Title : Health, communities and resilience: Lessons from a participatory budgeting programme
Abstract:
This paper investigates the impact of participatory budgeting on the health and well-being of individuals and communities in the reduction of inequalities in a community-based programme, as part of the Well London programme. Participatory budgeting allows local citizens to make decisions on a part of the public budget to pay for projects they believe will improve their lives and community. Many studies report the influence of participatory budgeting for improving democracy, governance, transparency and accountability (Cabannes, 2004; Reames, 2006; Shah, 2007; Boulding and Wampler, 2010; Cabannes and Lipietz, 2015; Brun-Martos and Lapsley, 2017; Godwin, 2018). Yet, less so of the impact on community health and Wellbeing (Campbell et al., 2018). Participatory budgeting was perceived as a catalyst for empowering residents, through capacity building, by increasing self-esteem, self-confidence and self-worth, sense of belonging, including reducing isolation and unhealthy lifestyle behaviours - these in turn impact on community spirit and community participation. The insights from this London based case study reveal many participants increased their involvement in volunteering opportunities, furthering their education levels or employment prospects. These engagements which address the social determinants of health ultimately reduce inequalities and affirm circular benefits to individuals and the communities of which they are a part (O'Mara-Eves et al., 2013; Touchton and Wampler, 2014; Matosevic, 2013). This study argues that if participatory budgeting influences the individual, then it has the potential to contribute positively to the health and well-being of the nation, which insights can be applied to broader, yet interconnected, challenges in our global community.
