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Participatory Budget and Grant Making

This course is particularly suited to you if you have a keen interest in supporting communities. You will explore what Participatory Budgeting and Grant Making is, the backgrounds of both and the benefits and impact the processes have on community and individuals. The course will help you explore ways to improve your practice and experiences for others in the future.

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Level:

SCQF Level 5

Study Mode:

  • Distance learning

Location:

  • Virtual Campus

Start Date:

Aug 2025

Duration:

  • This course is delivered fully online
  • Distance learning: no campus attendance is required and you study independently at a location of your choice

What skills will I learn?

  • You will develop skills in bringing people together at local level through face-to-face events and how to take an innovative approach to budgeting.
  • You will also develop skills in how to create empowered and resilient communities, tackling poverty by sharing opportunities and power more equally.

What will I study?

The course will be split into the following five learning outcomes, consisting of a mixture of text and videos during which you will look at what Participatory Budgeting and Grant Making is, the backgrounds to both and the benefits and impact that the processes have on the community and individuals.
  • Understand what participatory budgeting and grant making are and their place in democracy in Scotland
  • Understand the benefits of participatory budgeting and grant making
  • Identify the different ways to get involved and increase participation in participatory budgeting and grant making
  • Demonstrate an understanding of inequality and it's impact on participation
  • Investigate a local participatory budgeting or grant making process

We will start to explore barriers to participation, how PB and Grant Making can be more inclusive and you will be given an opportunity to reflect on local processes. You will be expected to undertake around 30-40 hours of self-directed study to complete the course. We will check on your learning throughout the course and you will be asked to keep a portfolio of evidence which can consist of audio, visual or written materials, adding information to that portfolio during each Learning Outcome.
At the end of Learning Outcomes 1 to 4 you will have a short assessment consisting of multiple choice questions based on information throughout that section. Once you successfully complete the assessment you can download a certificate if you wish and then move onto the following Learning Outcome. In the last Learning Outcome (number 5) you will add information on local Participatory Budgeting or Grant Making activities to your portfolio.

Application Information

What career opportunities are there?

  • Supporting Communities
  • Youth Worker
  • Community Education Worker