goes on worldwide,
Blog: Beyond cynicism and complacency – Participatory budgeting in Scotland
Oliver Escobar outlines how, by February 2015, participatory budgeting is gaining momentum in Scotland and the cross-party support for its aims.
New material on participatory budgeting in Scotland and impact on health and wellbeing
A chapter in a new book about participatory budgeting world-wide examines how PB relates to public sector reform, community empowerment and social justice in Scotland.
Blog: Knowing How – Putting Research into Practice
Coryn Barclay, Research Consultant at Fife Council, blogs about how research is the ‘secret weapon in public service reform’.
Blog: The Economics of Prevention and Difficult Decisions for Community Planning Partnerships in Scotland
Claire Bynner, research associate at What Works Scotland, reflects on a seminar held by What Works Scotland on 25 March 2015 on the economics of prevention, specifically on community planning partnerships and health.
See the PB conference report and videos – online now
See the reports, thoughts and reactions from the first major participatory budgeting conference in Scotland, which brought together almost 200 people in October 2016 to learn about participatory budgeting (PB) and see how it can help shape democracy in Scotland and beyond.