Communities' Choice PB Initiative
Torfaen Participatory Budgeting
To vote, please select your area and enter your postcode to verify you are a resident.
Postcode Checker
Explore the Project Areas
Welcome! Residents can explore local projects and vote for their favourite three in their area. Click below to view the projects and cast your votes.
Blaenavon
See projects in Blaenavon and vote for your favourite three!
Thornhill & Upper Cwmbran
See projects in Thornhill & Upper Cwmbran and vote!
Trevethin, Penygarn & St. Cadocs
See projects in this area and vote for your favourite three!
What is Participatory Budgeting?
Participatory Budgeting (PB) puts decision-making power in the hands of residents. You can help choose which local projects receive funding by voting for your favourites.
How to vote: Select your area above, verify your postcode, review the project details, and vote for your top three choices. Every vote counts!
Our Community Priorities
The 'Have Your Say!' campaign ran from January to May 2025 to identify the top funding priorities for our communities. With 1,062 responses, your voices have shaped the future of this initiative. Explore the findings for each area below.
Application Documents Hub
Here you can find all the necessary documents and forms for the Communities' Choice PB Initiative.
Part 1: Expression of Interest
PB 1.1 - EOI Form
The main Expression of Interest application form (Part 1).
Download PDFPB 1.2 - Priorities Report
A report detailing the funding priorities identified by the community.
Download PDFPB 1.3 - Application Guidance
Guidance notes for completing the Part 1 EOI application.
Download PDFPart 2: Full Application
PB 2.1 - Full Application Form
The full, detailed application form for shortlisted projects (Part 2).
Download PDFPB 2.2 - Budget Template
Budget template for applicants applying for funding across multiple areas.
Download PDFPB 2.3 - Advisory Template
Advisory template for the People's Committee assessment process.
Download PDFPB 2.4 - App. Guidance (P2)
Guidance notes for completing the Part 2 full application form.
Download PDFPB Initiative Timeline
Interactive Timeline of Main Events
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about the Communities' Choice Fund, the application process, and how you can get involved.
What is the Communities' Choice Fund?
The Communities' Choice Fund is a participatory budgeting initiative designed to empower local communities in Blaenavon, Thornhill & Upper Cwmbran, and Trevethin, Penygarn & St. Cadocs. It allows residents to directly decide how public funds are allocated to projects that matter most to them.
Its overall objective is to fund initiatives that align with community-identified priorities, promote health and well-being, and contribute to the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act goals. Local People Committees, comprised of community residents, play a crucial role in overseeing project delivery within their areas.
What are the key stages of the application process?
The application process is structured in two main parts:
- Part 1: Expression of Interest (EOI) Submission: Applicants submit an EOI form by midnight on Friday, August 1st, 2025.
- EOI Assessment and Shortlisting: Local People Committees assess and score eligible EOI forms. Shortlisted applicants are then invited to complete Part 2.
- Part 2: Full Application Submission: Invited applicants must submit a detailed application form, project delivery plan, and budget by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, September 10th, 2025.
- Final Assessment and Public Vote: People Committees review Part 2 applications and recommend projects for a public vote. Finalists present their projects at local community voting events where residents directly vote for which projects get funded.
How does the Part 2 application differ from the Part 1 EOI?
The Part 2 Full Application builds significantly on the Part 1 EOI, requiring much greater detail. While Part 1 asks for a project summary and headline budget, Part 2 demands:
- A clear project delivery plan with SMART objectives and detailed activities.
- A realistic and fully justified budget with itemised costs.
- Specific, practical examples of how the project contributes to the Marmot Principles and Well-being of Future Generations Goals.
- A risk management plan and details of collaborations.
- A comprehensive set of supporting documents (e.g., constitutions, policies, bank statements).
What are the funding priorities for each area?
The "Have Your Say!" campaign identified specific priorities for each area. Applicants are strongly encouraged to align their proposals with one or more of these:
Blaenavon:
Youth Services & Activities, Transport, Antisocial Behaviour, Health & Wellbeing, Environment & Place (Maintenance), and Heritage & Tourism.
Thornhill & Upper Cwmbran:
Health & Wellbeing, Youth Services & Activities, Environmental Sustainability, Building Stronger Communities, Antisocial Behaviour, and Education & Skills.
Trevethin, Penygarn & St. Cadocs:
Environment & Place (Maintenance), Youth Services & Activities, Health & Wellbeing, Older People's Activities, Crime & Community Safety, and Education & Skills Development.
What if my project covers more than one area?
If your project seeks funding in more than one Communities' Choice Area, you must complete a Cross-Area Application Budget Template (PB 2.2). This requires a separate, detailed budget for each location, specifying local costs like venue hire. Generic or estimated costs are not accepted. The maximum award for a cross-area application is £10,000.
Who can I contact for help?
For inquiries, please contact the team. Torfaen Voluntary Alliance (TVA) also offers support with required documents and policies.
- Dan Watkins (Communities' Choice Coordinator): dan@tvawales.org.uk
- Bailey Richardson (Youth & Community Support Worker): bailey@tvawales.org.uk
Still have questions?
If you can't find the answer you're looking for, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our team.
Voting Page
Please complete the voting form below. Choose your favourite three projects!
Committee Portal Login
Please enter the password to access the portal.
Administrator Dashboard
Oversight of all People's Committee scoring activities.
People's Committee Portal
Welcome. This is your central hub for scoring applications, viewing submitted documents, and accessing committee resources.
Scoring Matrix
Access the official tool to assess and score all submitted applications.
Applications Viewer
View and read all the submitted application PDF documents.
Documents & Hub
Find committee-specific documents, meeting minutes, and guidance.
People's Committee Scoring Matrix
Use this tool to score applications based on the agreed criteria. Your scores are automatically saved for the selected reference.
| Criterion | Guidance | Score | Notes & Justification |
|---|
Total Score:
0 / 100Outcome:
Actions & Export
My Scoring Tasks
Please select your name to see your task list.
Application Viewer
Select an application from the list to view the submitted PDF. Please select your name first to filter by your committee area.
Please select your name to view applications.
Select an application from the list to view it.
Committee Documents & Hub
A central repository for all essential documents for People's Committee members.
Master Scoring Tracker
Application Viewer
Scoring Matrix User Guide
Welcome to the People's Committee Scoring Matrix. This guide will walk you through the process of scoring applications for the Communities' Choice Fund.
Step 1: Select Your Name
Using the 'Committee Member' dropdown menu at the top of the page, please select your name. This will filter the application list to show only those assigned to your area and load your personal scoring tasks.
Step 2: Choose an Application to Score
You can select an application in two ways:
- Use the 'PB Reference' or 'Applicant' dropdown menus.
- Click on an application directly from your 'My Scoring Tasks' list on the right. This is the recommended way to work through your assigned applications.
Step 3: Score the Application
Once an application is loaded, you can begin scoring:
- Read the Application: Click the 'View Application PDF' button to open the applicant's PDF in a movable window.
- Use the Sliders: For each criterion, use the slider to select a score from 0 to 3. Your total score will update automatically.
- Add Notes (Optional): You can add notes in the text box to provide context or justification for the score you have given for each criterion.
- Guidance: Hover over the icon next to each criterion name for detailed scoring guidance.
Step 4: Saving Your Work
Your progress is saved automatically as you enter scores and notes. You can also click the 'Save Progress' button to save manually. Applications you have started but not finalized will be marked as 'In Progress' in your task list.
Step 5: Submitting Your Final Scores
When you are completely happy with your scores and justification for an application and are ready to submit them, click the 'Post Final Scores' button. You will be asked to confirm this action.
Important: Once you post your scores, you will NOT be able to edit them again. The form for that application will become read-only.