Young people urged to vote for '˜Grant a Grand' nominees

YOUNG people in the south-west of the city will soon be asked by the City of Edinburgh Council Neighbourhood Partnership to decide how 10 prizes each of £1000 in funding should be spent on projects that benefit young people in the community.

Edinburgh Council wants your help to spend cash (kinda). File picture: comp

Over autumn 2015 young people were given the opportunity to suggest projects for the ‘Grant a Grand’ scheme and 16 applications were received. All 10-19 year olds in south-west Edinburgh are now being invited to vote on which projects they would most like to see receive the money.

Voting in Balgeen, Fountainbridge, Sighthill and Wester Hailes libraries will be open from Monday 1 to Wednesday 24 February and the results will be announced at a community event on Friday 26 February at Carrickvale Community Centre. The event will include stalls from local community groups, sports tasters and refreshments. It’s free to come along and everyone in south-west Edinburgh is welcome.

This year’s applicants include Gorgie City Farm, Wester Hailes Health Agency, Hutchison Vale Community Sports Club and two local Scouts groups.

Councillor Maureen Child, Convener of the Communities and Neighbourhoods Committee at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Participatory budget schemes have proven to be extremely popular, and it’s great to see so many applicants covering so many different projects.

“I would now urge everyone who is eligible to take to part in the vote to have your say in who should be granted a grand. Neighbourhood Partnership events like this are valued by people who welcome the opportunity to make decisions about the area in which they live.”

For up-to-date information about Grant a Grand follow @southwest_team on Twitter, watch out for #GrantaGrand, or visit South West Neighbourhood website.