'Making a Difference' funding Relaunched as Ward Budgets

Up until a year or so ago, each ward in Haringey had a "Making a Difference" fund of £10,000 available for residents. That was curtailed a year or so ago, if I remember rightly, and earlier this year the neighbourhood assemblies went too. 

The funds have now been relabelled as 'new money' and relaunched as ward budgets. All to be welcomed in these tough times, but I'd have been happier if the publicity surrounding them had been a litttle less disingenuous,

Here's the press release:

PRESS RELEASE 

Placing communities at the heart of neighbourhood projects: Haringey Council unveils ward budgets 

Communities and councillors will lead the way in supporting local projects under a new ward budgets scheme being rolled out by Haringey Council. 

Each of Haringey’s 19 wards will be allocated a £10,000 ward budget, with the scheme designed to encourage stronger community engagement through: 

• Acting as a catalyst to encourage resident-led activities 
• Supporting community leadership 
• Equipping councillors to use ward budgets to focus on the most important issues in their wards
• Giving local people a greater stake in community projects 

Residents, community groups, charities and businesses will be invited to make proposals before ward councillors agree together which should be recommended for funding.  

Cllr Bernice Vanier, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “We’re committed to working with our communities so that together we can help make Haringey an even better place to live, work and visit. 

“Ward budgets will give us the opportunity to better engage with residents and to help deliver the community-focused improvements that local people want to see.

“We’re proud of the wealth of talent and the resources and assets in Haringey’s neighbourhoods, and we want to make the most of these and support our communities to make a difference where they live.”  

Ward councillors will be given guidance on assessing proposals. Examples of projects that are likely to meet the funding criteria include ones that might:  

• Provide access to tools for a community garden 
• Impact positively on resident engagement 
• Provide seed funding for a larger project, such as improving shop frontages 
• Engage a particular part of the community on a specific issue 
• Support ongoing community engagement 

The Ward Budgets scheme was approved this week at a Cabinet Member signing meeting. Ward councillors will now work together to agree criteria, objectives and timescales for their wards, with information on next steps and how to get involved set to published on the council website shortly. 

Further information, including the decision making process and criteria can be found in the Cabinet Member Signing report pack.  

ENDS