Do you have an idea that you feel would have a positive impact on your community?
Do you think this idea could be turned into a project and brought to life?
If so, look no further than the ‘Tak£500’ Participatory Budgeting (PB) fund.
WHAT IS TAK£500?
Tak£500 is a Participatory Budgeting process which means that local people get to decide how public funds are used to address needs in their area. Community Planning Partners have pooled their resources to fund community projects.
Communities can apply for up to £500 for a project they think will benefit their area – and best of all, it is the local residents who decide which projects should go ahead!
HOW DOES IT WORK?
You can apply for up to £500 to pay for things such as online activities, equipment, events, tutors, venue hire and other innovative ideas.*
All ideas must be based around the ‘Take 5 Ways of Wellbeing’. These are five simple steps to help maintain and improve your wellbeing on a daily basis.
CONNECT
With the people around you, family, friends, colleagues and neighbours and spend time developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.
BE ACTIVE
Go for a walk or run, cycle, play a game, garden or dance – even a short 10-minute walk can improve mental alertness and wellbeing.
TAKE NOTICE
Of the world around you, how you are feeling, what matters to you and reflect on your experiences.
KEEP LEARNING
Don’t be afraid to try something new, rediscover an old hobby or sign up for a course. Learning new things will make you more confident, as well as being fun.
GIVE
Do something nice for a friend or stranger, thank someone, smile, volunteer your time or consider joining a community group.
WHO CAN APPLY?
The fund is open to everyone from
- Both constituted groups and non-constituted groups can apply for funding.
- There must be a minimum of three people per group
- Children and young people aged eight and above can also form a group and apply for funding. If you are under 18 you will need an Adult Sponsor to support your application and to help develop and deliver your idea. (More details on this below).
- If your group is not constituted, you will need to be sponsored by a constituted group or organisation. (You can read more about Group Sponsors below)
The Tak£500 working group of community planning partners will review your ideas against the following criteria
- Safe
- Legal
- Feasible within budget and timeframe
- Will benefit people in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough
- In line with one or more of the Take 5 Ways to Wellbeing
Unfortunately, there are things we can’t fund such as personal payments, alcohol, political activities and things you are already funded to deliver. If you are unsure please contact us.
All applications and programmes need to follow current public health advice to prevent the spread of COVID-19 which can be found here https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/covid-19-coronavirus
STAGE ONE – ELIGIBILITY
HOW TO APPLY?
Applications open on Tuesday 29 September 2020 for four weeks and will close at midnight on Tuesday 27 October 2020. To complete an application click the APPLY NOW link below or by submitting a word version to
You can attend one of our online information sessions which will be held via zoom each Tuesday in October as listed below
- Tuesday 06 October at 2.30pm
- Tuesday 13 October at 10.30am
- Tuesday 20 October at 7.30pm
To register to attend a session please contact us. Telephone support is also available by contacting a member of the Tak£500 working group, details outlined below.
Applicants need to ensure that they demonstrate through the application process that their project fits within the themes and eligibility criteria.
Projects must be submitted by the application deadline, those submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Your idea will be checked by the PB Working Group to make sure that it meets the criteria – (safe, legal, feasible within budget and timeframe, Will benefit people in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, In line with one or more of the Take 5 Ways to Wellbeing).
If you meet the simple criteria shown above you will then move onto round two where you will be asked to submit a short video to showcase your project bid. Videos must be submitted by Friday 20 November 2020. Online public voting opening 23 November for 1 week. More information on this stage will be released in the coming weeks.
WHEN DO PROJECTS HAVE TO BE DELIVERED?
Successful projects have to be delivered by 31 March 2021 and you will also be required to attend a community celebration event in April 2021. At this event, you will be asked to deliver a two-minute presentation on how your project has benefitted your community. Please note, attendance at the celebration event is a condition of the funding. (This celebration event is dependent on the COVID-19 situation and alternative arrangements will be put in place if necessary).
WANT MORE INFORMATION?
If you have any questions about applying for funding, would like more information or some help with your application, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by contacting a member of the PB working Group.
| Elaine Devlin | ABC Council | 077 7179 4988 |
| Lynette Cooke | ABC Council | 028 3831 2529 |
| Chris Leech | CVSP/Craigavon Area Foodbank | 078 6660 5027 |
| Debbie Smith | Southern Health & Social Care Trust | 028 3756 3951 |
| Tracey Powell | Southern Health & Social Care Trust | 028 3756 4495 |
| Michelle Hazlett | Northern Ireland Housing Executive | 077 7183 7356 |
| Stephen Fields | CVSP/West Armagh Consortium | 077 5994 9314 |
| Derek Brown | BPA/Social Enterprise | 079 6834 3325 |
| Michelle Markey | ABC Council | 028 4066 0644 |
| Marion Graham | Triangle Housing | 078 9462 1807 |
| Clive Bowles | Portadown Rugby Football Club | 028 3833 0295 |
| Laura O’Hagan | ABC Council | 078 5605 7091 |
| Edel Cunningham | CVSP/Volunteer Now | 079 5591 4206 |
| Gilbert Lee | CVSP/Banbridge Twinning Association | 079 7020 0415 |
| Sinead Taylor | Southern Health & Social Care Trust | 028 3756 2261 |
| Claire McAuley | Sport NI | |
| Jacqueline Masterson | Southern Health and Social Care Trust | 028 3756 4494 |
INFORMATION ON SPONSORS
Adult Sponsors
If you are under 18 years old, we ask you to nominate an Adult Sponsor – someone who can help you develop and deliver your idea and overcome any problems you may encounter. Your sponsor could be a family member, friend, teacher or youth worker.
If you agree to be an Adult Sponsor you are agreeing to support the young person’s application and give them any help and advice they may need to make their idea a success.
We are here to help throughout the funding period should you or the young person you are sponsoring need any help, advice or support.
Group Sponsors
If your group is not constituted, we ask you to name a constituted group or organisation who will sponsor your project, as funds cannot be paid into a personal bank account.
If you agree to become a local sponsor you are agreeing to receive funds on their behalf and pass them to the successful group to enable them to deliver on their project.