TAK£500+
YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR VOICE, YOUR CHOICE!
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+ PB (Participatory Budgeting) 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 £1000 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!
WHO CAN APPLY?
The fund is open to everyone from
HOW DOES IT WORK?
You can apply for up to £1000 to pay for things such as online activities, equipment, events, tutors, venue hire, transport for trips 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.
A PB Working Group of Community planning partners will review your ideas against the following criteria
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.
STAGE ONE – ELIGIBILITY
HOW TO APPLY?
Applications open on Monday 4 December 2023 for six weeks and will close at midnight on Thursday 18 January 2024. To complete an application, click the APPLY NOW link below or by submitting a word version to
You can come along to any of our information sessions scheduled for:
Or join us online via zoom on the dates below:
To register to attend a session please contact us. Telephone support is also available by contacting a member of the PB 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 the people in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, in line with one or more of the Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing and the overall ethos of Take 5).
If you meet the simple criteria, you will then move onto Stage Two, where you will be asked to attend the Market Stall and Decision-Making Event.
Groups will be asked to showcase their idea to the community by putting together a ‘market stall’ detailing their idea and asking for support. Everyone aged eight and over can vote to support the project ideas they want to see happen.
There will be three Market Stall and Decision-Making Events and voting will take place in person at each event listed below:
Voters will be given a specified number of votes – you can vote for your own project, but you must also use your full allocation of votes to choose other projects too. Otherwise, your vote will be null and void.
The projects with the most public votes will be awarded up to £1000 to make their idea happen!
Successful projects will be notified by a letter of offer as soon as possible after each Decision-Making event. Groups that are unsuccessful this time will get advice and support.
WHEN DO PROJECTS HAVE TO BE DELIVERED?
Successful projects must be delivered by 31 August 2024 and you will also be required to attend a community celebration event in September 2024. 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.
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.
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.
Project supported by:
Tak£500+ is a project of Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Community Planning Partnership.
Funding pool provided by:
Also supported by:
