Blackburn’s opportunity to vote for community healthcare funding choices has been postponed until later in the year.
The event-planned for Friday- has been delayed by the outbreak of Coronavirus and advice against communal gatherings.
It also comes as West Lothian Council switches to providing only essential services during the emergency.
The community vote had been planned through the Poverty, Health and Wellbeing group in Blackburn (a sub group of the Regeneration Steering Group).
Applications to Blackburn Community Choices had to demonstrate they met at least one of the following priority areas: Mental Health & Wellbeing: Improving mental health and wellbeing and building resilience in individuals and communities; Children Living in Poverty: Tackling inequalities with a specific focus on children and their families who are living in poverty; Healthy Living: Increasing physical activity and exercise, by reducing barriers that impact on physical activity levels, promotion and support for healthy life choices around food and reducing barriers to choice.
Organisations were invited to participate in a “market place” as part of the community voting event with the public choosing which project to win funds.
Regeneration team leader, Dougie Grierson, told the Voluntary Organisations PDSP: “We’ll be looking to hold the vote later in the year.”
Local councillor Kirsteen Sullivan who chairs the PDSP said later: “I’m hugely disappointed that the Blackburn community voting event for the Community Choices Health and Wellbeing pilot, has had to be postponed.
"However, public health and safety is paramount and we must all follow the guidance that has been issued regarding social distancing and self-isolation. I look forward to the pilot going ahead at a later point in order to bring participatory budgeting to the heart of Blackburn and give local people their say as to the kind of work they want to see in the community."
