Pori well-being money

By project UrbCitizenPower

Published on 27 February 2025

Finland

Länsi-Suomi

Pori

About this good practice

In 2018 City of Pori started a participatory budget initiative, where residents could apply for funding for small projects that would benefit the well-being of residents. The city communicated its well-being strategy to the residents and initiated an open call for projects. Residents would get to know the strategy and then plan their projects accordingly. The city organized an online voting platform where residents could vote on projects.
Projects done inside the well-being money vary from various culture and sports events to building parks and other recreational sites. Each year has a slightly different theme: projects for the youth, projects for outdoor activities and projects for creating unity within the city.
For example in 2024 under the theme "Outdoors", there was a total funding of 72.250 euros for the projects. There were total of 45 applications, of which 23 were funded. The smallest sum was 300 euros and the largest 14.600 euros. Examples of projects are guided outdoor exercise sessions, concerts and picnics, art exhibition in a park, hiking trips for youngsters, bicycle trips, fishing and barbeque events. Events are organised by various kinds of NGOs. There is no maximum or minimum funding for projects, but the goal is to have balance between the sums and the amount of projects funded. The city offers joint marketing help for these events via a press release and a website. Events should be free of charge for participants.

Resources needed

The sum appointed to this practice has been between 60.000 to 250.000 euros.

There is need for a communication to inform the residents of the initiative, and in case of a vote need to set up the website and voting system. All projects also have to be monitored to match to the application.

Evidence of success

The residents have been very active with project proposals and each year there have been much more project funding applied than what has been available.
Altogether there have been about 150 collaborative projects done through this program over the years, that would have not been done without this initiative.

Potential for learning or transfer

An interesting aspects of this is, that residents are required familiarize themselves with the city well-being strategy before making the applications. It is a good way to have the residents actually get the know what and how the city is planning to develop the Pori life in practice. It also puts a positive pressure on designing there strategies, because they have to be understandable, relatable and clear enough for residents to get involved. It is also a cost-efficient way to produce positive events and collaboration within the city, even though it has been now discontinued until further notice starting from 2025. The two main reasons for this are budget cuts within the city, but also the initiave after a few years lost it's "spark" and applicants started using the funding for their routine activities, rather than creating new ideas as was in the beginning. It is good to understand when designing practices like this that they have a life-cycle.