Residents of all ages and organisations of East Malling, Larkfield and West Malling are being invited to put forward ideas for spending their County Councillor's devolved budget of £10,000 in project applications of up to £2000, and then choose who they think should get the money!
Each County Councillor receives this money every year to fund community benefit projects in the area they represent. This year for the first time Liberal Democrat County Councillor Trudy Dean has decided to leave the decision to local people. At an afternoon meeting on Saturday 25th September at The Malling School, residents will be invited to listen to three minute presentations by each applicant to say why they should receive the money. At the end of the meeting, over tea and snacks, residents will be asked to vote for their choice using an exciting new electronic voting system.
Any applicant can bring along as many supporters as they wish and will vote by putting all the applications in order of preference. Since no one application can receive more than £2,000, everyone will effectively be voting for other projects as well
Trudy says;
"I am looking forward to getting lots of applications, and to hearing the presentations. You can do it any way you like (except POWERPOINT!) You can use photographs, or dress up... or anything to get your point across. It should be fun."
Trudy has already received applications from organisations wanting to teach young people what it feels like to be in prison, clubs who send survival packs to communities suffering from disasters, a bowls club, and residents wanting barriers to prevent pavement parking.
Requests for application forms should be sent to Loic Flory on loic.flory@kent.gov.uk or to Trudy on trudy.dean@kent.gov.uk. Loic Flory will also be able to answer any queries or help you with your application should you wish.
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