Over 50 residents attended a public meeting at South View Junior School to vote on their preferred community projects. Residents from the Norden Ward, Basingstoke were invited to vote on 10 projects to allocate the £25,000 funds available.

The funding is part of the Participatory Budget that Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary secured £15,000 from the Home Office and VIVID Plus supported with an additional £10,000.  The money has been made available for community activities, initiatives and facilities in Basingstoke. Engaging local communities and giving them an opportunity to shape what they need or want is integral to the success and impact this funding can make. 

Part of the process enabled residents and community groups to submit applications for local projects. In a style similar to dragons’ den, community groups and organisations were invited to give their 3-minute pitch to the residents from Norden Ward. Following the pitch followed a question-and-answer sessions, and finally residents voted on each project.

The event was the final part of the community engagement process funded by Hampshire Constabulary through the Home Office and supplemented by funding from VIVID Plus.

The projects needed to operate in the Chapel Gate, South View and Oakridge area and meet the priorities identified through the World Café consultation event. Priorities included improving the lives of local people by providing activities and events, creating a safer, cleaner, greener environment.

Project ideas were submitted from a range of organisations and some of those successful projects included £4,200 to Norden Community Association for a summer festival, £130 to From the Ground Up for a polytunnel. £5,000 to South View Residents Association for speed limit display equipment.

Sarah Smith, Placeshaping Manager at VIVID said “Being able to collaborate at a local level and work collectively with communities is something VIVID Plus is glad to support”.